Gem in the Rough

Chapter 23

My face turns red. I really look that much like Jillian?

"Brittany, stop scaring her. Can we pick a booth?"

Brittany nods and we tell her we'd like some coffee. She runs behind the counter to fill up another carafe to bring to us along with some coffee cups. We find our way to a booth in the far back corner. Kieran ushers me there with a palm to my lower back. A tingle goes down my spine and I shudder slightly. I'll never get used to that feeling.

Kieran sits down after taking off his light jacket. I do the same and then watch as Brittany hands us our mugs, pours our coffee, and leaves two menus in front of us. She walks away then, needing to tend to the others in the diner.

We're silent for a moment before I blurt, "Do I really look that much like Jillian?"

Kieran's face is the one to blush now. "Honestly, kind of? Your hair is really similar and some of your facial features, but nothing too drastic."

"I think you're downplaying it if Brittany reacted that way." I'm still unsure if I can trust what he's saying.

"I told you already that you do look like her in some ways, so I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. But honestly, I guess it makes me feel better that I'm not the only one who saw it."

My mind starts going a mile a minute, thinking about how Kieran apparently finds me so attractive yet never felt that way towards Jillian. Yet we look similar? This isn't adding up.

"I know what you're thinking. I just never saw her that way. I don't know why my body and mind react so much to you, but they do. I'm so insanely into you, it's unreal." He reaches for my hand, and I let him take it, lacing our fingers together. "I don't want you to doubt that."

I nod, feeling skeptical.

"I can list things about you that I like, if that would help." He smirks at me, still holding my hand.

"I don't think so. I'm not good with compliments," I laugh.

"Exactly. So here I go. I like your sense of humor and how you're not afraid to be goofy with me. How you listen to me when I talk and try to understand me. I like how much we have in common, and how you cuddle me, sometimes being the big spoon." His grin gets bigger as he continues to talk.

"I like your smile, how organized you are, and your need to analyze everything. I know a lot of this comes from anxiety, but it's what makes you who you are. I admire that you're working on it and that you're getting help." His voice lowers then, my cheeks flaming at this point. "I also enjoy your incredibly thick thighs and the rest of your beautiful body, and how you moan when I'm making you come."

I cough and take a sip of my coffee, trying not to choke on my own saliva.

"I could go on if you want."

Kieran is smiling at me, amused. "Nope, that's a good list. Thank you."

I pull my hand from his and pick up my menu, trying to decide what I want to eat, but also trying to calm myself down.

"What's good here?" My voice gives me away, still breathless from his monologue.

Kieran then takes me through the menu, letting me know that breakfast is always the way to go unless I'm really craving a burger because those are good too. He explains the best meals and what to stay away from.

He tells me about a time that he and Jillian got the huge plate of waffles and split them when they were younger and how they were sick for two days after. Kieran's eyes are dancing while he talks about Jillian and their experiences at the diner.