ALLY

I diverted my gaze from the menu towards the solid figure in front of me. My eyes widened in surprise and excitement, my mouth slightly opened from his challenge.

"Do you like bacon?" he inquired.

"That's an easy one. Who doesn't?"

"Perfect. Would baked bacon-wrapped scallops work for you?"

My eyes quickly scanned through the menu. He pointed his leathery index finger on the selected appetizer. I couldn't help but stare at his digit, examining the size and roughness of it. The thought of it playing inside of me made me squeeze my thighs together as if it would've helped controlled my craving. I shook the thought off my head.

"Sounds good to me." I lifted my head up, adjusting my loose-fitting eyeglasses.

"You look good with those glasses. The red fits you perfectly," he commented.

"Thanks. This is my favorite, but I don't think 'perfect' is the right description for it. It keeps on falling off. I think I need to get a new one." I replied as I took the red metal frame off.

My vision blurred. But he was close enough that I could still see his manly features. The way his Adam's apple moved as the water slid down his throat made me thirsty enough that I had to take a couple of big gulps myself. I actually hated drinking water, unless utterly necessary. This time, it was an utmost necessity.

"Let me see," he extended his hand towards me.

With his palm wide open in front of me, I couldn't help but notice the thick scar across it. I handed the frame over and watched him examine it. I inhaled loudly as my shock escaped my mouth.

Harvey bent the hands of the frame and I was scared as hell to see the result from it. I stared vigilantly at his large hand devouring the fragile metal frame.

"Do you trust me?"

He noticed the terror that came out of my mouth and still painted on my face. He stopped whatever it was he was doing. His colossal hands still enveloped around my dainty glasses.

"Should I?"

He extended his arm towards me and revealed an unscathed frame sitting on his scarred palm. I examined the handle of the eyewear and placed it over my eyes. It sat perfectly at the bridge of my nose and curvature of my ears, not falling off even when I bent my head down. I took it off again to survey the tinkering he had done. I was impressed, but soon enough, I was clouded with guilt and embarrassment remembering how I reacted to his kind gesture.

"I'm sorry. It's just that your hands are so big. I wasn't sure if you were gentle enough not to break it." My inside was flooded with shame. "Now, I completely understand the saying to never judge a book by its cover."

He smirked. "I assure you that my big hands can work gently, or roughly, depending on the situation." He winked at me, dismissing the unnecessary guilt I was drowning myself in.

Once again, my mouth fell open with shock and curiosity, but I picked it back up as soon as I dropped my jaw. "I don't even want to know," my eyes rolled with disapproval. But I did want to know. I wanted to know exactly how he could work his hands, on me, in me.

The heat that I felt inside of me was overwhelming. I had to tug on my top, adjusting it from the bottom to air out the moisture that was building up behind my silk top. I could've sworn the restaurant was blasting hot air as if it was still winter outside. I couldn't make up my mind if I was still embarrassed from my doubt or just curious as fuck over his big hands.

"I thought you were up for the challenge?" Harvey teased, reminding me of the dare I had accepted.

"I never said I wasn't," I smirked, conjuring up as much confidence as I could.

"Fine. I'll be gentle, for now. Ask me anything," he proposed. An indecent grin spread across his face.

"How old are you?" It was the first thing I thought of. Tonight, he looked so attractive and mature that my small figure, chubby cheeks, pouted lips and just overall unimpressive self was a disgrace compared to his.

"Twenty four." A genuine smile painted his face.

My eyebrows lifted in response to the unexpected number. He noticed as he cocked his head slightly to the side. "My turn?"

I nodded.

He took his time as he scratched his freshly trimmed stubble. His eyes squinted towards me. The caramel hues were long gone. His pupils now dilated, surrounded by the deep emerald green of his irises. It was one of the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen. I felt like I was trapped in a forbidden forrest, surrounded by the luscious and sinful greenery it entrapped.

My anxiety built up as each second passed, waiting for him to take his turn. "Be gentle," I begged.

His eyes sparkled and he slightly nodded in agreement. "When's your birthday?"

Feeling like a silly girl, relief pushed away the unnecessary anxiety I felt. A short, half-suppressed laugh escaped my mouth. What was I so nervous about? I silently laughed at myself as I shook off my silliness. "April 17th."

His eyebrows were brought together by my answer, "that was last week."

"Yup!"

"It was your birthday and you kept me in the dark?"

The memory of the past week was slowly coming back to me, but I pushed it away. I wasn't going to let it ruin my mood.

I shrugged. Instead of feeling indifferent, I found myself smiling at the thought of him wanting to celebrate my birthday with me.

"That was not fair. How old did you turn?"

"Twenty one."

"Happy belated birthday, Ally," he greeted.

"Thank you," I replied. I wanted to ask when his birthday was but we were interrupted by our slim, blonde server.

"Good evening. My name is Ashley and I'll be your server for tonight. How are you two doing?" She smiled as she turned her head from my direction to Harvey.

The moment her gaze fell upon his beautiful face, I saw the undeniable attraction she felt. I didn't blame her. I was as awestruck as she was when I first laid my eyes on him. But the longer she stood there, motionless, speechless, just devouring him with her eyes, I felt a sting of protectiveness, or pity, or jealousy. Whatever it was, I wanted her to look away.

"Hi Ashley," he greeted, only sparing her a second of his attention before locking his eyes with mine. "Tonight, we're celebrating my date's birthday," he clearly said with an emphasis on the date. I couldn't help it, but a wide, triumphant grin spread across my face.

"Oh." And just like that, Ashley was released from his spell and quickly turned to me, "Happy birthday. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

I scanned the drinks menu as quick as possible and settled for my favorite stout. "I'll have a glass of Guinness."

I caught Harvey raising his eyebrow, surprised by my order and I shrugged in response. I knew what he was thinking. Fancy steak restaurant. The most ideal drink to get was wine. But I wasn't a wine girl. I liked my beer, dark Irish dry stout ones to be specific. 

"I'll have the same and we'll start off with the baked bacon-wrapped scallops. Thank you." Ashley left soon after taking our order.

"You just keep surprising me tonight," he confessed.

"What can I say? I can't say no to anything Irish," I said teasingly, thinking about the cold dark stout that was soon coming my way. It was the lightest and most satisfying alcoholic beverage for me. I was almost excited to drink it, legally, in public, until I noticed his change in expression. 

He simpered, looking pleased with himself.

"What?" Did I say something wrong or inviting? He had a triumphant smug on his face that would normally annoy me if it was planted on another man's basic face. But his was far from basic.

"I'm Irish, by the way," he declared, displaying that godly crooked smile of his before he planted his lips between the top of his glass water.

Fuck. No way.

"Hmm...I don't think you have the Irish luck then since I've said no to you multiple times." My lips stretched into an elated smirk, feeling proud of my comeback as I left him speechless with an actual fact.

I looked at the man sitting in front of me, courtesy of the soft white lights above him, the highlights of his golden brown hair radiated on his head. His chiseled jaw moved structurally as he chewed the ice in his mouth.

"Enjoying the view?" He finally spoke, catching me red handed. "I think my Irish luck is working just fine," he corrected, glancing at my now parted lips.

He totally caught me ogling him. "I was," I confessed, "until I was rudely interrupted," and rolled my eyes at him.

Shit. I'm so fucked.