Human Hieroglyphix - Dex & Leila by J. A. Hornbuckle Page B

held. 
    I saw his head begin to lower towards mine and I tilted my chin up further giving him a clear signal that I was…that I was, what?
    His for the taking?  Nope, that'd be too much, too soon for me.
    That I was interested in being kissed?  At the beginning of the evening?  Nope.  Didn't think that was a good idea, either.
    He took the explanation out of my hands, and out of my head, when he did the whole nose stroke thing again.
    Perfect.
    Close enough that we shared a touch but not crossing the line for either one of us.
     
    *.*.*.*.*
    Felt like we'd spent hours at The Roses but when I looked at my phone it was only nine-thirty.  Not liked it dragged, but that I was just so aware of him, of Dex, that I couldn't really relax.
    I'd been to The Roses but only when something major happened at the University.  It wasn't the first place you'd think of for a casual date because it was expensive.  Don't get me wrong, the food is to die for, especially their steaks, and the service is top-notch.  But it's just a wee bit swanky.  Not the trying too hard kind of swank where the women are in cocktail dresses and the men in suits because a restaurant like that wouldn't last here in Grantham.  But The Roses was quite a step up from even Henry's.
    We tried to play the old game of who do you know that I might know?  But the only one that we kind of knew together was Crystal.  Dex knew Jake, Caitlin's fiancé, but had only met her at a party she and Jake had a couple of weeks ago.
    Every time our eyes caught or collided, I felt my heart speed up and felt the goose-bumps begin to skitter and sing across my skin.
    'Stop with the boy band crush already' , I admonished myself for about the fiftieth time as we left The Roses. 
    It was coming up on the time of year when you'd be able to see how the restaurant got its name but here in the Rockies spring could be right around the corner or it could hold off until late May or early June.
    "Ready for the next stop, Elle?" Dex asked as he handed the valet the parking ticket.
    I looked behind me to see who he was talking to.
    "Am talkin' to you, Lovely," Dex said leaning in and bumping me with his body.
    "How'd you Elle out of my name?" I asked.  No one had ever called me anything but Leila until I a full professor and suddenly became Dr. McCarthy.
    "Lovely Leila.  Double 'L'.  Equals, Elle." He explained catching my hand in his as he moved it up to his elbow as he stared down into my eyes.
    Oh, shit.
    Okay, a few goose-bumps I could handle. 
    But these full body rushes I was completely unprepared for. 
    They were so deep that I could feel my nipples hardening inside my brand spanking new Victoria's Secret bra and other pink things rubbing themselves against the tightness of my new matching panties and pair numero dos of my new jeans.
    "Ready for our next stop?" Dex asked as we pulled away from the restaurant.
    "Ah, okay."
    "You don't sound sure, babe." I felt, more than saw, his glance towards me.
    "I am.  Well, kind of, anyway," I answered spreading my hands out in front of me, across my knees in a dimwitted effort to keep from clenching my fists.
    "Don't date much?" he asked flicking his indicator as we waited to turn.
    "No, not much," I admitted to the passenger window of his Jeep.
    "You're kidding, right?" He said completing his turn.
    "No," I said softly, still steadfastly turned to the passenger window.
    "Starlight Room okay with you?" I heard him ask.
    I nodded, not wanting him to see that I didn't have a clue what he meant.
    Dex was quiet as we spun our way up the ramp of one of the town's parking garages.  As I mentioned before, most of the stores in our town of approximately 35,000 were contained in eight square blocks.  Without the three different garages, parking would be impossible.
    The Starlight Room.  Oh, the Starlight Room.  I got it.
    'Sorry, Dr. McCarthy, but the Starlight was having a two-fer special last night…'
    'Was too blasted to make it to class