“I don’t,” she says with a wistful sigh. “I drink too much wine and eat too much pasta. My friend’s brothers own an Italian restaurant in downtown Carmel, and we go there a lot.”
“Tuscany?” I ask.
Her eyes go wide. “You’ve been there?”
“A couple of times.” I still own a small house in Monterey. A small house that costs over a million dollars, because real estate in that area is pricey as hell. I’ve considered selling it especially now that I’m leaving the state, but for now, I’m holding onto it. I might rent it out or something.
We’ll see.
“I can’t believe that! We could’ve been in Tuscany at the same time and not even known!” She looks truly blown away by the coincidence.
“True,” I say with a nod. “But I would’ve noticed you, so I’m guessing we’ve never crossed paths.”
There go her cheeks again. Nice and pink. I wonder if her nipples are that pink. Or, you know, the pretty pink parts between her legs. “You’re just saying that.”
“Not really,” I tell her truthfully. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Mitch.” She draws my name out, like she’s all embarrassed. “You really think so?”
“Oh, I know so.” I lean back, taking her in. “I can’t wait to meet you in person this weekend.”
“Wait a minute. You’re not some secret serial killer, are you?” She asks this with such seriousness, I start to laugh all over again.
“Even if I was, do you think I’d tell you?” I grin, unable to contain it. “I’d keep it a secret, right?”
“True.” She smiles. Laughs a little. “It’s just…my friends don’t want me to meet you by myself. They want to come with me.”
“Swear to God, I’m not a serial killer, Eleanor,” I say solemnly, holding my hand up and making the peace sign. “Scout’s honor.”
“That’s not what you do when you say scout’s honor,” she says quickly. Little Miss Smartypants. “You do your fingers like this.” She holds up her hand, the first three fingers up and pressed close together.
“How do you know that? Were you a secret Boy Scout? Have a brother who was one?”
“I, um, dated a guy who was an Eagle Scout.” Her expression turns sheepish. “He was really into the Boy Scouts.”
“Was that in high school?”
“Uh. No. College.”
I’m frowning. “College?”
“Well, he got his Eagle Scout status his senior year, but was still involved with the scouts through college. And—beyond.” She presses her hand against her forehead and briefly closes her eyes. “Fine, I went out with him after he graduated college. I never really went to college. I went to beauty school.” She drops her hand, sending me a meaningful look.
“So you went out with a guy who was still excited about being an Eagle Scout…and he was a grown man.” I start to laugh. “Sounds fun.”
“I’ve not had the greatest luck when it comes to dating guys,” she admits.
“Oh yeah?” I’m rubbing my chin again, contemplating her. Wondering what the hell is wrong with all the men in her life that they don’t know how to treat her.
And then I realize how lucky I am that they all blew it so now I have my chance.
“Yeah. I’m just—I don’t pick well. And I always get really awkward around guys.” She rolls her eyes. “I can say really dumb things. Or I just act all nervous and weird. I start to ramble.”
“Like now?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “Like now. I’m rambling. I’m totally rambling and you don’t look bored, so I take that as a good sign.”
“I think the rambling thing is cute. I like your awkwardness.”
“Wait until you see it in person.”
“I can’t wait to see you in person,” I tell her with a sly smile, making her blush. “I can’t wait to give you a hug. See what you smell like.”
“Mitch.” Her cheeks look on fire.
“What? I’m serious. You wear perfume?”
“Of course.”
“Use scented shampoo?”
“Duh. I’m a hairstylist.”
“Then I can’t wait to see how all those scents mix and create the essence of you.” Oooh, that was a good one. I didn’t even mean to say that. It just spilled out of my mouth.
“Aw, you’re being so sweet.” She sends me a heated glance. “Kind of sexy.”
“You think me talking about how you smell is sexy?”
“Honestly, Mitch? I think everything about you is sexy,” she says with a little sigh, right before she claps her hand over her mouth. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.” Her voice is muffled behind her palm.
“I love that you said that,” I say, warming up to this conversation big time. “I think you’re pretty fucking sexy too, Eleanor.” Hesitating, I wonder if I should tell her what I did in the shower.
Maybe not.
“Have you ever sexted with someone before?” she asks, sounding genuinely curious.
“I guess.” I shrug, not really wanting to answer her. Makes me feel like a slimy shit to admit that yes, I have. Lots of times. “Sort of. I’ve made plenty of booty call messages. DTF, stuff like that.”
She frowns. “DTF?”
“Down to fuck.”
“Oh.” Her eyes are wide. Her mouth is formed in this perfect O. “Oh.”
“Back when I wasn’t big on relationships,” I add. “But I’ve changed.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. I’m looking for a special girl.”
“Really?”
“I want a long-term relationship.”
“It’s too bad you’re moving,” she says, sounding sad.
I don’t want to focus on that right now. I don’t even know if this girl is the one. She has great potential. But we need to meet in person first. Test it out.
“We’ll see each other this weekend,” I remind her.
“I know!” Her face brightens. “And I’m excited.”
“So am I, Eleanor.”
So am I.
Nine
Eleanor
We hop on a short flight to Los Angeles on a little plane, which sort of freaks me out. I’m not a big flyer, so I get nervous when I do. Small planes are scary.
But the flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is on a huge plane. It’s a Friday afternoon and everyone aboard is ready for a fun weekend in Vegas. I know me and my friends are.
The bonus? I get to meet Mitch.
Sexy, hunky, handsome Mitch. The man who makes me laugh. Who sends me heated looks via FaceTime. The man who tells me I’m sexy, and I’ve never had a guy say that to me before.
Funny? Yes.
Goofy? Yep.
Awkward as hell? Definitely.
But sexy? Nope, that’s a first.
Once we land, we get an Uber SUV and head for Wilder Las Vegas. The hotel was recently renovated, and Caroline shows us the photos Alex took when he was last here. Our jaws drop, especially when we see photos of the suite we’re all sharing.