I kissed his temple, breathing in the citrusy scent of his shampoo. “Only stating facts.”
When the credits rolled, Pascal sat up straighter but didn’t move away. “So, which did you like better? The book or the movie?”
“The book.” I traced patterns on his shoulder with my thumb. “Diane Lane was amazing, but the book had more depth.”
“I agree.” He shifted to face me better. “The descriptions of the food in the book were incredible.”
“Made me want to visit Italy.” I caught his gaze. “Maybe someday.”
His eyes widened slightly behind his glasses, and I realized what I’d implied. But I didn’t take it back. I meant it.
“Maybe someday,” he echoed softly. His smile was brighter than the Tuscan sun.
I couldn’t resist anymore. I leaned in and kissed him slow and deep. He melted against me with a soft sound that mademy blood sing. His fingers curled into my shirt as I explored his mouth, tasting and teasing. God, he was addictive.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. His pupils were dilated behind his glasses, and his lips were pink and slightly swollen. He looked utterly kissable.
“I should go,” he said reluctantly. “It’s getting late.”
Part of me wanted to ask him to stay, but I didn’t. This was only our second date, and I wanted to do this right. Somehow, it mattered. He mattered. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
At his car, I kissed him again, slower this time, savoring every second. When I pulled back, his eyes were glazed. “Drive safe.”
He nodded, seemingly unable to speak. I watched him drive away, already missing his warmth.
5
PASCAL
The soft clink of forks against plates faded as Stanton and I finished the last bites of our meal. Golden candlelight flickered across the farmhouse table, casting a warm glow on Stanton’s face. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at me over his wine glass.
“That was delicious,” I said, savoring the lingering taste of herbs and garlic that had flavored the whole chicken Stanton prepared. “And you have plenty of leftovers.”
Stanton chuckled, a rich sound that made my heart skip. “Part of that will end up in a salad tomorrow or maybe on a club sandwich, and the rest will become the base for chicken soup.”
This man… He was so accomplished and skilled in so many areas. I’d loved every moment we’d spent together over the four weeks we’d been dating. But the one thing I wanted most hadn’t happened yet—and it was my own fault.
My question that first night, asking him if he was interested in hooking up or something serious, must’ve given him the impression I wanted to take things slow. And yeah, I hadn’t wanted to jump in bed with him on the first date, tempting as ithad been. But now, I was ready. More than ready. It had been over six months since I’d had sex, and my body craved Stanton.
Tonight was the night. I was ready to take our relationship to the next level. Heck, I’d even packed an overnight bag, though I’d left it in my car. For now.
We stood and began clearing the table. How did I bring this up? I could hardly casually drop it while doing the dishes. Right?
“Here, let me get those,” Stanton said, reaching for the glasses I held.
Our fingers brushed and lingered. I looked up, meeting his gaze. The tenderness I saw there made my breath catch. Maybe I should just take the leap.
“Stanton, I was thinking…”
Stanton set the glasses down, giving me his full attention and encouraging me to continue.
“Why don’t we move to the living room?” I suggested, my heart fluttering. “It might be more comfortable to talk there.”
Stanton nodded, his hand finding the small of my back as he guided me toward the cozy space. The gentle pressure of his touch sent a thrill through me.
We settled onto the plush couch, the leather creaking softly beneath us. The room was bathed in the warm glow of a nearby lamp, casting long shadows across the exposed brick walls. I could smell the faint scent of old wood mingling with Stanton’s cologne.
“What’s on your mind, honey?” Stanton asked, his rich, baritone voice wrapping around me like a warm blanket. He’d recently started calling me honey, and I loved it.
