“I’ll revise my earlier statement to exclude radicchio. I like everything but radicchio. That’s an unforgivable leaf.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
As he takes another bite, he tilts his head, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Do you want me to eat vegan when we’re together?”
Wow. No one has ever asked me that before. “That’s very considerate to ask, but it’s a personal choice. Thank you, though.”
“Just let me know if you change your mind, Ellie,” he says.
Gabe’s an interesting mix of gentlemanly consideration outside the bedroom and caveman in it.
I do like this cocktail of Gabe.
“I’ll let you know.” I take another bite of the salad before I go fishing. “So, you told the driver you’re liking LA?”
He grins. “Even more in the last few hours,” he says.
I smile and happily tuck that compliment in my pocket. “Me too.”
We take a few more bites, then he says, “Tell me more about your show. When I looked you up, I read a little about The Dating Games. Two best friends, a man and a woman. The guy’s gay, the woman’s straight. And they give each other dating challenges? How’d you come up with that concept?”
This is new. A guy who asks questions and wants to know the me behind the face he might have seen on-screen. “The thing I loved most about acting was inventing the backstories for characters, so while I was working on Unfinished Business, I started playing around with the concept for The Dating Games. It comes from situations I saw around me—things my friends and I experienced. Dating these days is such a minefield,” I say.
“Sure is,” he seconds.
“I wanted to tell a fun, fresh, sometimes poignant story that reflected the highs and lows for these two friends. Both are coming off breakups and getting back into the dating world by giving each other bets and challenges.”
“It’s as much about friendship as it is about romance?”
“Yes! Exactly. At its heart, it’s about how we lean on our friends as we seek romance,” I say. “I know I wouldn’t be able to get through the crazy world of dating without my friends.”
“Will you miss them while you’re in LA?”
“So much.” I set a hand on my heart, feeling that pang of missing Veronica and Hazel even though they’re still here this week. “But I plan on making great new friendships in Los Angeles. It’s my top goal after work.”
He smiles. “Love that plan.” Then he clears his expression and takes another bite. When he’s done chewing, his gaze is intense and so is his tone. “No interest in dating?”
Well, I didn’t plan on it, but tonight was fun.
I don’t say that, though, since I can’t quite read why he’s asking with such…passion?
He clearly cares about the answer, so I mull over his question for a few seconds. Originally, I thought I might date when I first arrived. But I’ll be working relentless hours starting next week, building a new name for myself in the entertainment business.
Even though dating a sexy beast like Gabe might be fun, I’m here for one reason only, and I need to focus on my new work opportunity. “I wasn’t planning on it,” I say at last, feeling solid about that answer. “Work is going to be intense, and it’s a big change. So is setting up my life here. Making new friends,” I add with a knowing smile, bumping my shoulder to his. He’s been a friend of sorts. He could surely stay one beyond whatever tonight is.
“New friends,” he says, like he’s taking everything in. He blows out a long, relaxed breath. “Makes perfect sense. I’m all about football. That should be intense too. Always is but especially since this is my last season.”
I nod slowly as I shift through what he’s telling me. “And you want to give it your all,” I venture.
“Absolutely,” he says crisply. “I don’t want distractions. Just like you with your new gig.”
I feel tentatively for the boundary of what we could be. Gabe is decisive. That must be why he asked the any interest in dating question with such intensity—because he wanted to be certain I wasn’t interested in a relationship. And decisive is a good thing when laying out rules for…whatever we seem to be setting limits on.
Whether we’re a one-night thing. Or maybe two nights? How many would I even want?
But when I stare down at my schedule, the answer seems pretty easy—the next few nights until I start the new job. Plus, I don’t want to take any more chances. “And honestly, I’ve had some bad relationships,” I admit.
“Same here, Ellie.” He knocks back some wine as he studies my face. “That’s why you took the good guy challenge? Because you’ve had some bad dates?”
“I did.” It’s so much easier to talk to him now than it was at the start of the date. When I met him at the bar, I wasn’t completely honest. Now we’ve revealed our desires, so maybe that’s why it’s easier to share. “I’m trying to be more careful. Read the situation better and all.”
“I’m trying to do the same,” he says, then shrugs resignedly. “Except I don’t know if I’ve improved. I pegged you for a princess who’d kick me out for wanting dirty sex.”
I scoff. “What about me gives off the goody-two-shoes vibe?”
He gestures to Gigi’s red velvet throne. “Your cute dog.” Then to me, with a playful smile. “Your cute jeans. Your cute clothes. Your cute self.”
I poke his chest. “My naughty texts. My sexy clothes. My yes to your can I take you home and fuck you.”
He clears his throat. “Ahem. And your self-proclaimed good guy challenge. That made me think you wanted sweet, butterfly kisses and soft lovemaking,” he teases.
Touché. “Fine. You win that round,” I say with a laugh.
“Good. I like winning.” He goes thoughtful for a moment, his gaze turned inward like he’s turning something over in his head. I wait, curious as to what he’ll say, and when he’s ready, there’s a gleam in his eyes. “If you like dating challenges so much, I have one for you.”
I’m intrigued, in a good way, and I lean forward. “Hit me up.”
“I don’t want this to be a one-night stand. I need more of your mouth. Your pussy. Your sweet, beautiful tits,” he says.
Hello, five-alarm fire! This man can go from zero to sixty in the dirty department. I’m determined to keep up. “And I want more of your cock. Your mouth. Your hands.”
He lets out a dirty rumble. “Your production starts next week. My training camp starts then too. We have a big team meeting on Sunday, then on Monday, I take off for San Diego. How about we do this for the rest of the week?”
The suggestion is deliciously straightforward and clear. It also answers all my questions about rules. We now know what this is—a brief but scorching-hot fling. And what it isn’t—anything serious. He leaves town next week. I hunker down then for the show. We both need laser focus on our jobs.
It’s a relief that I’m on all the same pages as Gabe, but I tease him about the one thing I can. “What’s this exactly?”