Page 22 of Veiled Fantasies

“So where are we going for dinner?” Erik asked as they disembarked.

Jill’s mind reeled. Dinner? This was getting to be more and more like a real date. Were her fantasies spilling over into real life at last? She glanced around. “Um…”

“How about the place we saw from the boat?” he suggested.

The romantic riverside place? The one with all the candles?

“The one near the wind towers,” he said.

That would be the one.

“Sure,” she let the word out carefully and held back from turning a few cartwheels. They were off, Jill on slightly wobbly legs that kept wanting to brush up against him. It was all so intoxicating. Walking with him. Exploring. So nice. And harmless. They were just talking, right? And this was so much better than exploring alone. The sun was getting low, but she was with him. Feeling safe and bold.

They talked all the way through their candlelight dinner and right up through dessert. Leaning toward each other, getting more and more comfortable all the time. In real life, this would be all she got, so she was stocking up on impressions for later, when she was alone again. Alone with her dreams and fantasies.

Maybe she shouldn’t. Maybe she should watch out. But dreaming never hurt anyone, did it? As long as she didn’t let him see past the veil.

“Would you like dessert?” he asked.

Jill had already scoped out the chocolate cake. In fact, she’d been waging an inner battle over it all evening. And that was just one of two fronts when it came to temptations.

“Oh, no.”

“No dessert?”

She wished he didn’t do that. Just hearing the word made her salivate. “No, I’m full.”

“You’re full.” He eyed her closely.

She nodded, fighting to hold her ground. If she gave in to this urge, what else might she give in to?

He laid the menu between them and made a show of studying the desserts. God, they all looked so good. Honey cake. Chocolate cake. Fruit cups… Jill glanced over just as his eyes jumped from the page to hers.Gotcha.

“I saw you looking,” he chuckled.

“I wasn’t looking.”

“I saw you.”

“I was looking at the drinks,” she insisted.

“Would you like a drink then?”

“No, I’m good.”

“My treat?”

“No, thanks.”

Just then the waiter came up. “Anything for dessert?”

What was this, a conspiracy?

Erik swept his finger up and down the menu, making her salivate. “I’d like a piece of the fruit tart, please.” He looked at her. “With cream.” He left a suggestive pause. “And a scoop of ice cream.” He pursed his lips, like he could taste it already. “Vanilla ice cream.”

The waiter turned to her expectantly. Definitely a conspiracy. Her answer shot out before she could catch it. “I’ll take the chocolate cake.”

The waiter nodded in satisfaction, and Erik, doubly so. That smile would be worth millions in a modeling studio. That or he could do toothpaste ads. Hell, the man could do any kind of ad. Aftershave. Sunglasses. The man put sexy back into bath towels. He could do anything.

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