Scandalous by Victoria Christopher Murray

the skateboarders and roller skaters and tourists who stopped every five steps to take in the sights. One of those sights was Roman himself. I noticed the way so many people glanced our way. I knew what it was: Roman and I were a beautiful couple. But if I was honest -- and like I said, I always was with myself -- it was really Roman who was getting all the attention. Women, and a whole lot of men, couldn't help staring at him.
    I wasn't intimidated or insecure about that, though. I loved the feeling of being with this man. We continued to walk, not speaking, not stopping, just strolling, so comfortable in each other's presence. As if we were meant to be.
    In front of the Sidewalk Cafe, Roman said, “ Have you eaten yet? ” I shook my head, and he led me to the long line that twisted around the side of the restaurant.
    “ You want to eat here? ” I asked. I'd been coming to Venice beach since I was a kid, and I'd never had lunch at this eatery. The line was always way too long for me to waste my time just for a hamburger. “ We won't get in for an hour! ”
    “ Stay right here, ” he whispered. He disappeared into the café, and in less than a minute, he was back, gesturing for me to join him at the front of the line. Taking my hand, he led me past all of the waiting people. The hostess grinned at Roman until she saw me. With a scowl, she led us to a premier table on the edge of the boardwalk. But before we could sit down, a woman sitting at the table next to ours jumped up.
    “ Roman! ” she exclaimed.
    “ Hey, Sheri, what's up? ” As Roman stepped forward to hug the woman, she took two giant steps back, knocking over her chair in the process.
    Without another word to Roman, the woman grabbed her purse from the table and turned to the guy who was with her. “ I'll wait for you outside, ” she said. She hadn't even finished speaking before she tore out of there like she was being chased by a killer.
    I frowned. The man at the table frowned.
    And Roman grinned. He shrugged, then turned his attention back to me and the hostess who had watched the whole exchange.
    When we finally sat down, the hostess handed Roman his menu, then she tossed mine across the table to me.
    “ What was that about? ” I asked the moment we were alone.
    “ What? Lisa? ” He shook his head. “ Don't pay her any attention. She acts like that whenever I come here. She just wants me. ”
    I leaned back and raised one eyebrow. This man sure was cocky. “ I'm talking about the girl who ran out of here. Who took one look at you and cut like she owed you some money or something. ”
    That made him laugh. “ Sheri's just a girl I used to know back in the day. ”
    Glancing at my menu, I said, “ Seems like she doesn't want to know you now. ”
    “ I guess she's still upset because I broke off the little thing we had going. ” He sighed. “ She was hurt when we broke up, but there wasn't any point in continuing something that wasn't going anywhere. ”
    “ That's all it was? ”
    “ What else could it be? ”
    I nodded and turned my eyes back to my menu. Yeah, it was clear that Sheri was a jilted lover, and that made me wonder how many hearts this man had broken.
    “ So, you really eat this kind of stuff? ” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
    “ What stuff? Food? ” He laughed and I joined him.
    “ It's just that the way you look … . ”
    He rested his arms on the table, then leaned toward me. “ I'm so glad that you noticed. ”
    I don't know why, but I felt like I was blushing. I couldn't remember that feeling … ever! I looked down at the menu, needing a moment to get myself together. I was Jasmine Cox. I didn't fawn over men … men fawned over me.
    So, I came back with, “ Yeah, I noticed. And with the way you look, I didn't think a morsel of food ever crossed your lips. ”
    “ More than food has crossed these lips, baby. ”
    “ Oh, please. ” I waved my hand as if I was totally unimpressed with his flirtation,