Page 35 of Unconventionally, Elle
My mouth curved slightly to one side, and the wheels in my mind were spinning. "Okay, I agree. This will work, then. Let me put it on so you can see the full effect."
Before Finn could respond, I shut my closet door and changed. I stepped out in the green dress and my neutral Prada heels.
"Wow! Holy shit, Elle." Finn's mouth was open, and surprise lined his face. "You are stunning. Absolutely gorgeous!" Heraised his hands and clapped. "This is the one, absolutely this is the one."
I felt my cheeks get hot. It had been a long time since someone told me I was stunning.
Barrett arrived for our date five minutes before six o'clock. I watched from my bay window as he parked his Porsche, then walked up the steps to the main door. I took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in my stomach and anxiously waited to hear his knock on the door.
Within minutes, I heard a steady, confidentthump thump thump.
My hand was shaking as I put my shoulders back and prayed I didn't mess up the night. I was nervous, considering I hadn't been on a date since Jude and I were together. Dating around was off the table when he left for New York; I didn't have the heart or the energy for it. For some reason, Barrett intrigued me. Plus, I was starting a new life here, a new me.
I slowly turned the handle, and when he saw me standing before him, he gaped and stared right into my vibrant green eyes.
A few awkward seconds later, he cleared his throat. "Elle, you're... you're"--he rubbed his jaw and ran his fingers down to the tip of his chin--"you are absolutely gorgeous. Your green eyes are breathtaking in that dress."
I tilted my head down and noticed my body getting warm. I looked back up with a bashful grin on my face. "Thank you," I replied softly. I couldn't say another word. I was too lost in the sea of blue looking back at me.
We pulled up to a chic high-rise building in Seaport, a part of town I hadn't been to yet, but Finn told me it was very posh. The building was modern and sleek, with floor-to-ceiling windows and lush greenery around the entrance.
"So, the restaurant is new," he said when we stopped at the valet. "They just opened last month, and it's had rave reviews on Yelp. They are on the top floor and have the most incredible rooftop bar and dining." He paused and looked over at me. "I think you're really going to love this." Then he gave me another million-dollar smile and got out of the car.
The valet opened my door and offered me his hand.
Barrett walked around the car and, once I was standing, offered me his arm. "May I?" he asked.
"You're such a gentleman," I teased.
"I'd like to think so," he said with a crooked grin.
Our table was in an exclusive corner with a view of the river all around us. It was simply stunning as the city lights twinkled along the river and the stars lightly dotted the sky.
"I can't get over this!" I gawked. "It's gorgeous up here."
"I love the view too," he said, his gaze fixed on mine.
Before I could respond, the server came to our table, introduced himself, and asked if we wanted anything to drink other than water.
"May I have a dirty martini--Tito's, please--and three blue cheese-stuffed olives?" I said.
"Of course, madam. And you, sir?"
"I'll have a Johnnie Walker Blue, neat."
"Of course, I'll get those right away."
Smiling at Barrett, I took my napkin and folded it onto my lap. "So, tell me, I'm thoroughly impressed, but wouldn't most guys go for Italian on the first date?"
"Well, Elle"--he put enough emphasis on the end of my name to make my heart skip a beat--"my sister told me she'ddisown me if I took her friend to an Italian restaurant on our first date."
The boisterous laugh that escaped my lips startled me, and I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. Eyes wide, I noticed Barrett was turning red trying to hold in his laugh and there was a brilliant sparkle in his eyes.
"Yeah, so I knew I didn't want to take you out for Italian." He smiled largely and unfolded his napkin on his lap, then leaned his chin on his fist, his grin slight and warm. "Please tell me you like steak and seafood. Otherwise, we need to go to plan B."
"Or the rooftop bar." I tried to drink some water but ended up snorting into the glass. What was wrong with me? I'd never been this unhinged on a date.
"Seriously, that's not a bad backup plan. You saw all the firepits out there when we walked in, right?" His voice got lighter and excited.
