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“Oh, we’re not together,” Ivy says. “We’re just having dinner.”
“Yeah,” I say with a grin. “She would never date a corporate parasite like me.”
Ivy sinks down a little as I toss her own words out there. She smiles shyly at me. “He’s not so bad.”
Heather just laughs. “Well, whatever’s going on here, enjoy yourselves.”
Ivy is all smiles as Heather heads back to her table.
“You remember that one, huh?”
“Corporate parasite?” I ask, casually looking at my menu. “How could I forget?”
Her cheeks get a little red and it’s so adorable my heart aches.
“I take it back. I may have overreacted a little.”
“A little?” I say with a laugh. “You tried to incite a mob to take me down.”
“I’m protective of my town,” she says. “And prone to impulsiveness.”
“What a coincidence,” I say, flashing her a flirty grin. “My biggest turn-on is impulsive girls who are fiercely protective of the towns they grew up in.”
“Sounds like you’re going to love me.”
I think I already do.
We order our food and talk the whole time about everything from our families growing up to our views on the world and our favorite movies and bands. I tell her about my new house and she tells me about starting her business with her brother. I hang on her every word. I want to know everything about her.
She tells me that she’ll often climb out her window, sit on her roof, and look up at the stars when she can’t sleep.
“That’s why I could never live in the city,” she says as she sips her wine, looking radiant in the candlelight. “I wouldn’t be able to live without the stars.”
“I get that,” I say as I gaze into her sparkling eyes. “Some things are too beautiful to live without.”
By the time dessert arrives—crème brûlée for her and a slice of key lime pie for me—I’m head over heels for this girl. I’m obsessed.
Watching her slide spoonfuls of that crème brûlée into her mouth and hearing her little moans is making me rock hard under the table.
This is my restaurant and more than once the thought crosses my mind to kick everyone out, lock the doors, and take her right here on the table.
That would be the ultimate dessert.
So I’m ecstatic when we’re in the parking lot afterward and she suggests that we keep the date going.
“I could go for another drink,” she says casually as I walk her to her car.
“Is there a bar around here we could go to?”
She bites her bottom lip and grins at me. “Actually, I’d like to see your new house if you’re up for giving me a tour.”
My whole body charges with possibility. “My place?”
She looks me over with heated eyes, opens her door, and slides into her car. “I’ll follow you.”
I swallow hard, feeling like I’ve just won the soulmate jackpot.
“Alright,” I say with a grin. “Let’s go.”
