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Perhaps I’ve been spending too much time with her.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything,” she says, her eyes dropping as her cheeks color.
“You’re fine. Mine was a poor attempt at humor.” Not entirely the truth, but I like the thought of Heidi’s discomfort even less than lying.
She gives a grateful smile, her eyes lifting to mine, and I can read it in her face—she knows I’m just saying it to put her out of her misery.
“Are you ready to order?” our server asks, his timing impeccable as he helps the transition out of a heavy topic.
“Yes, I’ll take the lamb,” Heidi says, this time her smile coy as she throws me a glance.
“And I will do the same,” I agree, handing over my menu as Heidi does the same.
“Excellent choice.”
Our server disappears as seamlessly as he arrived, and I turn my attention back to Heidi as she eats another oyster.
“Do you like them?” I ask.
“Mm-hmm,” she confirms, swallowing her bite.
“Did you know they are meant to be wonderful aphrodisiacs?”
I get the reaction I’m searching for as Heidi snorts and nearly chokes on the sip of champagne she chased the oyster down with. Coughing as her eyes water, she presses a hand to her green-silk-clad chest.
Try as I might, I can’t help but chuckle.
“Are you pulling my leg?” she demands, her voice raspy from having inhaled her bubbly.
“I would never.”
Her eyes narrow as she scrutinizes me, then she releases a giggle. “So even when we’re having dinner, this is really about sex?”
“When it comes to you, Heidi, it’s all I can think about,” I confess, leaning forward to murmur the confession in a low tone.
The excitement that ignites in her eyes fills me with intense satisfaction. Beneath the tablecloth, I brush her crossed knee with the tips of my fingers, and Heidi gasps, her blush darkening further.
And in that moment, all the tension from our earlier conversation vanishes, replaced by a new, electrical connection that I look forward to exploring early into the morning hours. Our conversation remains light and playful, teasing the line of flirtation for the remainder of dinner and into dessert.
Another thing I like about Heidi. She knows how to keep things casual, even if she occasionally strays into deeper emotional territory, and she doesn’t seem to mind backing out when I give her a clear signal.
After our meal, we make our way to the spa, where I’ve arranged for us to receive professional foot massages. I soon discover it’s another first for Heidi, and she reclines in the comfortable chair with a contented sigh as the skilled masseuses work their magic. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles, the gratitude evident in her expression.
“I can’t believe you put this all together today. Thank you for inviting me,” she says, her voice soft.
Something about the way she looks at me, her hazel eyes so open and genuine, makes my pulse quicken. “You’re welcome.”
I’m tempted to lean in and capture her lips with mine, but I hold back, wanting to savor every moment of this evening. Instead, I focus on the way her eyes flutter closed as she loses herself in the bliss of the massage.
At the end of our spa treatment, I feel like a new man, and Heidi looks as though she’s on the verge of falling asleep. But I’m not nearly done with her for the evening.
The fun’s only just begun.
I take her to our room, where our overnight bags already sit neatly on the luggage holders near the door. I like that she’s packed light—little more than an oversized purse. Somehow, knowing she doesn’t feel the need to pack a suitcase for a single night away from home appeals to me.
She’s not one of those high-maintenance beauty queens who has an hour-long regimen to follow before she goes to sleep. Symphony always did... Then again, her livelihood demanded that she remain young and beautiful forever, so the earlier she started on maintaining her appearance, the better odds she had of lasting as a model.
But Heidi seems to do just fine without all the masks and creams—more than fine, really. She’s stunning, her skin nearly glowing, her makeup so subtle, I don’t doubt she would be beautiful without it.
