Richie chuckles, and it’s a warm, comforting sound. It occurs to me that this is the first time I’m hearing his voice, his laugh, and it’s even better than I imagined. Now I see why he wanted to wait before talking on the phone. I find his blue gaze again.
“May I confess something?” he asks.
“Sure.”
“I didn’t think you would show.” His pink lips pout, only slightly. I can tell it’s a habit and it’s adorable as hell. “I thought you’d stand me up.”
“Are you kidding? Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. I guess I just thought you’d consider it a waste of time or realize you weren’t ready to meet yet.” He picks up the water in front of him and sips it.
“Trust me, I wanted to meet you tonight.”
“Good.” He smiles. “Can I get you something to drink? You can get anything you want from the menu.” He lifts a hand in the air, flagging the waiter down.
I pick up the drink menu and read over the list of wines. Geez! Everything is so expensive. I glance up at him as he searches for the waiter. I study how fitted his suit is and how nicely styled his hair is. There is an expensive silver watch on his wrist and, fortunately, no wedding band on his ring finger. Not even a tan mark.
What in the hell does this guy do for a living to be able to afford eating at a place like this? To dress like this? Look like this?
The waiter finally arrives and Richie orders a whiskey neat while I order a glass of their best red wine.
“You should probably know that I didn’t exactly expect you to try and live up to your Match Me username,” I say when my drink is in hand.
“Why do you think I’m trying to live up to it?” he asks with a laugh.
“Well, come on. MrRichGuy? Rich guy? This place? Your nice suit. This is all so great, but it’s a lot, Richie.”
He shrugs and takes a sip of wine. “Perhaps I just want to impress a gorgeous girl on our first date.”
I sip my wine too, avoiding a blush, but it’s impossible. He has a way with words, just like when we text, and I have to say, I’m looking forward to hearing what more he has to say tonight.
SIX
Ford
“So, I should probably confess something,” I say.
We’re standing on the balcony of the restaurant now, drinks in hand as we overlook the ocean. Soft gusts of wind blow by, creating a nice, cool breeze. We’ve been about confessions all night and it’s nice, almost like sharing sweet little secrets. I like hearing how she really feels and, frankly, I feel comfortable enough with her now to tell her some of my truths.
“Okay.” Hannah turns to me and smiles. She’s a gorgeous woman inside and out. Her lips are full and supple and I want to make them mine—kiss her like I’ve wanted for the last week, but not right now. It has to be at the right moment.
“My name isn’t really Richie.” I fight a smile as her green eyes grow rounder.
“It’s not?” she gasps.
“No. That’s just an alias I use for the app. I, uh…I wanted to meet you and get to know you first before telling you my real name.”
“So, what is your real name?” She’s smiling and I’m glad she isn’t put off by this.
“It’s Ford. Ford Chamberlain.”
“Ford Chamberlain,” she repeats, and I study her reaction, waiting to see if she’ll recognize the name, but her face remains the same. “Wow. I think I like that much more than Richie. Why don’t you just use your real name?” I realize she has no idea who I am, and that’s a great thing because most of the west coast knows who the Chamberlains are.
“Well, truth be told, when people realize who I am and where I come from, they start acting differently.”
“Differently how?” she asks, cocking her head. Her eyes are sincere and I know automatically she is nothing like the women from my past. It’s refreshing meeting someone who has no idea who I am.
“They just change, you know?” I shrug. “Take advantage of things.”
“Well, if I were to look you up right now, what would I find?” she muses.
“I don’t think you’d be disappointed,” I murmur.
“No?”
I laugh. “No.”
“Are you a stripper?” she asks with a laugh and I can’t help the laugh that breaks out of me.
“Of course not.”
She giggles. “Okay, well how about this? I won’t look up who you are. I’ll let you tell me when you’re comfortable. I’d hate for anything to ruin what we’ve got going on…unless you’re, like, some kind of dating serial killer or something,” she counters.
“Not at all,” I chuckle.
“Well, then you’re okay in my book.” She steps closer, smiling that adorable smile I can’t get enough off. “We’ll keep getting to know each other and whatever you have to tell me, you’ll tell me in due time. Deal?”
“Okay. Deal.” I place my glass down on the table and then step closer to her. “So, before this night ends, there is one thing I would like. Something I’ve wanted since seeing you on Match Me.”
“Yeah? And what’s that?” She sinks her teeth into her plump, pink bottom lip. Fuck, her lips are everything. I can’t even imagine what they’d look like wrapped around my cock. All in due time.
“A kiss,” I tell her.
“A kiss…” She shudders a breath as I lift a hand to brush a loose tendril of her blonde hair back. The wind rushes by, sweeping it forward again. This time I push it back, but I don’t pull my hand away.
Lifting my hand up, I cup one side of her face and she lowers her gaze, her chest lifting and rising as she breathes in and out.
“Look at me, Hannah,” I murmur.
Her green eyes slide up to mine.
“Is it okay if I kiss you tonight? Or should I wait for our next date?”
Her throat bobs, and without hesitation she nods. “Tonight,” she says. “Tonight would be much better.”
That is all I need to hear. I carry my hand around to the nape of her neck, cupping it and bringing my lips to hers. This will be our first kiss—a kiss I’ve been waiting on for what feels like ages—and damn, I’m ready for it.
SEVEN
Hannah
I can’t believe this is about to happen. His hand is on the base of my neck, his fingers warm and soft. He’s so close and his cologne is taking over every single one of my senses, along with the whiskey on his breath.
My body is in overdrive now. I can’t stand the wait. Our lips connect and I immediately moan because it’s been way too long since I’ve been kissed by a man. I haven’t had a man look at me or touch me the way Ford has tonight in a very long time, so yes, I am going to take advantage of this.
I clumsily place my glass down on the balcony banister and throw my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and devouring the taste of whiskey on his lips. He drops his hands and slides them down my sides until they’re cupped around my ass.
God, it feels so good.