“You don’t have to watch your mouth for my sake,” she reassures, sounding amused. “I don’t mind the occasional f-bomb.”

I swallow my bite of calamari before I speak. “You don’t seem much like the type to tolerate bad language.”

“I can say fuck here and there.” She drops the word so casually I almost didn’t hear it.

But I did, and my eyes are about to bug out of my head. “Amelia.”

“What?” She wiggles in her chair, seemingly pleased with herself. “I’m allowed to curse. I find myself cursing more lately. He—my ex—didn’t like it when I cursed. Said it wasn’t ladylike.”

I make a face. “This guy is a complete prick.”

“Tell me all about it.” She rolls her eyes. “I need to stop talking about him.”

“Yeah you do,” I readily agree.

“He doesn’t need to be the third party in this date,” she goes on. “Fuck that guy.”

I’m grinning now. Damn, she sounded ferocious.

“I like it when a lady curses. The contradiction is what always gets me. Pretty and refined, yet with a filthy mouth,” I say, teasing her, though I’m also flirting, because damn.

If elegant Amelia really does have a dirty mouth? That’s sexy as hell.

“Pretty sure I can deliver,” she says, her lips curling into a secretive smile.

“Really? I’d love to test that,” I say, taking my shot.

“If you’re lucky…” She leans across the table, her expression turning sultry as she studies me. “Maybe you will.”

Fourteen

Amelia

I was flirty with Isaac throughout the entire dinner. Maybe it was the wine. I consumed a lot of it. Far more than normal, and definitely far more than Isaac did. Or maybe it was the food. It was delicious. I can’t believe I’ve never ate at this restaurant before, but I’m so glad he suggested it.

More than anything, though, I’m pretty sure it’s the company I’m keeping. I think Isaac is bringing this flirtatious mood out of me. The way he watched me so hungrily throughout dinner made me feel…beautiful. Alluring.

Alive.

My ex didn’t look at me like that. Did he in the beginning, when we first started dating? I don’t think so. If he did, I don’t remember.

Isaac stares at me from across the table as if I’m the most beautiful woman on the planet and he’s just the lucky sucker who got to hang out with me for a few hours.

That is so incredibly heady and addicting.

It’s not just the way he looks at me, though. It’s his attitude. He’s so refreshing. The complete opposite of my ex, which is exactly what I need. Isaac might be young, but he’s smart and focused. He’s mentioned a few times before that he still doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, and only a few days ago—heck, when I first met him—I found that a little off putting. I thought I wanted to be with a man who knows exactly what he wants, and already has a plan in place.