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“Wow. You actually know what they are,” I grin. “I'm impressed.”
“Believe it or not, I've been known to fine dine on one or two occasions,” she teases. “I had them nearly every day when I was in Paris.”
“Paris?” I repeat. The shocks keep coming.
She nods. “I spent four weeks there right after I finished high school. It was my way of proving to myself that I could handle being on my own,” she explains.
“So you went alone?” I say, surprised. I’ve never been a seventeen year old girl, but I’d imagine that’s a pretty big deal. “I’m even more impressed. There’s so much more to you than I realized,” I add.
“Because I'm indecisive and I’ve been to Paris alone?” she jokes. “Which, by the way, was a hard decision to make. It came down to Rome, Paris and Berlin, so I drew one out of a hat.” Her eyes sparkle. I’m not sure if she’s joking or serious. “So,” she says, raising her eyebrows. “When do I learn more about Chase?”
“What you want to know?” I say.
She smiles, her eyes locking on mine. “What you want to tell me?”
Everything.
The next course comes out before I can answer her question. I smirk when I see that it’s chicken livers. I shake my head, because this one sure to test her. I didn't know what the menu was, but Luke knew that I was bringing a date, so I'm pretty sure this is his way of messing with me.
Without missing a beat she leans forward and scoops up a forkful of the delicate meat, before putting it into her mouth. She smiles, a dreamy expression forming on her face. I shake my head.
“Do you know what they are?” I chuckle.
“Chicken livers?” she says. She looks at me and raises her eyebrows. “Anyone would think that you were trying to trip me up, Mr. Winston.”
“Hey, in my defense I had no idea what the menu would be,” I say.
“Uh huh. Sure you didn't,” she replies, narrowing her eyes.
The rest of the courses aren’t nearly as risky, and before I know it, we just finished number six. Alana narrows her eyes at me.
“Is dessert one of these courses?” She asks playfully. “Because if not, you owe me something sweet. The same rule applies, whether you cook for me or take me out, Mr. Winston.”
“Gladly,” I chuckle. “Ice cream on the way home it is, then. I’d offer you the choice between ice cream and waffles, but I wouldn’t want to put you in a hard position.” I wet my lips and stare into her eyes. “At least, not that one.”
“How thoughtful of you,” she retorts.After dinner, we walk along the river, enjoying the ice cream I promised her, while continuing to get to know one another. Then out of nowhere, she curses loudly. I glance at her and raise my eyebrows.
“I left my jacket back in the restaurant,” she explains. “It’s one of my favorites,” she adds, a pained expression on her face. “Would you mind…?”
“Going back and getting it for you?” I guess. I glance back up the steep hill we’d just walked down and smile. “Of course. I’ll be right back.”
I lean over and kiss her before I start the trek back uphill to the resteraunt.
I’m out of breath and sweating buckloads by the time I reach the front doors. I look everywhere, for the missing jacket, but I can’t find it. It’s literally vanished. After nearly twenty minutes of searching and an argument with the waiter, I give up and walk back to where I left her, to break the news.
“I’m sorry,” I begin. Then I frown and eye her suspiciously. “That jacket you’re wearing looks awfully similar to the one you just sent me on a marathon to retrieve,” I comment.
She glances down, her eyes widening.
“How on earth did that happen?” she exclaims. She stares at me innocently, but her eyes are laughing at me. “I guess I must have had it right here all along and I didn’t even know it.”
“This wouldn’t happen to be payback for that time with my shirts, would it?” I growl, wrapping my arms around her waist. She laughs as I thrust her against me. I kiss her, my mouth ravaging her neck. “That was very disrespectful of you, Alana,” I mutter. “I might have to teach you a thing or two about manners.”
“Oh, really?” she says, smiling at me. “You know you deserved that,” she says.
She presses her mouth onto mine, kissing me slowly. I sigh as she pulls away, my lips still tingling from her touch.
Glancing at my watch, I wince. It’s late—much later than I was expecting. I have no idea where the time has gone, but I’ve had fun. Even more than I’d expected. I take her hand and walk her back to my car.
