Little did she know, crime TV was just about all I watched outside of sports.
“I’ve only had one pet in my life. Willy.”
“Willy?”
“Yes. He or she—I’m still not sure—was a zebra fish. I was five and one of my favorite movies wasFree Willy. When I begged my parents for a whale, only to be told it wasn’t possible, I settled for a fish.”
Why was that so fucking adorable?
“My favorite crime documentary? That’s so hard.” She took a sip of her wine as she looked off into the distance in deep thought. “It feels weird to have a favorite story of people’s life tragedies. But if it has anything to do with a cult leader, I’m sold.”
“Well, I’ll have you know—and I’m not just saying this to have things in common with you—but I love anything crime related. Specifically, anything to do with the Mob. It makes it ten times more interesting living in a city that was once run by organized crime.”
“Since we have all night together, maybe we each pick one of our favorites to watch later.”
I couldn’t help it as my lips formed into a smile thinking of our night ahead. The money aside, it truly felt like she was on a date with me because she wanted to be, and not because I was paying her to do so.
“I couldn’t imagine a more perfect night, Bella.”
With her intoxicating cherry scent floating around me, and the wine buzzing through my veins, I was confident that this night wouldn’t be the last for us.
“That wasthe best pasta I have ever had in my life.” Giving my stomach a pat, I placed the cloth napkin on my empty plate, surrendering any crumb left. I couldn’t eat another bite even if I tried.
“I had a feeling you’d enjoy it.” Spencer left a clean plate, bolognese and parmesan nowhere to be found.
Our evening started off feeling slightly on edge with me not expecting my night would be spent withhim. But even surprising myself, as our night continued, I was having a change of heart. Although, in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but get ahead of myself and wonder what all of this meant. Where it would lead us next. But we’d just spent the last few hours getting to know each other, and we had so much more in common than I ever thought possible. Especially with him being older than me.
It was the mostnormalI’d felt in a long time.
Bringing my attention back to our clean plates, I swirled my wine in its glass before bringing it to my lips. “Is this where you bring all your dates?”
“Dates? No. Business meetings and a solo night at the bar? Absolutely.”
“I have a hard time believing you haven’t entertained … company, other than myself, at yourfavoriterestaurant.” My eyes narrowed into slits, challenging him.
“Would it make you jealous if I have?” His lips lifted into a smirk.
“Maybe.” Fuck, the wine had my tongue tied, forcing my cards to show.
“You like me,” he said for the second time tonight.
“Yes. But I can’t.” That nagging thought buried deep in my mind came forward.
Leaving his assumption unanswered once again, I tugged on my lip.
“So, are we going to get out of here?” My stomach sank as the words fell from my lips. The lines were beginning to blur between,‘things I’d say to a normal client,’and‘this feels like a real date, and I want nothing more than to get out of here with you.’
Part of his requirements for tonight were to go back to his place, sleep in his bed, andholdme while we slept.
Spencer knew exactly what he was doing. He was making it impossible for me not to want him. He was pulling out all the stops and leaving the ball in my court. A ball that would be so easy to slam dunk if I had another glass of wine.
He was making it damn near impossible for my head to stay on straight knowing we were going back to his place after this. Just the two of us.
Spencer pushed out his chair, stood up, and held his hand out for mine. My fingers swept along the palm of his hand, and immediately, his touch felt as if a million butterflies were dancing in my stomach. We were just holding hands, yet it felt like a first kiss.
Electricity ran through our connected touch, the nerves continuing to build as we walked hand in hand out of the restaurant. Goosebumps lit up my skin as we walked past the bar. An eerie and familiar scent drifted around me, and when I took a glance back, I only confirmed it was all in my head; the alcohol was probably making me hallucinate.
Shaking off my irrational fears, we exited the restaurant that led us right out on the Strip. My palm molded to his so perfectly that my mind got lost in the feeling. It was just the two of us, walking through a blur of lights. Everyone around us invisible and insignificant.
