Nick focused his attention on me at the mention of the project. He seemed to appreciate the change of topic back to business. “Yes, great idea. Tell me what you’re looking to do. You mentioned crazy ideas. I love that. Innovation is hot.”
I smiled as I watched his entire demeanor change before my eyes. He truly loved what he’d chosen for a career, and he might just be a workaholic like me. The challenge excited him. And that attracted me even more.
“As I said earlier, I want more than just a restaurant. I want a way to engage and educate people about wine, without just giving them a bar. I want a cutting edge design that encompasses all my ideas into one building.”
Nick’s eyes lit up as he listened, taking in every small detail. “You want Bernardo’s to be an experience.”
“Exactly.” I fucking knew he was the one for this. “And a one of a kind. I want to combine the best of all my favorite places, and create something original.”
I watched as all the passion and lust he was feeling a moment ago slipped from his consciousness. He was no longer thinking about fucking since I’d engaged his mind in what he loved. As he looked at me, unseeing, I could see the swirling of creative juices flowing for him. He was intrigued by my idea, and was designing my building in his mind. “Like multiple restaurants under one roof?”
I gave him a big smile, because he got it—without even seeing an image or a piece of paper. That kind of intellectual understanding turned me on more than ever.
“Something like that. I’ve been inspired by the pub crawls the city puts on. I want my new place to be an obvious choice for the planners to consider. I want to attract all kinds of new customers. Not just the restaurant crowd, but the wine drinkers, the food enthusiasts who want to buy authentic Italian food in the bar as well as the restaurant, and enough space with a beautiful atmosphere for people who want to celebrate special occasions in an unforgettable place. And on top of that, I want to partner with the local Food Bank and school system to teach kids about cooking and growing their own food.”
Nick gazed at me dreamily as he listened to what I wanted. I didn’t think his eyes could get any bigger than they already were. But I was wrong. They darkened, and the excitement on his face made me smile. Maybe my ideas weren’t so crazy after all. Or maybe it was the age difference showing. I had him by seventeen years, but I wouldn’t tell him that.
“Even though I haven’t seen the first drawing or scribbling of what you want, I’m in, Preston. One hundred percent. Show me what you want, and I’ll work day and night to make it happen for you. This project is going to be amazing.”
Nick’s passion for it was infectious, and now all I could do was smile at him. “That’s why I chose you for this project.We’re going to need to look at some more properties in and around the city. I’m not in any hurry, but it would be good to already have the building.”
Out of the blue, something occurred to me that had my heart beating a little faster. “I want to show you the exact elements of the design I want.”
The unequivocal excitement rolling through him was palpable. It lit me up to know that my mismatched ideas had put that beautiful smile on his face. It was a powerful thing to know that I’d made him happy.
I couldn’t tell if the adoration in his eyes was for the project or for me. Either way, I’d take it. I’d try to make this as uncomplicated for him as possible.
“I can make that happen, Preston.”
I smiled at his beautiful face. “Good,” I replied, “let’s talk schedules. When does this semester end for you?”
Nick dug out his phone and opened an app. “Three weeks. I have to present my project idea to my mentor-advisor for approval by December 15th. That gives me plenty of time to get it all done.”
That would work. “How much do you have to submit?”
“Just the outline of the project and a list of what we’re planning to do. You and I will need to sign a contract to document the project. My professor will sign it as well.”
I smiled, running all this through my head. “Good. We’re going to need to take a field trip before that due date for you to see exactly what I want.”
Nick frowned. “But I have to work. Alejandro is counting on me during the holiday season.”
I shrugged. “I’ll work it out with him. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Like you did the other night?” he asked with one brow raised, questioning me on my tactics. But I knew how to get my way.
I extended my right hand to run my fingers through his thick hair, then used the left to cup his neck. I just couldn’t keep my hands or my lips off him. Five minutes in and I was already failing at this professional distance thing.
“Something like that,” I crooned as I looked into his eyes.
I reached over and pulled him to me. Nick came willingly into another kiss that I ached to take further. But he was right. The health department would frown upon it, and I didn’t need to lose my license.
He slipped his hands through my dark hair and held me to him. I could see us doing this forever, and I still don’t think even that long would be enough to satisfy the growing need I had for him.
Getting ahold of myself, I pulled back, respecting his wishes. I brought my forehead to his as we listened to the music create an intimate backdrop for our affection.
Nick sighed and held me to him with his hand around the back of my neck. His free hand slid up and down my thigh as he kept us planted in the moment. “I know this thing between us is going to be a monumental challenge, Preston. I feel it too. But you have to let me do this at my pace, and I don’t want to confuse our intentions or cause a problem with my professor. I have way more to lose than you, and I have to walk a very thin line.”
I slid my hands to his cheeks, then pulled back just enough to look at him. “I understand. I don’t like it, but I get it. And I can be patient.” I had some ideas about how we could have everything we wanted.
