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Okaaay. “What do you suggest?”
Seth’s phone rang, stalling his reply. He glanced at the screen. “I need to take this call.”
“No problem. I’m going to the restroom.” She gathered her clutch as Seth nodded. With a smile at Theo and his staff, she skirted around them and entered a short hallway that led to the restroom.
Once inside, she dropped her purse on the ledge above the vanity and drew in a deep breath.
Her gaze lifted to the mirror above the sink. A dab of powder on her nose and a swipe of lipstick, but no major cosmetic repairs needed. Grabbing her compact, she removed the trace of shine from her face. As she held the lipstick, her hand stilled.
Seth wanted to leave. Where would they go? A bar? All that noise and crowds. No thanks. She wanted somewhere quiet, where they could keep talking.
Quiet. Private. Could she invite him back to her apartment? She chewed her lip. Was she nuts for even contemplating that after knowing him only a few hours? But she felt safe with Seth. More time with him would be wonderful.
Would the chemistry they’d found here evaporate once inside her home? Or would Seth turn out to be a toad in disguise?
Wouldn’t be the first time.
She dropped her gaze to the white basin, concentrating on the pristine cleanliness of the porcelain.
Why does it matter who else I fuck? Chad’s face had twisted with a sneer. You won’t change for me, why should I for you? She’d tried to hide her tears, tried to sound reasonable, even as disbelief had flooded her voice. How can you equate your lack of faithfulness to my not losing weight? Nobody is that shallow. But he had been. And though her gut and her head told her she was far better off without such a callous bastard as her future husband, that knowledge didn’t dull the pain of his betrayal.
But living in the past served no purpose.
Lifting her head, she looked at herself in the mirror. After another cleansing breath, she raised her lipstick, the gorgeous plum colored MAC she’d gifted herself last month, and skimmed the lush creaminess over her lips.
Was it ridiculous how much she wanted tonight to go well with Seth? Likely, yes. But wasn’t that the awesome part about meeting a great guy? When you hoped for more?
He was sexy and funny, and while her attraction to him was definitely intense, it ran deeper than just physical. He’d grabbed her attention with his loyalty to his adopted family and the way he’d had her back with her dad at the cocktail party. And, icing on the cake, he’d made her laugh, too.
She glanced at her watch. Eight. Still early. Okay then. She snapped the top on her lipstick and dumped it in her clutch. After washing her hands, she headed out the door and back to their table. Seth was placing a credit card back in his wallet as she stopped beside her chair.
Oh my God, I’m really doing this.
“I know a place. The coffee’s awesome, plus there’s chocolate cake.”
Seth grinned. “Tempting my sweet tooth as well as gorgeous. You’re racking up some serious brownie points, luv.”
The nerves in her belly fluttered like the wings of a swarm of butterflies. It was a simple compliment, but it was the way he’d delivered it. No smarmy charm, but with a directness she’d learned was all Seth. And he’d called her ‘luv’ in that epic accent of his. She totally loved that.
She lifted a hand to Theo and his sons as they called out their goodbyes.
Once in the cab, she gave the driver directions to Seven Dishes. Seth raised his brows. “I thought we were headed somewhere different.”
“I live upstairs. The coffee’s great, and I have two slices of chocolate cake going begging.” Did that sound too forward? They weren’t teenagers, and she was only offering coffee and cake.
“Good plan.” He reached over and squeezed her hand but didn’t let go. A frisson of excitement raced over her skin. His larger hand around hers reminded her of his size and masculinity. He was both protector and hunter.
The first title was yummy, like a giant taking her in his arms and placing her behind him against all comers. And the hunter part was panty melting in all its primitive glory.
The ten-minute drive went by in a flash. Neither of them talked much, both caught up in their own thoughts. When the cab stopped in front of the café’s black and white metal sign that hung from a large cast iron hinge, she automatically dug in her clutch for some money for the driver.
Seth placed his hand over both of hers. “When I ask a woman out, I pay.” The look in his eyes warned her not to argue.
“Okay.” She would content herself with supplying the coffee and cake. “Thank you.”
Light streamed out of Seven Dishes’ large glass windows and spilled onto the pavement. With a fifty-foot wide street frontage, the old building afforded a huge area for the café. The exposed brick interior was complimented by square wooden tables and mismatched chairs. At the other end, an assortment of vintage upholstered chairs and leather sofas were teamed with end tables and lamps—a favorite haunt of their regular customers who liked to sit and drink their coffee, often while perusing a recent purchase from the bookstore next door.
Harper caught sight of two of her staff serving customers from behind the silver pressed tin counter. A few tables were occupied, and two women were seated together on one of the sofas. Nitro and Abigail would be winding things down soon. No point disturbing them.
