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“Good. I’m going home then,” said Cameron. “You guys have fun.”
Antonio watched him go, then turned back to Mary Ellen. “You heard the man, and he is your boss, you have to do as he says.”
“What, have fun?” She smiled. “Well, if Cam says I must, then I’d better try.”
Antonio noticed Rodney hovering and beckoned him over. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Your table is ready whenever you are.”
“Thanks.” Antonio offered Mary Ellen his arm. “Shall we?”
She grinned and slipped her arm through his. “I’d love to.”
~ ~ ~
Once they were seated, Mary Ellen looked across the table at Antonio and then looked around the restaurant. She blew out a big sigh and turned to take in the beautiful view. This was Antonio’s table. The best in the house, with the best view of the valley.
“Is everything okay?”
She tore her eyes away from the view to look at him and nodded. “Yes. It just seems so strange to be sitting here with you. I mean, this is your table, your wine bar. You’re Mr. Popular. I’m more used to observing this scene than being a part of it.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She chuckled. “I don’t know. We’ve known each other for so long, but we’ve never really known each other at all. I’ll be honest, I thought you were an asshole.”
He put his hand over his heart and gave her a hurt look.
She laughed. “Don’t. You know exactly what I mean. Don’t you?”
He nodded. “I’m afraid I do. I’m grateful that now I get the chance to prove to you that that’s not all I am.”
“You already have. The other night, at Molly’s? Thank you. That was so sweet of you.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry I overheard, but I had to say something. I could hear how hurt you were. I … I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I appreciate it. And thank you for getting rid of him tonight.”
Antonio smiled. Did he have to keep doing that? He had such a sexy smile. It made her want to skip dinner and get straight to what happened afterward. She couldn’t wait, but at the same time, she wanted to enjoy the whole evening. She wasn’t a fool. She knew it’d just be one night, and she wanted to make the most of every minute with this new Antonio. He was turning out to be a great guy.
“I told you, it was for my sake as well as yours. I didn’t want him to upset you, and I didn’t want him to hold you up. I want you all to myself.”
The way he said it sent shivers down her spine. She met his gaze. His big brown eyes bore into hers. Was he thinking the same as she was? Did he want to skip dinner and just get on with it, too? If he did, he was hiding it well. He still looked like he cared, not like he just wanted into her panties. But maybe that was part of his play? Maybe he was such a master at the art of seduction that he got a girl to relax by making her believe he was totally into her? “Well, here I am,” she said brightly. “In all the years we’ve known each other, have we ever had a conversation? I don’t think we have.”
He shook his head sadly. “When you first came here, you dismissed me, and I’ve been nursing a broken heart ever since.”
She laughed out loud. “You’re so full of shit!”
His eyes widened. He did a good job of looking hurt. “I am not.” His lips quirked up a little. “Well, maybe, sometimes, but what I just said? That’s God’s honest truth. When I first laid eyes on you, I thought we were going to have a beautiful friendship.” He waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh again. “But you put me in my place in no uncertain terms.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you serious?”
He nodded solemnly. “You don’t remember?”
“No.”
He blew out an exaggerated sigh. “She broke my heart, and she doesn’t even recall. We were all up at the big house, Uncle Cole and Aunt Madeleine’s. It was the first time you’d been over there. I asked if you wanted to walk the estate with me and you turned me down.”
Mary Ellen furrowed her brow as she tried to remember. It came back to her. She’d been talking to Cameron’s father, who was still on the board at the time, when Antonio had asked if she wanted to go for a walk with him. She’d thought he was gorgeous even then, but it didn’t seem right to go sneaking out back with a guy when she’d been invited to a gathering at her new employer’s home. “I’d completely forgotten about that.” She laughed. “But now you mention it, I seem to recall that when I said no, you went for yourwalkwith Elaine from HR.”
