“So what was this business meeting that had you skipping lunch?”
“Taxes and filings and SEC rules.” I pulled out a roll from the basket and lavished butter all over it. “Horrible, boring stuff that I would never subject you to.”
“Remind me to thank you later,” Presley said with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I’d like that.”
The wine came, interrupting our flirtation, and after the pour and taste, we ordered our meals and resumed the dance we’d been doing with each other for weeks now. It had been years since I’d done this dating thing, and it showed. I had no idea what to say or ask.
“So why tax law?” Presley wrinkled his nose. “It doesn’t sound that thrilling.”
“It’s the family firm. Both my brother and I were expected to join it after law school.”
A frown marred his perfect mouth. “But is it what you wanted? I always knew I would take over my father’s business because I loved antiques. My childhood was spent in little shops up and down the East Coast, rummaging through dusty shelves.”
“Sounds…fun?” I arched a brow. “Mine was spent in the Hamptons, swimming or playing polo.”
He snickered. “No, you didn’t. No one plays polo except stuffy rich people.”
I raised my glass. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Nathaniel ‘Stuffy Rich’ Sherman.” I allowed myself a little smile. “Don’t knock it. It’s where I developed my thigh muscles. Comes in handy, if you know what I mean.”
Presley turned red and took a gulp of his wine.
Ethan had asked me what it was about this man that was different. Why was I willing to change for him? During our meal, I pondered the question.
I liked his cute blush and sweet smile. He’d alluded to his inexperience, and instead of a turn-off, I found it highly appealing. Innocence was a rarity, and though I knew he wasn’t a virgin, he didn’t behave like a man who’d slept around. I wondered if he’d ever been in love. Perhaps I was a hypocrite, as I couldn’t remember the men I’d been with, but I wanted to be the one Presley would remember.
“This is very good. Frisco raves about this place. And he is very picky.” He wiped his lips.
“Tell me more about him. I know you’re best friends, almost like brothers.” That was what dating someone was about. Finding out about their past and what they wanted for the future and seeing if you can merge yours with theirs. I could talk about Ethan and hope that would suffice.
“Frisco? He’s hard to put into words, but I do love the guy. He left his home to live with us when his parents’ divorce got too ugly. His father was an artist and an art professor and his mother a model and artist as well.”
“It’s sad when the parents’ problems end up hurting the child. It can ruin them.”
“It hurt him for sure. He refuses to even consider dating someone or settling down. He says marriage is a ridiculous, old-fashioned notion. That people are not meant to be monogamous.”
“He might be right.”
A stubborn tilt to Presley’s jaw indicated that he disagreed with me and his friend. “But people aren’t the only living creatures to mate for life. Many animals and birds do it as well. So there has to be something to it. And many people want one partner.”
“Do you? Is that what you’re looking for? Marriage?” If he answered yes, the only right thing would be to tell him we had differing views on life and let him go.
“I used to think so, but maybe I’m kidding myself. More and more I’m thinking that it might all be a farce after all.” The light faded from his eyes as he sighed and gazed into his wineglass.
I could’ve slapped myself for causing Presley unhappiness. The only thing that kept me sane during those interminable meetings about balance sheets and work papers and audits was thinking of his shy smile.
“Hey. How about we finish up here and go somewhere else?”
“Where?” His brow furrowed. “I’m not going back to your place.”
“I know,” I said smoothly and called for the bill. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves platonically, right?”
His lips twitched. “Why do I have the feeling your definition of platonic and mine are at opposite ends of the spectrum?”
I grinned, more alive than I’d been in years. “Guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?”
* * *
