Page 57 of Resisting Fate
Her heart caught in her throat. “And what level is that?”
“Mutual attraction, respect, and admiration.”
Her stomach fluttered, heart pounding, skin hot. It wasn’t just sex, he respected her, admired her even. And it truly was mutual.
He glanced over at her. “Nothing to say to that?”
“Tha-that’s nice,” she stammered, her neck and cheeks burning. She powered down the window and tilted her head into the cold breeze, mortified to be reduced to stammering and blushing.
“You must be part Irish setter,” he said. “You know, red fur, sticking your head out the window.”
A-a-and she was back.“Gee, thanks.”
“Hey, I’m a horny dog, so it’ll all work out.” He hit the button to close her window. She pressed hers at the same time and the window halted.
“It’s freezing,” he said, still pressing his button. “Come on, let go.”
She kept her finger on the button, the window still halfway open. “Maybe I wasn’t done with the fresh air.”
“Have it your way,” he said. “Next time I’ll bring a parka.”
Her heart squeezed.Next time.
~ ~ ~
Once at the restaurant, Spice Jewel, a beautiful place decorated in gold and red tones with dark wood tables and a warm cherry hardwood floor in the wealthy town of Greenport, Ben was back to being her romantic date. And she let him. He helped her off with her coat, pulled out her chair for her, and advised her on the best thing to try on the menu. He probably went here regularly with dates, but she didn’t care who he’d been with before because right now all of his warm affection was directed at her.
“We have to get the samosas,” he said, smiling at her from across the table. “You did promise glimpses into Missy for every samosa I eat.”
She laughed. “I don’t remember it quite the same way.”
“You said not the whole enchilada, just a samosa. So…”
“There’s not that much to know. Really.”
“Says the mysterious one.”
She shook her head and lifted the menu. “You want to order a few things to share?”
“Absolutely.”
They settled on his recommended chicken goan curry, which was a spicy coconut tamarind curry, and saag, which was lamb with spinach and ginger. That would’ve been plenty for her, especially with the samosas, rice, and naan, but then when the waiter arrived, Ben threw in butter chicken and kaali daal too.
“Ben, that’s way too much food,” she said once the waiter left.
“I can easily polish it off.”
“How in the world do you not put on weight when you eat like that?”
He leaned in conspiratorially. “Truth?”
She leaned in. “Yes.”
“Most of my calories are consumed when I eat out.”
She leaned back. “You don’t know how to cook?”
“I do. I choose not to.”
