Stay cool. No pressure, she thought. He was playing this like a gentleman, but the problem was she'd never been able to play it like a lady. Usually by the time it got to this stage in a date she'd be all over the guy. But a part of her knew better than to make him rush it. Christ, she just wanted to wrap her arms round him, then her legs, kiss every smoking inch of his body and make love to him over and over.

Damn, this etiquette thing was going to kill her.

Rose tore the packaging off the BLT sandwiches and handed him one. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Famished. But what's in this?”

She smiled, remembering he was a fish out of water. “Bacon, lettuce and tomato.”

“Mm.”

“Don't have those in the UK, huh?”

“Um, yes, actually. The abbreviation threw me is all. It's been a while.”

“Help yourself.” Rose passed him a paper plate and motioned to the rest of the food. “There’s something for everyone.” She'd gone overboard, if she were honest, grabbing snacks from the shelves with abandon, unsure what he'd like. The result was a picnic for five or six people.

“Don't mind if I do.” He kept his darkly seductive gaze on her. “Is this something you do often?” he asked.

“Hardly ever. Why?”

“Just curious.”

“About the competition?”

He took a large bite out of his sandwich, waited until he'd stopped chewing before he responded. “I'd rather there wasn't any competition. But if there is, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be the front runner.”

His reply was unexpected and Rose quickly gathered her thoughts. “Well, look at you, a go-getter.”

“You don't mind me saying that?”

She shrugged, keeping it cool. Inside, she was ready to burst with pride. “Not at all.”

Bellamy held up a plastic container filled with a rather expensive delicacy from the gourmet section and studied the contents at close quarters. “A seafood dish?”

“They’re pan-seared, hand caught scallops on a bed of baby spinach, finished with bacon sherry vinaigrette. Dig in.”

“You're very knowledgeable on cuisine.”

“Nah, I'm just reading the label on the side of the container,” she replied and gave him a playful wink.

“Well, you pulled it off with culinary brio.”

“Yeah? Well, I must be a good actress because I’ve never had them.” Rose picked up a scallop with her thumb and index finger, examining it before tossing it in her mouth. Within seconds, she spat it out and reached for a napkin.

He did nothing to hold back a laugh as she scraped at her tongue with dirty fingernails. “Not quite to your tastes?” Bellamy then leaned across the blanket toward Rose and gently wiped her mouth with a napkin. The motion appeared so miniscule, yet…the nearness of his skin sent hers alight.