His face was an odd mix of amused and grossed out. “Did you just dunk your French fry into your chocolate shake and eat it?”
“Oh.” I chuckled. “I guess I did.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“Have you ever tried it?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know it’s disgusting? You might love it.”
Donovan smirked as he sipped his chocolate shake. “Never ate dog shit, either. Pretty sure there are some things you don’t need to try in order to know they’re not going to taste good.”
“Whatever.” I shrugged. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Donovan and I had gone to a twenty-four-hour diner for coffee, not too far from Park House. But I was sort of hungry since I hadn’t had dinner, so I decided to get a shake and fries, while he’d opted for just a shake. Coming here with him was probably a dumb thing to do, but how could I say no after he’d spent hours combing the streets to find Storm with me? At least that’s why I told myself I’d agreed to come. It had nothing whatsoever to do with how beautiful the man sitting across from me was, or how strongly the magnetic pull toward him gripped me.
“Did you know that French fries are one of the most expensive foods in Venezuela?” I wagged a fry at him. “McDonald’s even took them off their menu there for a while.”
“I didn’t know that. Did you go to Venezuela recently?”
I shook my head. “I read it when I was looking something up once.”
He smirked. “Let me guess—someone mentioned that potatoes were the starchiest food, and that sent you down the Google rabbit hole. I’ve missed your deep dives and random trivia.”
I stuck my tongue out because, well, he was right. I had found that on one of my tumbles down the research rabbit hole, so I had no comeback.
Donovan’s eyes dropped to my mouth. “You shouldn’t stick that thing out, unless you’re planning on using it.” He winked.
I laughed. But I also sucked down enough of my shake to give me a brain freeze, because I needed to cool off. Stirring what was left in my glass with the straw, I said, “So…I hope I didn’t interrupt anything when I called this evening. It is a Saturday night and all.”
He smiled. God, he really needs to stop doing that.
“Are you asking me if I was out on a date?”
“No,” I said defensively. “I was just saying I hope I didn’t interrupt anything good.”
“You did.”
I frowned, feeling an unexpected pang of jealousy. “Oh. Sorry.”
Donovan leaned in, his smirky smile widening. “I had a hot date with Bruce Willis planned. How about you? Any plans spoiled for this evening?”
I shook my head. “Just a night of catching up with The Bachelor.”
Donovan’s nose scrunched up. “You like that show?”
“I’m addicted to it—so much so that I can’t handle the stress of watching it once a week and waiting to find out what happened. I record them and don’t start until I can spend an entire evening bingeing the episodes. My friend Skye and I watch it together.”
He chuckled. “I find it amusing when women talk about the people on that show like they’re real.”
“What do you mean like they’re real. They are real.”
“You don’t think shows like that are scripted?”
“Don’t say that!”
He laughed. “Did I just tell eight-year-old Autumn there’s no Santa Claus?”
“Well, even if it is scripted, it’s better than—which aging action hero did you say you were going to watch? Bruce Willis or Tom Cruise?”
“Bruce.”
“Those movies are faker than The Bachelor. Most of the actors don’t even do their own stunts.”
Donovan’s eyes flickered down to my lips a moment. It was less than a second—I could’ve blinked and missed it—yet that fraction of a second set off a frenzy of butterflies in my belly. This. This was the reason I’d done something I’d never done before and spent an entire weekend with a man I barely knew. We just had to look at each other, and sparks flew.
I felt the need to change the subject, but really, what was safer than talking about action movies?
“Anyway…” I said. “I’m glad I didn’t interrupt any big plans you had for tonight.”
He nodded, and then silence fell while he watched me. I got the distinct feeling he was debating saying something, and when he finally spoke, I realized I was right.
“So…the Dickster. How long has that been going on?”
I stirred my shake again to avoid eye contact. “Not too long. A month or so.”
He nodded. “I guess things changed over the last year, then?”
My eyebrows dipped together. “What do you mean?”
“After our luggage exchange, you disappeared because you only wanted what we’d had—a weekend, not a relationship. And now you’re in one.”
“I’m not in a serious relationship with Blake. We’re just dating.”
“Yet you gave him your phone number and let him see you more than once…”
“It’s different.”
“How?”
“Well, Blake and I only really see each other once a week, if that. We keep things simple. He’s divorced with kids and not looking for anything complicated.”
“I would’ve kept things simple, if that’s what you wanted.”
“Really? Because I wouldn’t have been able to.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “But the time we spent together didn’t feel like something simple to me. Did it for you?”
He studied me. “No, but that doesn’t mean I would have pushed you for more than you were ready to give. I work eighty to ninety hours a week most weeks, anyway.”
I sighed. “I just prefer to keep things uncomplicated.”
“So things with Dickson…they’re uncomplicated?”
“Yes.”
“And that means…”
“I don’t know. I guess it means I don’t have to worry about either of our feelings becoming too much.”
Donovan scratched his chin. “Let me see if I understand this. You liked me, and you had a good time that weekend we spent together. But you thought one or both of us might develop feelings. You have no worry about that with Dickson, so you keep seeing him.”
“Well…yes.”
“So you only date men you don’t really like?”
“I, uhh…no… I mean…well.” I shook my head. “Stop lawyering me. You’re making me confused at what I’m even saying.”
Donovan smiled and shook his head. “It really sucks to be on this side.”
“What side?”
“The it’s-not-you-it’s-me bullshit. I’m usually the one deflecting like you are right now.”
“I’m not deflecting. I’m trying to be honest with you.”
Again, his eyes dropped to my lips. Only this time, they lingered much longer. When they finally lifted to look at my face, it felt like he could see right through me. “So the two of you aren’t exclusive, then?”