Read Consumed by a Stranger (Craved Series #4) for Free Online Page B

believable couple.
     
    Jack
gestured for me to follow the host first, putting a hand on my lower back so
gently I wanted to lean into it, to curl towards him as if we were dancing,
look him in the eye, and ask him what the hell he was doing to me and did he
know my heart couldn't take this?!
     
    Instead,
I stepped forward, weaving my way to a table for two by the window along the perimeter
of the restaurant.
     
    The
host pulled my chair out for me, and while I’m fairly certain I thanked him, it
was a long time before I took my eyes off the view. 
     
    "Looks
like I'm spoiled for choice," Jack said. 
     
    I
turned to look at him where he was sitting across from me, the floor shifting imperceptibly
under our feet. "What do you mean?"
     
    "Between
the sight of you and the city below us, I don’t know which lovely view to feast
my eyes on."
     
    I
swallowed. I wanted to tell him not to try so hard, not to say things he was
never going to be able to keep saying, things I would never tire of hearing. 
     
    "And
if the food is as good as I'm hoping it is, I'll really be torn for what to
focus on."
     
    "This
is a real treat, Jack. Not just the restaurant and the view, but seeing you
again. Here."
     
    "Thanks,"
he said, opening his menu without taking his eyes off me. 
     
    "I'm
really glad you came."
     
    "Me,
too."
     
    "And
that you didn't hire a private detective to track me down."
     
    A
twinkle of mischief flashed across his eye. "You've been talking to
Megan?"
     
    "Of
course," I said. "And you’re very lucky. She's terrible at keeping
secrets- other people's at least. The fact that she didn't let it spill that
you were coming is a miracle."
     
    "Well,
I'm very grateful for her cooperation. I'm sure she was much more pleasant to
deal with than the PI's I looked up."
     
    "You
were really that keen to track me down, huh?" I asked, tilting my
head. 
     
    He
let his eyes drop to his open menu for a second. "I was."
     
    "Because
you like the thrill of the chase or-?"
     
    He
lifted his head to look at me again. "Because I like you, Audrey. A lot. And
because I can't stand the thought of you being with someone else."
     
    I
pursed my lips. 
     
    "Especially
when I don't believe there's anyone who will go to the lengths I will to make you
happy."
     
    I
didn't know what to say. 
     
    He
lifted his eyebrows. "Does that answer your question?"
     
    "Yes,"
I said, wishing I didn’t find it so hard to believe what he was saying.
     
    "Good,"
he said. "Then look at the menu because I'm starving, and I need to eat if
I'm going to have enough energy to have my way with you later."
     
    My
stomach did a little cartwheel as I let my eyes drop to the appetizers. 
     
    "Can
I get you something to drink?" a young woman asked, appearing beside our
table in a cummerbund. 
     
    I
looked at Jack who was scanning the drinks menu.
     
    "Do
you like red wine?" he asked me. 
     
    I
nodded. 
     
    He
turned to the server. "Can we have a bottle of the Carménère , please?"
     
    "Certainly,"
she said, nodding and backing away from the table. 
     
    "I've
never heard of that," I said. 
     
    "You'll
like it. It's just like you."
     
    "Oh
really?" I asked. "And how's that?"
     
    "Nice
and light but incredibly full bodied."
     
    I
rolled my eyes. He obviously meant full bodied as a compliment, and I was delighted
to oblige his outrageous flattery. "I can't wait to try it."
     
    “By
try it, I hope you mean drink most of it because I’ve got to get us home
safely."
     
    "Of
course," I said. 
     
    "But
we'll go up to the observation deck after we eat for some fresh air before we
go so there’s no rush."
     
    "Sounds
good," I said, looking down at the mains. I'd had trouble narrowing down
the starters so I figured imagining my meal as a whole might help. "So how
long are you staying?" 
     
    "I'm
not quite sure," he said. "However long it takes to convince you that
I’m serious about you."
     
    I
lifted my eyes to his. "Is that it?" I