Page 18 of A Valentine's Day Gift
“So artists run in your family.”
“I never thought about it like that before. I guess so. And if I had all the time and money in the world, I would just create art all day long.” She paused. “Sorry, mine’s a lot more selfish than yours.”
“Building stuff makes me happy, creating stuff makes you happy. We’re alike that way. It’s not selfish to do what you love.”
She sighed.
“What’s that sigh about?” he asked. Sometimes a woman’s sigh could have all sorts of hidden meanings.
She sat straighter. “I just really, really like you.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Me too. Like you, that is.”
They exchanged a quick smile, and he knew this date was going to go great.
~ ~ ~
How such a macho-looking, manly man like Vinny could be such a sweetheart astounded her. But he was. He held doors open for her, pulled her chair out for her, and expressed himself so openly, so warmly. All of that and he was breathtakingly gorgeous, sexy too, though she wasn’t ready to go there yet.
They’d both ordered the lobster, a special treat, and now their plates were just shells from their delicious meal.
“You want dessert?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’m really full between the bread, the lobster, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. It was all so wonderful. Thanks for picking such a nice place.”
“I figure you’re used to nice places.”
“Oh.” Shit. Maybe he couldn’t even afford this place. She didn’t know how much he made, but he’d said he lived in a town that was going downhill, but he stayed because he could afford it. And they’d ordered the most expensive things on the menu. “I do like nice places, and this place is really nice…why don’t we split the bill?”
“No way. I asked you to dinner, I’ll pay.”
She wasn’t surprised at all. In some ways, he was very traditional, but not in a stuffy way. More like good manners and a strong sense of right and wrong. “Thank you.”
He grunted, looking a little offended.
She tried to smooth things over. “I’m out of practice with dating. I thought people split the bill more nowadays.” He gave her a skeptical look. “Anyway, for future dates, I mean, if you want to go on more dates—”
“You kidding me? Course I do.”
“Okay, okay.” She laughed a little because he looked so disgruntled. “For future, we don’t always have to eat at a fancy place. I’m good with pizza, subs, burgers, whatever. I mean, that’s what my kids like, so we have it regularly.”
He took her hand and leaned close, his voice husky. “I wanted it to be special for you.”
She melted. This man was nothing short of amazing. “It will be special as long as we’re doing it together.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, his dark eyes glinting with a mischievous look. She blushed, suddenly realizing what that sounded like—“doing it together.” She really had to stop blushing like a schoolgirl every time she thought of getting physical with him. It was just that she was so out of practice.
He said nothing, only leaned back with a small smirk on his face.
“I’m out of practice with that too,” she said.
He winked. “Like riding a bicycle.”
Sure, if your bicycle was a massive hot rod between your legs. She felt herself flush again.Don’t think about it.
“So damn cute,” he said, getting a kick out of all her blushing.
“Once I’m back in the saddle, I swear I’ll stop all this embarrassing blushing.”
