Free Dirty Little Lies (Dirty Little #2) by Cassie Cross Page A

about yourself.”  
    “Hmmm,” I say, tapping my finger against my chin. “Well, I’m twenty seven, and I like long walks on the beach, love the way the sand feels between my toes.” I do my best impression of a contestant on a cheesy dating game show, because Ben already knows all of the things about me that really matter. “I like watching the sun set over the city, and chocolate ice cream is my weakness.”  
    Thoroughly amused, Ben leans forward, close enough so that only I can hear him. “I can think of a few things I’d like to do with that chocolate ice cream.”  
    I give his arm a playful smack. “I told you not even two hours ago that if we’re going to do this that doing things with chocolate ice cream is strictly off-limits for the foreseeable future. You’re supposed to be wooing me.”
    “What, I can’t woo you with a list of ways I’d like to lick that ice cream off of your body?”  
    Oh, imposing a no-sex rule on this is going to be the end of me, I can feel it.  
    “Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?” I’m basically opening the door for him to get dirty again, so this is a dangerous road for us to travel down if he’s not going to stay on message.  
    “Let’s see…I’m twenty eight, and I still have my very first video game console. I’m remodeling my apartment, and learning to lay tile, because I figure it’s good to know how to do that kind of a thing. I always thought it was easy. It looked easy, at least. I took for granted that it would be a piece of cake for me, but now I’m realizing how easy it is to screw up. So, I’m learning.”  
    It’s impossible for me to miss the double meaning there.  
    Ben pulls my hand up to his lips, and presses a kiss against my fingers.  
    We finish our meal, and after Ben pays the check, we walk out of the diner. Ben’s arm is around my shoulder, and mine is around his waist. He pulls me in close, presses a kiss against my temple. I smile, and turn to look across the street, where I’m almost certain that I see someone hidden in a car, with a telephoto lens pointed at us. It’s something that I’ve gotten used to since my parents’ scandal broke, and it’s not like I can do anything about it, so I just turn back into Ben’s embrace, and try to forget about the outside world for a while.  

    * * *

    Ben and I separate two blocks away from my apartment, because I need to make a stop at a specialty store to pick up some ingredients that I’m going to use for some baking that I’m planning on doing later. He’s reluctant to go, but he’s supposed to meet Felicity later on this morning. Before we part, Ben pulls me behind a small pillar decorating the side of a building, giving us a little privacy from the foot traffic on the sidewalk.  
    With one hand rooted to the concrete, and the other on my hip, he gives me a long, lingering goodbye kiss. His soft touches are electric, even just the feeling of his fingertips brushing across my cheeks. This is new, but it’s not. It’s familiar, but thrilling.  
    I’m determined not to talk myself out of this feeling, though. I’m going to bask in it, and not worry about the other shoe dropping.  
    As he walks away toward his awaiting car, he turns and looks at me every few steps, then gives up on that completely, walking backwards so he can keep his eyes on me. I laugh at him, and am wearing a smile so big that it actually hurts my face. Somehow, the goofy wave that he gives me when he gets into the car makes that smile even bigger.  
    I feel like I’m floating all through the market, and when I return home with my purchases, I’m still riding high as I set my bag down to unlock my door.  
    Then a chill washes over all that bliss when I see someone walk up behind me in the reflection of the glass panels on the door. I do my best not to acknowledge that I’ve even seen him, and instead reach into my cross-body bag to find my pepper spray.  
    “You won’t