This dinner is about to become the most difficult meal of my life.
She gives me a moment to contemplate her offer before she straightens up and stretches her hand across the table. A wide grin stretches across her face, her tone cheery as she says, “Hi, I’m Melissa. What’s your name?”
Like a gentleman, I take her delicate hand in mine. Smiling at her, I try to ignore the feeling of her skin against mine and the effect it’s having on me. “Hello, Melissa. I’m Gabriel.” Deciding to play along with her whim, I do my best to follow her lead. I’m not sure where this is going, but I want to find out.
“Ooh Gabriel, I like that name.” She leans forward, placing both elbows on the table, “So, Gabriel, what do you do for a living?” She tilts her head to the side, feigning ignorance.
It’s very hard not to look down at her chest, and I utterly fail.That damned dress.Exhaling, I make an effort to meet her eyes. “Well, Melissa, I’m a firefighter.”
Her hands clutch together, settling on her chest in mock surprise.“Handsome and a hero, huh?”
“Not everyone can be both. I got lucky I guess.”
Mel tilts her head back, laughing. Fuck, I could listen to her laugh all day. It's infectious and before long I’m laughing along with her.
After her chuckling stops, her face turns crestfallen. In a dismayed tone, she admits, “I haven’t laughed like that in a while.”
Frowning at her from across the table, I reach for her, taking her hand in mine, my thumb rubbing along her knuckles.She hasn’t laughed in a while? Why not?
She lets me hold her hand for a moment before gently pulling away.
Looking to change the subject, I decided to turn the tables and ask the questions in an attempt to play along with her little game. “What do you do for a living Melissa?”
The gloomy look recedes from her face as I turn the focus back on her. Clearing her throat and she sits up straight. “Well, Gabriel, I work at the esteemed law offices of Lappin, Snyder, and Hamp Associates as the personal assistant to Vance Lappin.”
“Sounds important.”
“Very.” Our eyes connect across the table, a smile toying at the edge of her mouth as she takes a sip of champagne.
“Tell me about yourself,” I prompt. I know Melissa, and she can carry a whole conversation by herself.
She looks up, tapping her chin as she thinks. “Well, I recently got dumped by my boyfriend a week before Valentine’s Day, no less. Work has been insanely busy and I hardly have a moment to breathe, “she pauses, holding up her fingers as she ticks off her list one by one, “And I recently took a pole dancing class.”
All thought leaves my mind in an instant. The only thing I can picture is Mel on stage, wearing sexy lingerie in those damn red high heels, her arms wrapped around a pole as she dances for me. My cock twitches in my pants and I have to push that image away from my mind.
Not easy.
Throat suddenly dry, it takes a moment before I’m able to respond. “A pole dancing class?” My voice comes out low and husky, a clear sign that I’ve just had dirty thoughts about my best friend.
We’re both now leaning across the table just inches between us. “Yep.” She answers, voice barely louder than a whisper.
“Learn anything fun?”
“Oh, it was very informative.” She blinks at me, our eyes locked. “I’ll have to show you sometime.” She slowly leans back into her seat, winking at me.
Fuck. Me.
All I can do is stare at her dumbfounded, as the waiter appears with more champagne in hand.
***
Our conversation during the meal was full of flirty banter, still pretending to be on a first date, knowing nothing about each other. I feel like I’m seeing a completely different side of Mel. One I’ve never seen before because we’ve never had any sort of romantic interaction.
Until now.
It’s one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The company and conversation was second to none, and the food? The lobster was cooked perfectly and the steak practically melted in my mouth. We split chocolate cake for dessert and it was mouthwatering. Secretly I let her have the last bite, knowing how much she loves cake.
This meal is worth every penny.
