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“Hello there, handsome,” she said with a grin.
“Hello, beautiful,” he shot back with a wink.
Moments later the waiter delivered the dessert, and a second server placed their coffee on the table with the bowl of whipped cream. Picking up a spoon, Zach scooped up a large mouthful of the pudding and brought it to her lips.
“Open up.”
“Ooh, that’s positively sinful,” she said, rolling her eyes as she accepted the pudding. “Is that why you came to sit next to me? So you could feed me?”
“One of the reasons.”
Dropping a dollop of the whipped cream into her coffee, she took a drink.
“Dammit,” she exclaimed, her happy expression turning into a scowl. “No whiskey! Where is that waiter? What a total incompetent.”
“He isn’t incompetent. I told him not to bring you any more alcohol.”
“You did what?”
“Listen to me,” he began, lowering his voice. “Others might not care if you get falling down drunk, but I do.”
“How dare—”
“Stop right there,” he said in a stern, hushed whisper. “We’re going to finish our dessert and coffee, then take a walk through the gardens.”
She wanted to jump up and yell at him. She wanted to throw water at him, she wanted to do a lot of things, but oddly paralytic, as he brought another mouthful of bread pudding to her lips, she took it in. When the dessert was finished and he’d signed the check, he started to rise from the table.
“Time for a walk.”
“I’m going to stay here and have a brandy.”
“Should I take you out of here over my shoulder?” he asked softly, leaning over the table.
“You wouldn’t!”
“You’re welcome to test me.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I’m giving you what you want, but if you’d rather go home, we’ll call it quits. What’s it to be, Emma? A walk through the grounds, or back to your condo?”
A hot, prickling sensation flooded her body. She’d anticipated a clash of wills, but she hadn’t expected such a spine tingling ultimatum. More than anything she wanted to walk through the grounds with him, but her stubborn pride had her by the throat.
Silent, endless seconds ticked by.
“Emma, this is a simple choice,” he murmured softly. “You take a leap of faith with me, or stay locked in self-imposed loneliness. I’m going to the men’s room. When I come back, if you don’t give me an answer, I’ll make the obvious assumption and take you home.”
“Please don’t leave,” she suddenly whispered, heat filling the back of her throat. “I’d love to walk in the gardens with you.”
* * *
ZACH STARED DOWN ATher.
The moment was one he wanted to relish.
To capture.
To never forget.
