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It’s no lie. He’s in a button-down white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black pants. He’s like something out of a dream with all the bulging arm candy a woman could want. He points to his drink. “I had planned to wait until you got here, but when your friend behind the bar learned I was waiting for you, he poured me a whiskey.”
I wave to Phillip. “We went to school together. He and his husband, Gene, own this place. Gene is the chef.”
Mantus nods. “I’ve been here for a little while and heard all about growing up in Somerset, New Jersey.”
Oh god, what did Phillip say? “He didn’t tell all my secrets, did he?”
“Nothing embarrassing.” He grins, and I swear it makes my clit pulse.
Get it together, Felicity.I sit on the stool and Phillip brings me water, a cosmo, and a wink. “I’m glad to hear that.”
For a long moment after he sits, he stares at me as if I’m a novelty. Finally, he asks, “How did you get into party planning?”
I breathe. Small talk I can do. “At my aunt’s wedding when I was eight, I saw how the planner was so in control and how happy she’d made everyone. I knew then that’s what I wanted to do. After I got a business degree at Rutgers, I went to work for a big firm in New York for a few years.”
“Now you’re on your own and killing it.” He grins at me again.
Damn.“I’m doing okay. I can pay the bills and my assistant’s salary.”
Gene steps out from the kitchen door at the other end of the bar and smiles warmly as he strides over and kisses my cheek. He looks at Mantus and his eyes widen. “I’m Gene Scarpone.”
Mantas stands and shakes his hand. “Mantus Kohl. Nice to meet you.”
“Do you two want to sit and eat or drink here for a while?” Gene asks.
They both look at me for a response. The doubtful part of me thinks about staying in the bar and not committing to a meal. If he’s a jerk then I have my one drink and split.
He runs his hand over his closely cropped blond hair, which seems like a nervous habit. Somehow that’s even more endearing than him showing up early to wait for me.
“We should eat, right?” Not exactly the strong command I wanted, but it’s the best I can do. I’m only bold when party planning. When dating, I’m waiting for doom.
The smile touches his eyes first and then spreads to the rest of his heart-stopping gorgeous face. “Dinner would be great.”
Gene grins wide. “Follow me.”
We take our drinks with us and I wave to Phillip as we cross to the restaurant.
Gene seats us in a quiet corner. He cocks his head. “Will you trust me with your meals?”
“Of course.” I love it when Gene feeds me and I’ve never been disappointed.
With his gaze locked on me, Mantus says, “If Felicity trusts you, then I do.”
“Great. I’ll have Beth bring you some water.” Gene returns to the kitchen.
“You don’t even know me.” I can’t stop staring into his eyes. It’s as if I’m under a spell. “How do you know you can trust me?”
Three
Mantus
Ihave no idea how to answer her question. “I just know.”
Her eyelashes almost touch her cheeks as she looks down at her hands in her lap. Then her gaze returns to mine and my heart pounds from just that.
I may be losing my mind, but this woman has me twisted in knots.
The waitress arrives with glasses of water and a basket of bread. She asks if she can get us anything else. Beth is a very pretty woman with an ample chest, which she lets brush my arm when she puts the glasses down.
