“Argh,” I groaned, embarrassed.
“Is there something I should know about you, Lucky? Are you a student and server by day and a dominatrix by night?”
“Uhm, if I was a dominatrix, I wouldn’t be asking you if you wanted me to be your sub,” I laughed.
“So you know a lot about that world, huh?” Zane looked at me quickly with a slight grin, and I punched his shoulder.
“Actually, no.” I laughed. “I’ve read a few books that were about couples who were living those lifestyles.”
“And it made you interested?”
“No.” My voice was sharper than I had intended. “No. I don’t think I would be cut out to be a dom or a sub.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so either.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that I can’t see you in either role in the bedroom.”
“You’ve thought about me in the bedroom?” I gasped out, surprised and slightly tickled.
“Well, no.” He laughed. “Let’s change the subject. I don’t want to get myself in trouble again.”
“Uh huh.” I knew I was taking the conversation down a slippery path, but I felt a flush run through me as I thought about him thinking about me. It was a warm and happy feeling, and I wanted to hold on to it as long as possible.
“I think you’re addicted to sex.”
“What?” I laughed.
“You’re always bringing it up.”
“No, I’m not.” I rolled my eyes.
“Yes you are.”
“Then let’s make a bet now. The next person to bring up sex has to give the other person—”
“A naked massage.” Zane interrupted me as he pulled into a parking lot.
“You wish.” I rolled my eyes.
“Maybe I do.” He licked his lips, and we got out of the car.
“Starting from now, the next person that mentions sex has to give the other person $100.”
“Whoa Lucky, I don’t want to take your money.”
“I’ll be taking yours and I’m not worried about taking it.” We both laughed and walked into the IHOP.
“Oh Lucky, so honest and so confident.”
“I’m thinking about what I’m going to spend my $100 on,” I purred, as we walked to our table. I opened the menu eagerly, trying to decide what I wanted to eat. My stomach was growling at the smell of grease, and I wanted to stuff my face with many items on the menu.
“Do you know what you want to get?”
“I want to get eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, toast, and hash browns.” I laughed. “And I’m also eyeing the crepes.”
“Small appetite.”
“Well you know how we supermodels do it.”
“Oh of course, you need a big breakfast before the catwalk.”
“Exactly, or the wind will blow us away.”
“We can’t have the wind blowing you away now.” Zane winked at me, and I leaned towards him with a grin.
“Exactly, not when I’m doing a service to mankind, showing off ugly dresses that cost thousands of dollars.”
“If you want me to buy you one such dress, let me know.”
“I can afford to buy it myself …” I laughed. “Goodwill has plenty of designs that match those on the catwalk, and I can buy several outfits for $20.”
“Well then, here you go.” Zane took out his wallet and dropped $20 on the table. “Go crazy on me.”
I grabbed the $20 and used it to fan myself. “Why thank you, Mr. Beaumont, I do say I think you are my hero right now.” I spoke in a deep Southern accent, and he laughed.
“Maybe I should introduce you to my dad, it seems to me that you could have a huge career in acting.”
“Why, whatever do you mean, kind sir? I’m no actress, I’m just a Southern belle.”
“I do like me a Southern belle.” At this point, Zane and I were staring into each other’s eyes, and our faces were inches away from each other. If I moved forward slightly, our lips would be touching.
“Hi, thanks for coming to IHOP. Can I get you guys some drinks?” A sour-looking, older lady was standing at the table, glaring at us, and I sat back quickly, embarrassed to have been caught in a non-intimate, intimate moment.
“Can I have a small orange juice and a glass of coffee, please?” I smiled at the lady, and she stared back at me with a surly look.
“And you, sir?” She turned away from me and looked at Zane.
“I’ll have the same thing as my fine, young debutant.”
The lady rolled her eyes and flipped a page on her notepad. “Are you guys ready to order or do you need a few minutes.”
“I’m ready, you Lucky?” Zane wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I held in a laugh.
“Yes. I’m ready. I’ll have the International Passport Breakfast, please.”
“And I’ll have a ham, green pepper, and cheese omelet, please.” Zane smiled at the lady, and she gave him a hard stare.
“I’ll have the drinks out in a few minutes.” She turned around and walked back to the kitchen.
“And this why I come to your diner every Friday.” Zane laughed.
“Oh really, why?”
“Because I have the best server in all of Miami at Lou’s.”
“Shayla is pretty good.”
“Not as good as a girl called Lucky.”
“Well, you know what they say. Girls who go through cotillion make the best servers.”
“I guess I learn something new every day.” He laughed and then frowned as his phone rang. “Sorry, will you excuse me, please Lucky, I have to take this.”
“Sure.” I smiled at him, trying to ignore the curiosity that was creeping up in me. Who was on the phone? I wanted to know, and yet, I didn’t. I knew that if I found out it was Angelique, my mood would be ruined. I decided to distract myself from eavesdropping on his conversation and pulled out my phone while I waited.
“Did you speak to him?” Zane hissed into the phone. “So what did he say?”
I bit my lip, wondering who had made him so angry.
“Flying?” He sighed. “Do you know who the girl was?”
I opened my text messages, pleasantly surprised to see that Braydon had text me back, asking me to join him for dinner that evening. I was about to turn my phone off without answering when I heard Zane say. “I’ll give her a call and see if I can take her on a date next week.”