After looking through the menu, I looked across the table and over the glass hurricane, toward Rory.
“You really do look beautiful tonight,” he said, leaning onto his forearms.He linked his fingers together in front of him.
“Thank you.”
“Thankyoufor finally agreeing to dinner.”He chuckled lightly.“I’m enjoying spending time with you, Em.”
Quietly, I admitted, “Me, too.”
A week or two was awfully quick to change his ways, but maybe having a larger responsibility with O’Gallaghers did Rory some good.This entire week while pursing me, I hadn’t noticed him checking out other women.I didn’t see him persuading others to do things at his bidding.
I was about to tell him that I noticed the change in him when our waiter came.
“Thank you for joining us tonight.My name is Rick and I will be your server tonight.Have we decided on our entrees this evening?”he asked.
I nodded, as did Rory, who gestured toward me.“You go ahead.”
Picking up the menu again to be sure, I found my item, reading it off for Rick.“I’ll do the…ten ounce prime rib, please.”
Rory’s brows rose and I fought a giggle.I liked a good piece of red meat.I wasn’t about to order a salad at a place like this.
After handing my menu to Rick, he turned his attention to Rory.“And for you, sir?”
Unlike me, Rory didn’t need to open his menu.“I’ll take your Maine Lobster Pot Pie.”
I nearly bugged my eyes out of my head.I had seen that item on the menu; it was the one with the highest price tag.
And there Rory went, flaunting his money.
“Very well, sir.Any appetizers for the two of you?”
I shook my head but Rory answered, “An order of your caprese, please.”
“All right.”Rick took Rory’s menu and folded them together in his hands.“We will have that appetizer out to you shortly.”
“You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”I asked, amused.
He nodded.“I have.When they opened, they brought some promotions to the pub and I checked it out.”
“It’s a very cute establishment,” I said, glancing around the patio again.
The sun was a mere spot of orange over the water-filled horizon, and the beginning of a star-filled sky was starting to blanket above us.I watched as a plane’s red lights flickered, flying in toward the mainland.
“The food is fantastic, too.I think you’ll enjoy it.”
His voice brought my eyes back to him.He held a hand out on top of the table and I allowed myself to place my hand in his.I couldn’t stop the girly grin from starting as he lifted our hands to his lips, kissing my knuckles.
I had to remind myself that this was Rory’s game.
But was it?
Was I different?
Or was I being a fool for allowing myself to be so drawn to Rory and his seductive ways?
I know I told myself one time with him, but I would not be opposed to bending that rule tonight.He was being incredibly kind and sweet, and it brought his sexy factor up to an eleven out of ten.
He lowered our hands back to the table, rubbing his thumb slowly over my knuckles now.
