Page 12 of The Cost of Love

“Do you want to go somewhere else?”

He offers a solution to the problem I’ve created. His determination to continue on this evening is backing me into a corner.

“Come on, I have somewhere in mind.” He turns to go back towards the front of the restaurant, leaving me no choice but to follow.

As we walk in-between the tables, we pass by the waiter with a glass of water in his hand.

“I’m sorry. We’re leaving,” I say, guilt riding its way up my chest.

It makes a home right next to the panic, making me feel overwhelmingly stupid. Alexander stops short and looks at the man, who just nods at me. He taps the server on the shoulder, goes into his pocket, and hands him something, passing it discreetly. Without even looking at what he got, the man’s face lights up before he starts to head back the way he was coming.

Relief that I didn’t just ruin someone else’s night eases some of the tension clawing under my skin. The balmy night air typical of an August evening helps with the rest as we step outside.

He calls someone on his phone while I try to gather myself and pull together something to say. When he faces me, I pinch my brows together.

Nerves rattle me to my bones, causing all my words to be rushed and breathy. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being difficult. This is a nice restaurant. It might be too nice. I just don’t think I should be here. I am—”

“Stop,” he commands. He grabs my hand, pulling me closer to him, hazel eyes cutting into my own.

“Breathe.” He takes in a big breath himself to demonstrate, all while waiting for me to follow orders.

I do as he says, and a lot of my apprehension releases with the exhale.

“You are overthinking this.”

I nod because I know I am.

“I picked this restaurant because I wanted to give you the type of experience we talked about, but where we’re going next is where I would have really liked to go. If you still want to continue with this date, I promise you will have a good time.”

I try to take in his words and hear exactly what he is saying. I breathe in and out again for extra measure to try and calm myself down. The surety with which he speaks eases the panic coiling inside of me, and I look up to see his steel-strong determination. I came all this way to go on this date. I can’t let my fears stop me now.

“Okay, yes, I want to continue.”

He pulls my fingers up to his lips and grazes a kiss across them before he lets them go. Smiling at my agreement, he turns towards the street. When a car pulls up, I resign myself to trying to have a good night.

Chapter 6

Chanice

Alexander opens the back door and waits for me to slide in before following. Giving the man an address, he falls back, facing me.

“I was a little preoccupied with you trying to leave, but now that we have cleared that up, I have to say that you look delectable.” He stares at me like I’m indeed something to consume; a fire alight in his eyes.

I hope that tonight he will actually get to taste me.

“You look good too; you have a great style,” I say.

Without the clothes, this man would stand out in a crowd, but with them, he is even more impossible to ignore. His bold shirt, paired with the perfectly fitted black pants, would draw the attention of anyone who came across his path.

“Thank you,” he says, running his thumb across his bottom lip. “I honestly have a passion for clothes, too much of my money goes towards it.”

“What else are you passionate about?” I ask, diving right into the question portion of the evening. Even though I’m only interested in one part of him, it seems only right to get to know the rest.

I can see hesitation in the furrow of his brow. His jaw flexes as he examines my face. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he is searching for something as he looks at me. An answer to a question he is asking himself.

I sit up a little straighter, trying to show him I’m engaged in whatever he has to say. With no right to judge anyone, I definitely am not going to do it to him.

He must see what he is looking for, because he answers. “I like to believe I have somewhat of a passion for everything I do, but nothing tops my love for painting.” He says the words like he is unsure that he wants to share. It looks like he stops breathing while he waits for me to react.