Page 19 of Mob Star

“Dinner at seven-thirty?”

I nod. He hesitates for a moment, unsure if he should say what he’s thinking.

“I don’t know what’s easiest for you. We could meet there. I could pick you up. I could send a driver.”

“I’ll be in Jersey tomorrow afternoon with my parents. I can meet you.”

“Have you been to La Petite Fleur?”

That’s not super fancy, but it’s definitely a higher end restaurant.

“A couple of times. I like it.”

“Then seven-thirty at La Petite Fleur.”

We stare at each other. Neither of us moves. We look at each other’s mouths, the temptation thrumming between us. We laugh as we both sigh. I get up, and he follows me. I glance at my watch. It’s already eight-thirty. I’ve been here two-and-a-half hours. It doesn’t feel that long. We must have been making out for a while.

He rests his hand on my lower back as he opens the door and lets me pass through it first. I have a moment of embarrassment as we step back into the main bar area. We’ve been in his office a long time. There are people still here who know we went back there together. But no one pays us any attention. That makes me wonder if they’re used to Finn taking women there.

“Cailín, the people here know not to be nosey. They don’t ask questions, and they don’t make assumptions. It’s not that I fuck women back there so often they don’t notice.”

I look up at him in surprise.

“I know how it looks if you don’t know who frequents this bar. But the people here know I don’t hook up with random women. They know I don’t take any women back there to fuck. All of them are regulars.”

“You read my mind.”

“Sort of. I scanned the crowd to see who was here and who was looking in our direction. I know almost everyone here and have for years. The few people I don’t know wouldn’t know to think there’s anything odd about me coming out here with you.”

I breathe a little easier until I spot Mair. She knows we went back there. She knows how long ago that was. She’s serving drinks at a table, but now I’m doubly embarrassed.

“Mair won’t think anything of it. She knows me.”

That doesn’t sound good. Won’t think anything of him taking a woman back there?

“Thea, she knows I don’t screw around. She won’t think less of you for being back there. She won’t assume it was some quickie that wasn’t so quick. If I hadn’t gone back there to talk to you, she would be the one telling me I’m a dumbarse for missing my opportunity with an amazing woman.”

I’m looking up at him while he speaks, but now I’m looking back at his cousin-in-law. She shoots me a friendly smile, and it eases my worry.

“Did you drive?”

“Yeah. I’m parked around the corner.”

“This is a good neighborhood, but I’d feel better walking you out. Especially after earlier.”

“I appreciate it.”

We head out and walk the half block, and he tells me he inherited the bar from his grandmother. The kiss is over too fast, but there are plenty of people on the sidewalk. Then I’m home, passed out, dreaming about the hot red-head.

“Mom?”

“Hey. I’m upstairs.”

I hang up my jacket and purse and head up to find my mom. She’s folding laundry in her room, and I notice a couple of shirts that belong to my older brother. He moved out before I did. Why’s Mom doing his laundry?

“Hi, Ally.” My mom gives the best hugs. Maternal hugs. Finn’s hugs feel entirely different, but fuck, they are the best I’ve felt from a man. He gave me one just before I got in the car last night.

“Hi.”

---