Page 2 of Fearless to Love

“I can’t even remember the last time I was asked out on a date.” She shrugged, looking over her shoulder to the bar.

“Surely you don’t need to go so soon.” My stomach dropped at the thought.

I’d never felt this way about anyone in my life. Why was she having this intense effect on me?

It was as if she truly was a siren and I was being lured in by her voice. And her beauty. She was crazy beautiful, and I was caught in her snare.

“I’ve got a few minutes. Tell me about yourself, Dante.” She rested her head in her palm, giving me her full attention.

No pressure.

“I’ll give you the basics. I’m Dante Ricci. I was born and raised in Italy.” Inwardly I smiled when I saw her eyes light up at my heritage. “I moved here to go to college at UCLA where I majored in business. I’m twenty-seven and have a nightclub in Riverside called Flux. I met my previous business partner, Michael, in college. He was from here and wanted to move back to the area to open up the club. It’s…well, that’s for another time. I love music and food,” I shrugged unsure of what else to say. “I’m a pretty simple guy.”

“I’d say you’re far from simple, Mr. Ricci.” She smiled up at me through her long lashes before she tapped her fingernails on the table, biting her bottom lip. “I guess I should tell you a little about myself. I’m Lily Valenti. I’m twenty-four and was born and raised here in Fairlane.” I must have given her a quizzical look because she explained that I was indeed in Fairlane. “I live on the outskirts of town. More in the country I guess you could say. My aunt left me a house a few years ago that I’ve slowly been renovating. I work part time here at Rocco’s helping out the owner when someone doesn’t show up and to get me out of the house. Most of my time is spent writing. I have a series of small-town romance books that I’m slowly expanding on. I too love food and music.”

I wanted to marry this woman.

Although I probably shouldn’t tell her that. At least for now.

Taking another sip of my beer, I sat up straighter in my seat and nervously ran my hand through my slightly too long hair. I’d been meaning to get it cut, but I hadn’t found the time. The longer it got the more it grew on me, so I decided to grow it out.

“Now that we’ve gotten to know one another a little bit, I was hoping that you’d do me the honor of going out on a date where we can get to know each other better,” I managed to say without sounding too nervous, but when she didn’t answer after a few seconds I choked out, “Please. Sorry, I’m not normally nervous around women.” I cleared my throat, cursing myself for saying too much. Maybe she thought my nerves were cute.

“Oh,” she placed her hand on mine and instantly my body jolted with electricity, “you poor thing. I bet you’ve never had to work for dates and here I am…”

“You’re worth it,” I blurted out. I didn’t know what to do to show her this wasn’t a pickup line, or something I said to every woman I tried to bed.

“You don’t even know me,” she answered back shyly.

“That may be true, but I can tell.” I stopped myself from saying anything more like the fact that we may indeed be soulmates, the stars had aligned tonight for us to meet, and I planned to one day marry her and have lots of babies with her. I was sure it would freak her out just as much as the notion did to me. Or maybe this was all a dream. It was possible with how little sleep I’d been getting.

Holding her hand out, she wiggled her fingers at me. “Give me your phone.”

Too enthusiastically, I whipped my phone out of my back pocket and handed it over. I was a bumbling idiot in her presence instead of my usual smooth self. I heard her phone go off as she beamed at me from across the table.

“There. Now I’ve got yours and you’ve got mine. I hope to hear from you soon, but for now, I’ve got to get back to work.” She stood and started to walk away. After only a few feet, she looked back over her shoulder. “It was really lovely to meet you, Dante.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” I answered to her retreating form.

The sway of her hips kept me hypnotized as she made her way back to the bar. When she took her place between the two blondes, she looked back over at me and winked.

I sat for another few minutes as I tried to get my painfully erect cock under control before I left. I knew I was grinning like an idiot and I didn’t care, but I wasn’t going to let her see the bulge in my pants.

I was so fucked.

I’d been with my fair share of women. I didn’t do relationships and I definitely didn’t do whatever the hell it was that I had done earlier at the bar, but there was something about Lily that drew me to her. I wanted more with her. Dare I say a relationship? Or more? I only hoped I didn’t come off as some goofball that she was going to turn down when I called to ask her out.

Stopped at a stoplight, I pulled out my phone to ask her out for the next night. Only a few minutes in her presence and I was already pussy whipped.

Dante:Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?

Luckily, she didn’t make me wait long before she texted back. The moment I pulled into my garage I had another big grin on my face as I read her message.

Lily:I’d love to.

Dante:I’ll pick you up at 7 for dinner and dancing?

Lily:Perfect! See you tomorrow! I’ll send you directions tomorrow since it will be late when I get home.

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