“Why did you laugh?”
“I find dogs are a lot better than people.”
I looked toward her and saw the smile on her lips.“I do as well.”
One day, I would get her a dog of her own.Burt and Daisy were mine, and there was nothing quite like having a dog that was your own, to love and take care of.
“Are you going to tell me your name?”
“No,” I said.
There would come a time when she needed to know it, but that was not today.
“It makes you seem all mysterious.Do you know that?”she asked.
I turned toward her.“Do you enjoy the house?”I changed the subject.
“Yes, you have a lovely home.I quite like the pool, as you saw today.”She let out a little giggle.“I can’t believe I actually thought you had a shark.”She shook her head.“Burt is adorable.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
I got her to talk about what she loved about the house.She adored the large space, the pool, the theater, and the library.
“Is there anything else you would like to have?”I asked.
“I don’t think so.Your home has everything a woman could need, and besides, it’s not like I developed a hobby.”She shrugged.“I didn’t know what kind of future I was going to have, so I just ...lived.”
I reached out and slid a finger down one of her many tattoos.“Is that what this is all about?”
She nodded.“Yeah.My parents got so mad, but I had started it and I wasn’t going to stop.I wanted to do everything and anything that would break that contract, you know?”
I did.
“There was nothing you could do,” I said.
“What if I hadn’t been a virgin?”
“That wouldn’t have changed anything.”I might not have gone quite so easy on her, and she would have been in my bed before now.I’m not a fool.“Why are you still a virgin?”
Maeve shrugged.“I don’t know.I guess, I just, there was no one I wanted to go all the way with.”She rubbed her temples.“It probably sounds silly.”
It didn’t to me.
We arrived at the restaurant, and I let myself out of the back.The concierge knows to keep his distance as I hold out my hand for Maeve to take.She slid her hand in mine, and I like that she’s not shaking.Maeve is not a quitter.
Helping her out of the car, I wrap my arm around her waist, and we head into the restaurant.The maître d’ knows me on sight, and I’m escorted to my usual table.My men are given their table, and Maeve looks nervous, but she sits opposite me.I noticed the men who admire her on my arm, but they all know she is out of bounds.
One look around the restaurant and with a signal from one of the waiters, I’m made aware that the Taylors are not here.
“This is a really nice place,” Maeve said, leaning in close.
She’s captivating.I watch as she nibbles on her bottom lip.Seconds pass as I’m distracted by her lips, when the waiter comes over with the menus.
I’ve got the one with the prices, and Maeve thanks the waiter.She is nothing like her family.She has surprised me by not needing to be warned about her behavior.
“Is the chicken parmesan good?What would you recommend?”Maeve asked.
