“I’ll see you soon, Chloe.”
I had one hour to get ready, and something told me Lance was extremely punctual.
Twenty-Four
When the driver dropped me off at the restaurant, I gave Lance’s name to the hostess. She informed me he had already arrived and escorted me to the main dining room. I’d heard of this restaurant, but I’d never been, so I didn’t know the layout or where to look for him.
But that didn’t matter because the second I stepped into the open space, I immediately felt Lance’s eyes on me, only taking me a second to spot him. It didn’t matter that I was wearing skinny jeans, knee-high boots, and an off-the-shoulder sweater because while Lance’s stare followed me the entire way to the table, it felt like he saw right through me.
And my body was totally on fire from it.
He stood as I got closer, taking a few steps to greet me.
I could smell him in the air, the scent getting stronger as his hand rested on the outside of my arm, his face moving in until his lips were brushing my cheek.
And once I felt the feel of his mouth on me, my eyes closed, the air completely leaving my lungs.
I was enveloped in Lance Hamilton, and it felt like the most perfect moment.
“Thanks for meeting me,” he said, his lips no longer on my skin as he pulled away.
Even though I was moving to the other side of the table, I could still feel his mouth on me. And I could still smell that rich, powerful scent as I took a seat.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I said, putting my napkin in my lap. “And for sending us the drinks after you left. That was sweet of you.”
“Did you have a fun evening?” He adjusted the sleeves of his crisp button-down before his hands disappeared under the table.
I was still trying to catch my breath and get acclimated to the intensity of his gaze. “One of the best I’ve had in a while.”
“Good,” he said, just as a waitress approached our table.
“What can I get you to drink?” she asked me. “A mimosa perhaps?”
“Sounds delicious, but let’s make it a poinsettia, thank you.”
She wrote down my order and looked at Lance as he said, “Blood Mary. Extra spicy,” and then she was gone.
Once we were alone again, I felt a wave move from the tip of my toes all the way to my neck. It was heat, unthawing my body, each nerve ending tingling, like he had lit a match under every single one.
“How did you sleep?”
Such a simple question, yet it felt like the most intimate one he’d asked since we met.
I tucked a chunk of hair behind my ear and took a breath. “Usually, I’m up no later than six. Not this morning. I don’t know what happened, but it was amazing. How about you?”
“I don’t require much. Three or four hours, max.”
Just as I was about to respond, the waitress dropped off our cocktails and said, “Enjoy these. I’ll be back in a few minutes to get your order.”
My fingers circled the thin stem of the glass, and I held it in the air. “To the evening and everything that happens in between.” As he smiled, I added, “It was too good not to steal from you.”
“You can have anything you want from me, Chloe.” He clinked his glass against mine and brought it up to his lips.
I was several seconds behind, processing his statement, when the bubbly finally hit my tongue.
I swallowed several mouthfuls and was setting down the glass when I heard, “Have you been here before?”
My fingers continued to hold the stem. “Never; however, I’ve heard great things.” There was a leather-bound menu in front of each of us, and I opened mine, quickly scanning the main courses. “What’s good?”
“Are you a fussy eater? Or have any allergies?”
I glanced up at him and shook my head, wondering how he’d found a button-down that was the exact color of his eyes.
“Then, how about you let me order, and I’ll surprise you?”
My hand released the top of the menu, and the book closed. “Sounds like more fun.” I took another sip. “Lance, tell me stuff. I want to know more about you.”
Even though he wasn’t smiling, there was a lightness in his expression. “I hate tomatoes more than anything, but I love ketchup. I iron every morning; I do a better job than any dry cleaner I’ve ever tried. And I’m not patient. I like getting my way, and that’s what makes me one hell of an attorney.” He didn’t lean his elbows on the table. He clasped his hands together on top of his menu instead. “Why don’t you tell me who I’m looking at right now—or better yet, maybe I should tell you?”
I could feel my pulse in my throat. “Please,” I said. “I’m dying to hear this.”
His stare turned even more intense, something I hadn’t thought was possible, and he was silent for a few seconds. And once again, I felt that pull like he was inside me.
“I get the feeling you’re a fighter, and that tells me things don’t come easy. You’ve probably had to make sacrifices to get to where you are.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re adventurous but not free-spirited. You would go to Cinque Terre for the color of the water, not to go cliff diving.” He dragged his bottom lip into his mouth, returning it slick. “And you’re extremely selective with who you spend your time with. If you give them an hour, it’s because they’ve earned it.” He twisted the long celery stalk in the glass before he took a drink, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “How’d I do?”
I had known things with Lance were going to be different. I had known that the moment he caused a spark to pass through my whole body and stop me from breathing. But while I sat in that restaurant with his eyes fixed on mine, his smile growing, that was when I really knew this man was about to change my entire life.
And I was ready for him.
“Lance,” I began, preparing to answer his question, but I was cut off as the waitress appeared at our table.
“Have you made any decisions?” she asked.
With his menu still closed, Lance looked at her and said, “We’ll start with an order of the French toast bites.” His eyes shifted to me, and he continued, “She’ll have the truffle eggs benedict, hollandaise on the side.” His gaze returned to her when he finished, “Spanish omelet with dry toast for me.”
She took our menus and left, and my hands circled the edge of the table, squeezing it between my fingers, as I searched everywhere for air, slowly glancing up.
“You just ordered my favorite breakfast.”
He glanced to the side, showing me a perfectly shaved jaw, his dark hair in place, a starched collar I now knew he’d ironed this morning. “Does that win me a second date?”
I laughed, feeling the redness move through my chest and up to my face. “Between that and your description of me, I’d say you’ve earned it.”
Twenty-Five
“You’ve met Anthony,” Lance said to me, referring to his driver as we approached his SUV a block from the restaurant.
Anthony was holding the backseat door open for us, and I took his hand just as he voiced, “It’s nice to see you again, Miss Kennedy.”