Chapter 17 #2
The man waiting at the door nods a hello before opening, and we walk on in.
It’s dimly lit, and I hear the sound of a busy restaurant in the distance, but we are led straight down the hall, allowing only a glimpse of the 1920s-inspired dining area.
It’s classy. Not a single pair of jeans in sight, either.
I vaguely hear Hayes chatting with the staff member leading us, but it’s all mumbled to me, as I’m too focused on the excitement that is filling me. I already sense that this is a well-thought-out night.
We arrive at a separate dining room where booths line the walls, with very thick, maroon-colored curtains around each table to provide privacy and block noise.
I only noticed because a waiter opened one to deliver somebody’s order.
With the staff member indicating this is our table, Hayes and I slide in, and the heavy curtain is closed.
It already hurts how much I’m smiling. “This is knocking me off balance. Nothing in my library of options had us sitting in some secret club.”
“It’s not a secret club. I just didn’t want to bother with the front door and running into someone who would want to try to have a conversation. Here.” He slides me a pineapple with an umbrella. I didn’t even notice them.
I stifle a laugh. “What is this?”
He scoots closer to me, his arm outstretched behind me on the back of the booth. “Your pineapple drink.”
I touch the little paper umbrella. “This doesn’t seem like a type of drink on the menu here.”
His suaveness is in full swing. “It’s not. A special request. Even though I’m positive you actually hate pineapple drinks. It’s how I met you.”
There is a pinch in my chest. Not painful yet scary.
It’s deep, and it’s because of him. “Wow…” For once, I can’t rely on my humor, so I turn my head to catch his gaze fixed on me.
“A little detail and a reminder of how we first met, and now I’m positive you are a hopeless romantic,” I mention softly.
“Maybe. You’ll have to stick around to find out.”
I chuckle. “I didn’t plan on going anywhere… I’m famished and need to eat.”
“Truthfully, me too. Let’s have a look.”
He yanks me closer as we peruse the menu reserved for VIP guests. A special selection of courses the chef is making this week, but in the end, we both order a salad to start. Hayes opts for a steak, and I go for a stuffed chicken breast.
The entire dinner conversation was about growing up and the places he has visited. It’s when he finishes talking about his trip to Sweden that he notices that I’ve gone a little quiet.
“Are you okay?”
I smile to ease him. “Yeah. I was just thinking that most of the time, I forget that we have an age difference. But with your long list of life experiences, I’m reminded.”
He scoops up my hand and traps it between the table and his palm. “Does it bother you?”
I snicker at his mere suggestion. “No. In case you missed the memo, I don’t care. If I did, then we wouldn’t have Lola, trust me.”
He grins. “Okay, just checking.”
“Anyway, maybe it will come up when my dad meets you. More in a joking way… I hope.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” I stare at him skeptically.
“Kind of,” he admits. “I am interested in discovering more of Everhope, though. Last time was a little intense, so I missed the recommendations for the best place for coffee or the memo that sitting on a bench may lead to town speculation.” His hand moves to rest on my thigh.
It’s not even in a sensual way. His touching me is natural, the way couples do.
No thought process behind it. I barely notice because it feels right.
“It’s a great place. A community. Gosh, I love all the festivals, and yes, Foxy Rox has the best coffee. Savannah’s aunt owns the River Bell, the restaurant on the old steamboat. Maybe we can bring our families together there. Public spaces are safe.”
His cheeks have a dimple as he is still smiling, even as he takes a sip of wine. When he sets his glass down, his fingers twist the stem of the glass. “You never want to move back?”
“Sure. It may be great for Lola. The town spends a lot of money on playgrounds and schools. But career-wise, the options are limited. Plus…” Do I say it? It could backfire. “I now need to make decisions together with you when it comes to her.”
The little bell of the curtain rings to let us know they are about to open, and I’m saved.
When the curtain opens, it isn’t the waiter; instead, it’s a woman with a cart and what seems to be various gadgets of bowls and beakers, almost like it’s a science project, but then I notice a giant bar of chocolate.
“Time for dessert?” She smiles at us.
“This one, sure.” Hayes squeezes my thigh under the table as I pick up my glass of water. My pussy contracts from his innuendo.
“Perfect. I’m here to create your own chocolate truffle. I’m going to infuse the chocolate based on your mood and desires,” she announces.
I almost choke on my drink, and Hayes looks at the woman, impressed by the direction this conversation is going.
“Some sort of potion?” Lines form on my forehead.
“Yes,” she so easily answers.
None of this was anywhere on my list of potential or future date options, and I love this. Judging by Hayes’s wry smile as he watches the lady and me, I believe he does too.
She explains the process and the options, but ends on the topic of sex, which is perfectly fitting.
“Chocolate is, of course, known as an aphrodisiac and a dessert of love. Partly due to the small kick of caffeine for energy, or the Love Molecule, as they say, which triggers a chemical in the brain to fall in love and increase pleasure. Plus, we have a serotonin increase as well, the happy molecule. You two seem happy together, but it is a Friday, so perhaps I can infuse your chocolate for an extra special evening.”
“By all means,” Hayes casually agrees as he leans back against the booth.
My jaw juts out as my eyes swing between him and the chocolatier, and then my theory is pretty much set in stone. He probably knew this was coming.
“We have a few options if we are going in the romantic direction. Strawberry champagne or raspberry liqueur are classic and safe options. A sweet gesture. However, if you really want to experience chocolate at its finest, then I recommend chili honey, which is warm and represents slow-blooming warmth mirroring sensuality.”
“Sounds promising,” Hayes comments.
I’m trying to maintain a straight face, but I’m struggling.
She continues. “Anything with espresso caramel also brings the slow anticipation factor and adds indulgence. I can inject any of these flavors into the chocolate truffles. What are you both thinking?”
I’m stifling my laugh. “That you must have a lot of people here who end up having sex behind the curtain.” My hand flies to my mouth because I can’t believe that just flew out of it.
Luckily, the woman laughs it off, and Hayes licks his lips, still smiling wryly.
“I can’t believe I just said that.” Should I be mortified? But then I think about it for a second, and I’m not. I’m having fun and enjoying a night that is about me and a man, nothing else. “But definitely no sweet gestures. Some guy brought me flowers already tonight.”
“Slow-blooming passion it is,” Hayes clarifies to the lady. “Indulgent is also very much fitting. How about we have both?”
She nods in agreement and takes her little syringes, working her magic before placing the intricate truffles on a small plate in front of us. “Bon appétit and enjoy your evening.” She pushes her cart to allow space for her to close the curtain and leave us.
Instantly, I arrow my gaze straight into Hayes. “You planned this. Didn’t you?”
He begins to laugh and holds his hand up to stop me. “Maybe. Honestly, I didn’t think we would be going down the aphrodisiac route. I just thought having somebody make our own chocolate would be a nice touch. The other benefits kind of slipped my mind.”
I grimace at him before returning my focus to the delicious chocolate. “You’re in luck. I do love chocolate, and I’m far too curious.”
He yanks me closer to him by wrapping his arm around my hips.
He picks up one of the truffles and brings it to my mouth, but he stops short of letting me take a bite.
Instead, he glides the chocolate along my lips, back and forth as he captures my eyes.
It’s already sensual, and I haven’t even taken a bite.
His eyes drop slightly to my lips as he slowly moves the chocolate that is beginning to melt against the heat of my body.
I attempt to take a bite, but he removes the chocolate to taunt me.
Instead, his lips land on mine. It’s calculated. Slow, and his tongue swipes once along the seam of my mouth. I’m beginning to taste the chocolate now on his lips, and the tip of his tongue touches mine. He hums as he pulls away.
“Chili. But you are already indulgent,” he rasps.
Gosh, this man gets the highest rating for date experiences.
We walk side by side to my door, our arms grazing. When we stop in front of my door, I turn to face Hayes.
“Well, this is me,” I announce and hold up my key.
“It is.” His eyes are bolted to mine.
“Thank you for a lovely night,” I add. I’m trying to keep my laugh from bubbling up.
“Will there be a second date?”
I slowly nod my head. “I think so.”
“Think?” His brows knit together, unimpressed with my word choice.
“There will be. Would you maybe like to come in?” I hitch my hand holding the keys over my shoulder.
He snatches my keys, and in a flash, he presses me up against my front door. “Very much so. Now, if I have to play another second of your little game, then so help me, I’ll flip you around and take you right now.”
My mouth turns into an O shape. “So I shouldn’t go for the come in for a nightcap routine?”
He manages to open my door. “Fuck no. We have things I want to do with you.”
When his lips find mine and he shuts the door behind him with his foot, I’m already falling into our little world.
And I think I’m falling for him, too.