Sophie looks up at me expectantly, and I know what she’s going to ask even before she says anything.
Shaking my head, her shoulders slump dramatically.
“No kiss yet? What is his deal?” she whines.
I shrug. “No idea,” I say before sitting down at a table.
Sophie has dated a lot in her lifetime, so she knows when things are out of the ordinary…or just plain weird.
And even I, the twenty-three-year-old virgin who never dated before Damon, know that something is off.
“I’m making him dinner tonight at my place,” I tell her.
“Ooh,” Sophie crows as she brings over our usual drinks and cookies. “With the bedroom within walking distance, he might just skip dinner altogether and waltz your ass right in there,” she says while taking a seat across from me.
“I hope so,” I say with a sigh. “I’m getting tired of wondering if he likes me or not.”
“He wouldn’t be taking you out if he didn’t like you. He’s just…” Sophie hesitates, trying to find the right word before finally settling on, “Shy.”
“I don’t thinkshyis the right word to describe a man like Damon,” I tell her with a shake of my head.
“Maybe he’s just so blinded by your beauty that he doesn’t know how to act.”
I snort at that. “I doubt that’s the reason.”
“Well, therehasto be a reason. You said he grew up on the streets, right?”
I give her a nod.
“Well, maybe he was never taught how to love. Maybe kissing is too personal for him or something…” She puts up her finger like she just got a great idea. “Oh, just like inPretty Woman! Julia Roberts never kissed any of those fools on the mouth.”
“But Damon isn’t a hooker,” I point out sarcastically.
“Thank god for that, because women would be lining up to get a piece of that,” she blurts out, and I can’t help but bust up laughing.
“You would be first in line,” I say.
“You bet your ass I would,” Sophie says with a sly grin. “Just give the man time. Maybe he just wants to take it slow like he told you. I think that’s actually pretty sweet.” She sits back in her seat. “Most guys want to hit it and quit it on the first date. At least he’s not like that.”
I give her words some consideration, and I decide that Sophie’s right. She’s totally right. Damon isn’t using me for sex, and he isn’t trying to get in my pants before I’m ready. So what if he hasn’t kissed me yet? Maybe he’s just waiting for the right time.
A smile forms on my lips as I reach over and hug her across the table. “Thanks, Soph. You always know the right thing to say.”
After I let her go, she tilts her head to the side and grins. “I’m just awesome like that.” Then, she takes a sip of her coffee before asking me, “So, what are you making him for dinner?”
“Something very special.” I’ll be using a recipe that I hold very near and dear to my heart. “I just hope he likes it.”
“I’m sure he’ll love it,” she tells me confidently. “And for god’s sake, woman, don’t let him leave without a kiss!”
Chuckling, I shake my head at her. “Okay. I’ll try my best.”
-------
I READ OVER the worn recipe card for the ten-thousandth time before I stick the lasagna into the oven. Julianna Rossi, Arlo’s mother, gave me the recipe when I was a little girl. I always loved helping her bake anything and everything.
She made me promise that one day I would make it for Arlo.
Too bad I’ll never get the chance to do that since they all perished away in the fire long ago.
