We made our way to his Mercedes. Cherry red, it was a hard-top convertible with tan leather seats. I loved this car.
I didn’t wait for him to open the door for me, and Hunter knew me well enough not to be surprised. I liked to consider myself an independent woman that could take care of that sort of thing myself.
“So our first official date,” Hunter said as he navigated his car north, heading for a Verde Hills. “Seems like we’re doing things backwards here.”
I looked closely at Hunter as he focused on the road, trying to see if there was any sign that he had feelings for me. I saw nothing.
“This isn’t exactly a normal situation,” I said.
The neighborhood I lived in was in the northern part of La Playa, so it only took about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant. It was a French restaurant I’d never been to before, but when I stepped out of the car, the smell of baking bread and cooking meat filled the air, making my stomach growl. I’d been so busy with the fundraiser that I hadn’t eaten lunch today.
Hunter handed his keys over to the valet, and I thought I saw him hesitate for a moment, but it passed, and he grinned at me. The restaurant was the kind of place that required the men to wear a jacket and the women a dress. The décor was all red and gold, and the soft lighting gave the interior of the restaurant an intimate feeling.
We were led to a table by the window, where the vibrant red curtains were pulled back to allow for a view of the nearby bay. Even with the sun down, it was beautiful. There were lights lining the dock, illuminating the boats there and reflecting off the dark water.
It should have been a completely romantic setting, but I couldn’t make myself feel anything. I didn’t need to be wined and dined. I needed a connection.
Like the one I have with Butch.
I shook my head at myself. That thought wasn’t helpful at all.
“What’s going on in your head?” Hunter asked. He already had the menu open to the wine list and I hadn’t even picked mine up yet.
“Do you have feelings for me?”
Hunter was in the middle of taking a sip of water and my words made him nearly choke. I grimaced. I hadn’t intended to ask that question, but it just slipped out. I felt like Hunter and I were long overdue for an honest discussion about what the future held for us. After clearing his throat, he wiped his mouth with his napkin and gave me a sympathetic look.
“I have to be honest. No, I don’t.”
I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
I smiled. He really was such a good guy.
“I didn’t ask because I have feelings for you,” I told him. “I’m actually relieved to know that we’re on the same page.”
I finally flipped open my menu, but I didn’t bother with the wine list. I would stick with water tonight. The food looked amazing though. I was going to have a hard time choosing.
“So...do you want to tell me about the man at the fundraiser? Butch, I think his name was?”
My eyes bulged as I looked up at him, my dinner order all but forgotten. “What about him?”
Hunter smiled. “I knew it. The way he was looking at you, and the way you kept glancing at him during the interview...I just knew there was something going on between you.”
My instinct was to deny it, but I knew I could trust Hunter.
“Yeah, there is something going on.”
“A biker, huh? That’s surprising.”
There was no judgment in his voice. He was leaning forward with his elbow on the table, but almost looked like he was eager for details.
“Yeah, he’s a biker, but he’s more than that. He’s my…”
The wordboyfrienddidn’t feel right, but I wasn’t sure what else to call him.
“Do you think you’ll keep seeing him? After the wedding?”
