Learning Curve (BBW Romance) Read Online Free

one more minute. Buck up, girl.
    She took a deep breath, tried her best to
heed the advice. But it was hard, when she was putting herself into
this vulnerable position. If he didn’t show, she was going to shut
down her dating profile, quit her job, and join a convent. Yes,
that was the solution to rejection. No doubt about it.
    She was in the middle of a heated internal
debate as to whether or not she should make a run for it when he
walked through the door. The breath whooshed out of her in a rush,
and she stood up at the same time the Maître de snapped to
attention. His sandy hair had been tamed, and what she was sure was
a lean and gorgeous body was jazzed up in a tux that had obviously
been tailor-made for him. He dripped money, power, and sex appeal,
and looked about one hundred times better than he did in the
photo.
    Yup. She definitely should
have run . Eyes darting around, she judged
the distance and wondered if she could make it past him and through
the door without alerting attention, then scoffed at herself. With
her bulk? Fat chance in hell.
    “ Mr. Marshall.” He stepped
out from behind his little podium thing and actually sketched a
little bow. “It’s a pleasure to welcome you back again.”
    “ Thank you.” Those deep
brown eyes looked around, then smiled as they settled on her.
“Suzie?”
    She didn’t know how he was so certain of her
identity, but she knew she would look like the biggest idiot if she
tried to deny it now. “Hi Ryan.”
    “ My God.” He stepped
forward, his eyes drinking her in. She was like a really, really
sexy porcelain doll, with milky pale skin that was contrasted by
the black satin halter dress flowing around some really great
curves, and the vivid green eyes that were wide in her rounded
face. Gleaming chestnut curls were piled on top of her head, but
one or two were left to hang down and kiss the sides of her neck,
where his lips were itching to be. The roses in her cheeks kept her
paleness from being unattractive, and the halter-top showcased a
pair of large, lovely breasts that looked ridiculously edible.
“You’re gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.”
    Her mouth formed a small o. Grinning; he
stepped forward and took her by the arm before she could say
anything. “This is my date. Do you have the table I reserved?”
    “ Right this way,
sir.”
    They were whisked up to a table on the top
floor, out on the veranda where they were offered a prime view of
the sun ducking behind the skyscrapers as it slipped beneath the
horizon. Champagne was served, along with a basket of rolls and
butter. Suzie had almost convinced herself not to take one, as she
had done the other dates, but remembered that she was supposed to
be herself, and so grabbed one and slathered it with butter.
    Ryan watched her eyes
flutter closed, her lashes brushing against round, rosy cheeks as
she bit into the buttered roll with such relish, such abandon. Her
red lips provided a ridiculously sensual contrast to the fluffy
white roll that it was all he could do not to yank her across the
table and into his lap so that he could eat her up.
    Susie noticed him watching her, the look in
his eyes so hot she felt a blush spreading across her cheeks.
Surely that couldn’t be lust in his eyes… could it? She wondered as
she set the roll down.
    “ Why are you staring at me
like that?”
    He grinned wolfishly. “I’m just thinking
that I would give up just about anything to be in that roll’s place
right now.”
    She laughed, and some of the nerves
dissipated. “You can’t be serious.”
    The waiter came by, briefly interrupting
their conversation as they ordered appetizers and entrees. “Why
wouldn’t I be serious?”
    She gestured with one hand. “Look at me,
Ryan.”
    “ Believe me, I have looked
at you. In fact, I can’t seem to take my eyes off you. I can’t
imagine what you think I should see in you, Susie.” He leaned
forward so she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “But what I do
see is a