Page 37 of I'm Looking for a Man in Finance
I leaned back in my chair, trying to maintain some semblance of composure, but the way she was looking at me—half playful, half triumphant—made it clear that she knew she’d caught me in a small lie.
Hallie smiled, watching me squirm just enough to make it interesting. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed. Not everyone goes digging through my blog to prep for a date.” She took a bite of her gelato, her expression softening as she enjoyed the taste.
“You’re good at what you do, and I found your reviews to be entertaining.” That was only mildly true considering I had worked my way through every one of her posts and now had alerts on for when she posted.
“Well, I guess that makes us both snoops, seeing as I learned you are the youngest person in your firm’s history to become a financial analyst.” Hallie averted her gaze as she spooned some more of her gelato into her mouth. My attention drifted back to her lips, painted in deep velvet red, as they closed around the spoon. My blood seemed to pound in my veins, as my mind wandered to places it probably shouldn’t have. Wondering what it would be like to kiss her, to taste the sweetness lingering on her mouth. What she would sound like when I ravished her.
Okay, was something on this menu an aphrodisiac, or was this really just the effect Hallie Woods had on me?
“James?” Hallie asked, peering at me curiously.
I snapped back to reality, my pulse quickening as I realized what I’d just thought.
“Did someone check up on me?” I asked, pressing a hand to my chest, trying to play off my thoughts with a grin. “Please, enlighten me on what you found.”
“Nothing that I hadn’t expected,” Hallie replied, ticking each item off on her fingers. “Pictures of you at your prestigious private high school. Lacrosse, by the way? Very predictable of you. Then the newspaper article announcing the finance award you won at Princeton and your bio at Berkley Williams.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I feel flattered.”
“It wasn’t a compliment,” she shot back, her tone sharp, but there was an almost imperceptible smile threatening at the corners of her mouth.
“It sure feels like one. Going out of your way to stalk me.” I winked, watching her squirm in her seat.
With a dramatic stab of her spoon into the gelato, Hallie looked away.
“What did that gelato ever do to you?” I asked.
She finally met my eyes again, the playful tension between us crackling. “I’m just frustrated.”
“Why?” I asked, genuinely curious now. “What’s going on? I thought we were having a good time.”
She sighed, long and slow. “Because I’m enjoying myself.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked.
“No.” She mulled over her next words for a moment. “I suppose it’s not.”
When the last of the wine was finished, I was almost disappointed. The evening had turned out to be more than I expected—more enjoyable, more engaging, and for once, not all business. I can’t remember the last time I truly laughed over a nice meal with someone who wasn’t wearing a suit.
I stood and extended my hand to help Hallie out of her seat. Her dress shimmered as she stood, the soft fabric brushing against her legs, and I took the moment to openly appreciate the way it hugged her in all the right places.
I want nothing more than to touch her. To let my fingers trail over the delicate fabric. To feel the heat of her skin beneath it.
The thought crossed my mind before I could stop it. I pulled myself back, forcing my mind to quiet, but when I helped her into her coat, the brief touch of my fingers across her shoulders nearly made me forget we were standing in the middle of a restaurant.
She looked up at me, her eyes soft, and for a moment the rest of the world disappeared.
“Thank you for dinner, James,” she said, her voice warm, and that single sentence wrapped around me like a gentle, unexpected embrace.
I didn’t trust myself to speak right away. I just nodded, and then, without thinking, I reached for her hand to tuck it into the crook of my elbow as we walked toward the door. The feeling of her hand against mine felt so natural. I almost wished I could hold her a little closer.
As we left, I noticed the glances we drew, the stares from other diners who couldn’t help but look at Hallie as we passed. I didn’t blame them. I wasn’t lying when I toldher I was the luckiest guy in all of New York tonight. I tried to ignore the possessive feeling curling inside of me, wanting her just for myself.
The easy banter during the car ride back dissolved as I walked Hallie up to her apartment door; I suddenly felt nervous. Would we kiss? Did she want to kiss me, despite her ground rules? What about a hug? Was that too far? The bravado I normally possessed evaporated as Hallie searched her clutch for her keys, each second dragging on like an eternity. Awkwardly, I stood behind her, hands in my pockets, unsure of what to do or say. This was new to me, but then again I’d never been on a not-really-a-date before.
Would a high-five be too weird?
“Thanks for tonight.” The key finally turned in the lock, but Hallie hesitated with her hand on the knob. “It was amazing. I have so much I want to write about. Between the finance bro article and the food, I’m sure I’ll be up late. I can’t believe I get to review that food. It’s like a dream come true. So, thank you, truly.”
