“I’ll catch you later, Nick.”
Before he went back to work, he checked his phone for any new messages.There was only one email from his lawyer’s office.Knowing the contract was time-sensitive, the lawyer had prioritized it.
He saw no issues with the terms and told Nick he should feel free to sign any time he was ready.
Perfect.
Nick keyed out a quick email of thanks and emailed it to the lawyer.He would sign the contract tonight when he went home and return it to the production office tomorrow.
In fact, he couldn’t wait.
Chapter Eleven
“Claire, you look hot.Like don’t-touch-the-fire-or-you’ll-get-burned hot.”Nick pretended to burn his fingers on an invisible grill.He knew he’d given her the same compliment twice already, but as they drove to the restaurant, he couldn’t believe his luck.He wasn’t quite sure how he’d ended up with this incredible woman in his car, but he was happy to have her there.
“If you keep saying that,” said Claire, “my head will inflate.”
“I doubt it.”
On their short drive, he kept sneaking peeks.She already took his breath away when she wore slogan T-shirts, jeans and rubber boots.Tonight?He couldn’t even remember how it felt to draw a proper breath.
Dude, relax.
What had begun as the prologue to a casual hookup was starting to feel monumental.He was beginning to think he was a little too invested in how this date would go.
After an extensive online search, he’d discovered there was a nice Italian place about a twenty-minute drive from her house.Most of the restaurants Nick frequented had rolls of brown paper on the table for wiping up chicken wing sauce.The Italian eatery was definitely a step up, a cloth-napkin-and-candles kind of place.Claire had been up for it, though.She knew the place and had warned him about the dress code.Considering that he got to see her all dressed up for the occasion, he wasn’t complaining.
She wore a cute turquoise dress with flowers all over it.It hugged her figure and showed off her knees.She had heels on, sexy ones that looked like they were barely being held together with their little straps.Her dark hair was shiny, so pretty that he wanted to pull over, bury his hand in it and bring her mouth to his.
His cock danced as he imagined it.
Easy, little buddy.Hold that thought.Save it for when it counts.
“You look very nice too.”Claire gave him the side eye, a long, lingering one.
He’d rushed out and bought a new pair of slim chinos and a casual blazer.Seeing her admiration made him want to go back to the store and tip the teenaged clerk who had helped him choose the outfit.
Thank God for teenagers with style sense.
They made a bit of chit-chat on their way, but Nick couldn’t help noticing that they were both operating under a case of nerves.His mind was racing, and Claire kept playing with the strap on her purse.
He arrived at the restaurant, parked and turned to her.“I don’t want to sound weird, but I’m a bit nervous.”
She smiled and released the tension in her shoulders.“So, I’m not the only one who feels that way?”
“No.I, uh, haven’t dated for a while.To be honest, I haven’t gone out very much at all these past few months.”
“Because of the bad breakup?”
“Yeah, so this is kind of a big moment for me.”
“I hear you.As for me,” said Claire, waving toward her dress, “it’s been some time since I made this sort of effort for a date.”
“You mean the banker and the soccer dad didn’t get to see you in this incredible dress?”
“No.This may have been a recent impulse purchase.”
“It was a very good purchase, and I’m glad I’m the one who gets to see you in it.”If all went well, he’d get to see her out of it too.
