I think somewhere along the line, I stopped expecting to feel this kind of pull, which is silly since I’m only thirty. It’s just that I used to get those kinds of butterflies all the time when I was younger. Every man who made me feel good about myself made me feel special. I liked being wanted, then I started wanting something real, and that’s where disappointment started popping up.
Maybe that’s why today hit so hard. Eli feels… responsible. Never did I think responsible would be that big of a turn on, but ever since my life shifted significantly at twenty-nine and I was thrown into a hell of a lot more responsibilities, it’s hot. And that quiet confidence? Yeah, it’s totally working for me. There’s just something about him, and I knew I’d be a fool if I didn’t explore it.
The closer I get to the bar, the more that weird mix of nerves and excitement is growing. I really hope this goes just as well now that we’re in a more classic date-type setting.
I turn down the block and pull into the parking lot. Eli’s truck slides into the spot beside mine, and my chest does this ridiculous little flutter at the sight of him. He climbs out first, pressing his door shut and walking toward me as I get out of my car.
Up close in the daylight, he somehow looks even better than in the studio.
“Hey,” he says in a warm voice.
“Hey,” I echo, and my tone already sounds embarrassingly fond. “You look…” I start, then immediately regret having spoken because suddenly I’m at a loss for words, all of them apparently.
He quirks a brow, amused. “I look…?”
“Good,” I blurt. “Distractingly good. That’s all I’ve got.”
His smile takes over his handsome face and he laughs. “You’re not so bad yourself, handsome. Ready?” he asks, nodding toward the entrance.
“Yep.” I don’t know why I’m suddenly so much more nervous than I was earlier when I literally rode his lap like we were in a damn rodeo. That felt like such a low-pressure environment compared to a restaurant for whatever reason.
Eli starts walking next to me, and it feels like he intentionally brushes his hand against mine. He smiles when he notices my panic that I’m not hiding well.
“Remember, I can do CPR, but I’d prefer to kiss you voluntarily rather than being forced to press my lips to yours if you pass out.”
“Damn, I must be so easy to read.” I blush. “I don’t know why I’m so much more nervous, suddenly being here with you on a… date?”
“It’s a date, as long as you want it to be,” Eli assures me.
Breathe,I remind myself. I just really want him to like me, to feel the level of hope and possibility that I’m feeling too.
Inside, the hostess greets us. There’s a bar behind her and tables on both sides of the bar.
“Two?” the hostess asks.
“Yes.” I smile as she leads us toward our table.
We get a booth near the window, and she lays down the menus and informs us that our waitress will be right over. Eli sits across from me, leaning forward, forearms on the table. “So,” he says. “This is the part where we pretend we’re normal people who didn’t meet by straddling each other on a stranger’s bed.”
“That was definitely questionable,” I say. “Fun, though.”
His eyebrow lifts. “Is fun really the right word?”
“Okay, fine,” I admit, leaning in, already feeling more comfortable again. “It was very hot and I’m really glad I applied.”
“Good, me too,” he murmurs. “Because I was starting to worry I imagined how intense that got.”
“Oh, you didn’t imagine anything,” I assure him quickly, cheeks warming. “Trust me.” We stare at each other for a moment, gazes dropping to each other’s mouths. I wish this table wasn’t between us. I desperately want to kiss him again—a normal kiss.
“Can I start you off with anything to drink besides water?” the waitress asks, reminding me that we’re in public and that maybe I should learn a little more about this practical stranger before I think about kissing him again.
“Uh, I’ll have a Coke,” I respond when I finally manage to tear my gaze from his face.
“Water is great,” Eli answers.
“I’ll be right back with those,” she replies with a big smile.
“I’m trying really hard to think about anything other than kissing you again,” I admit after she walks away.
