I narrow my eyes. “Had a rough week?”
She nods but then waves her hand dismissively. “At least it’s Friday. I’m going to set this on the counter. Do you want any water or anything before we leave?”
I miss the question because I’m too busy staring at her legs and backside in that dress as she walks in the direction of the kitchen. The dress isn’t too tight or revealing but it is sexy as hell, the gold color standing out against the dark brown glowing skin.
“Emanuel?”
I blink and lift my gaze to see her giving me an expectant look. “Is this dress new?” I question, stepping closer.
“Old, actually, but I’ve only worn it once. It’s pretty, right?” She looks down as if analyzing it.
“It wou—”
“If you say something cliche like ‘it would look better on my bedroom floor,’I’m going to slap you.”
Laughter spills from my lips because that’sexactlywhat I’d been thinking.
“It’s time to go.”
“Where’re we going tonight?” she asks as I place my arm at the small of her back and pull the door of her apartment open.
“Uh, uh, you’ll find out when we get there.”
She sucks her teeth and gives me what’s supposed to be an angry expression.
As the elevator doors close behind us, I corner her and lift her hand to my lips. “You really look amazing tonight.”
She sighs. “Thank you.”
“And I still think this dress would look better on my bedroom floor.” I wiggle my eyebrows, laughing as she takes a swat at my shoulder. I duck out of her reach.
It takes about fifteen minutes to get to the Spanish tapas restaurant I’d chosen for the evening. I know I’ve made the right choice when Janine’s eyes light up as we pull into the parking lot.
“Angela told me about this place. She and Eric came her a few months ago. Says she loved it.”
I nod as I pull up to the valet and put the car in park. After getting out, I give the valet my name and information before moving around the side door to pull it open for Janine.
“Thank you,” she says as I assist her out of the car, and because her lips are so inviting, I lower and place another peck on them.
Pulling back before I can get too excited, I say, “I’m glad I could be the one to pop this cherry for you, too.”
“Oh my god,” she groans. “You’re like a teenage boy sometimes. Do men ever grow up?”
“Hopefully not,” I tease, but then get serious as I give the hostess my name for the reservation. I watch as Janine continues to look around as we’re led to one of the round tables by a window at the back of the restaurant. The lighting in the restaurant is low and there’s flamenco music playing in the overhead speakers.
“Tell me more about your week at work,” I say once I’ve helped her with her chair and rounded the table to take my own.
Shrugging, she pushes out a breath. “Still trying to get the hang of everything and learn the system, and of course the work culture. There’s a lot of little cliques in the office.”
“You’re surprised by that?”
“I shouldn’t be, I know. Every place has cliques and whatnot, but I’ve only had one real job since I graduated college.”
“What’d you study in college?”
“Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.”
I frown. “Then how’d you become a teacher for seven years?”
