16. Luke
“I’m not going to lie, I was expecting you to go a different route. You know, the typical fancy dinner in a fancy restaurant, with you showing off your knowledge of wines and some menu that I can’t even pronounce.”
Olivia’s tone is laced with humor, and I can’t help but laugh. Then I shake my head as I guide her inside the movie theater, where the carpets are lush, and the most lit area is the concession stand.
“To be fair, I’ve taken most of my dates to fancy restaurants, but I want it to be different for us.”
Curiosity shines in her eyes as she looks around before we stop at the concession stand. It’s a long area filled with glass displays of goods and a menu on the wall. I wait for her to read everything.
“Wait…shouldn’t they just offer stuff like popcorn, candies, and soda? They have quite a variety of food.” She then glances from side to side. “And where is everyone?”
I bite back a grin. “Don’t be mad, but I kind of rented the whole place for the night so we could have it to ourselves. Plus, this isn’t your regular movie theater. It offers more than popcorn, candies, and soda.”
On cue, a staff member steps forward, greets us, and ushers us farther inside the movie theater and toward the center. Olivia gapes when she takes in the lush couches and chairs, fit with side trays and buttons, and facing the giant screen at the front.
I raise a brow. “You like it?”
“I didn’t even know this existed around here. It’s like…a five-star theater.” Her gaze narrows at me. “How much did you pay to make it private?”
I lean in and whisper in her ear. “That’s a secret I’ll take to the grave.”
She shivers at the contact. I know it will only take a few more seduction moves to get her all pliant and willing for me, just like she was back in the storage room where we had our little tryst mid-party. It was so good that I spent the rest of the night on a high, and I can’t deny that I’ve been replaying that scene over and over in my head, obsessed with what we did to each other and how we made each other feel so good.
But this is date night, and I want it to be strictly non-physical—or as non-physical as we can manage. I already know we’re compatible in bed, our sexual chemistry off the charts, but now I want to explore what else we have beyond that, Riley, and our working relationship.
A few minutes later, a server comes over to greet us and hands us our menus. Olivia’s eyes widen.
“Wow, they even have steak…”
I smirk. “Yup. Order what you want.” Then I turn to the server. “I’d like a medium rare steak, baked potato, and a glass of red wine, please…oh, and a sorbet of whatever fruit you have available.”
The server nods back and turns to Olivia. She keeps rereading the menu before she clears her throat.
“I’d like a cheeseburger, fries, a chocolate milkshake, and a large popcorn to share.” When the server leaves for the kitchen area, she winks at me. “Your order’s kind of boring.”
“Hey. Steak is never boring. But I might try to steal some of that milkshake.”
“You can try. I’m not sharing.”
Her teasing mood is nice, but she’s quiet again soon after as she absorbs the venue. I hand her the tablet.
“You choose the movie. I’ll watch anything.”
I’m amused when she takes her time choosing, then delighted when she chooses a fantasy movie that’s one of my favorites. We settle in better when the food is brought to us. The lights dim and the movie starts.
It’s an experience, to say the least. I didn’t realize how much I appreciate movie-watching until I’m exposed to how Olivia and Riley watch them, their appreciation clear-cut and unpretentious. But Olivia understands the deeper parts of it, too, proven when there are tears in her eyes by the time the credits roll.
I wipe the tears with my thumb. “I never took you for a movie crier. You don’t even bat an eyelid when it’s so busy at the hospital.”
She smiles. “That’s because cinema is an escape, so I let myself escape.”
“I bet Riley would love this escape. Maybe we should make her next playdate happen here.”
At that, she laughs. “And risk ruining her regular movie days? Let’s keep the exclusive cinema playdate for later.”
I nod but can’t help feeling excited, since that means I’ll get more time with Riley—and, in turn, with Olivia. When we leave the theater, I take her hand and tug her to the back of the building, where there is a limousine already waiting for us. She raises a brow.
“Oh. What else did you have planned for the night?”
“Just a stroll. Come on.”
Just a stroll ends up with us exploring random areas of New York without being exposed, which I know she appreciates as she’s still nervous about how others might see our relationship. I’m well aware it will affect her more than me, too, so I don’t push until Olivia asks to stop the limousine in front of a park.
“Do you want to stroll around for real?”
Surprise fills me at her invitation, but I nod and follow her out of the limousine. After instructing the driver that I’ll call him when we’re ready, I take her hand.
“Is this okay?”
She glances at our joined hands, but I know she understands my question. She nods.
“Yeah. It’s not a popular park, but it’s a peaceful one. It’s more crowded during the day when dog owners walk their pets around, but at night, it has the prettiest lights…look. That’s what I’m talking about.”
I check where she’s pointing and stare at the area of the park filled with trees, where lights have been abundantly strung in between branches and trunks to give off an enchanting, almost ethereal effect. But it’s not just that. The flowers growing wildly around the tree area make it look like we’re in a meadow in some faraway place, the lights reflecting a glowy effect on them.
I thought I was impressing her with the view of city lights from the limousine, but this…it’s magical and I’m the one impressed. I must be unable to hide my reaction, too, as Olivia smirks at me and squeezes my hand. Then she sidles closer, a gleam entering her eyes.
“I guess you’re not the only one with something up your sleeve, huh?”
She looks so pleased that I can’t deny her this, so I nod in defeat. “I guess. You got me. I didn’t even know this existed.”
“That’s because you haven’t really explored the state yet. You only know the popular parts when there are better places in quieter areas.”
She’s right. She’s only been here for a few months, yet she knows how to appreciate beauty in otherwise ignored areas. I smirk back.
“Perhaps you should plan our next date. Take me somewhere I haven’t been before.”
Olivia purses her lips. “Sure. Assuming there’s a second date, of course.”
I nod, not about to tell her that I’m confident there will be. I can see the clear enjoyment on her face as we stroll toward the flowers, which are even more beautiful up close. When the breeze picks up and she shivers, I remove my coat and place it over her shoulders, then openly appreciate her dress.
“You know what my new favorite is?”
Olivia sends me a curious look. “What?”
I wink. “Black dresses. Specifically, you in them.”
She laughs hard, and it’s the most melodic sound there is. I rub her shoulders to add an extra layer of warmth, but really, it’s just an excuse to pull her closer to me.
And when she doesn’t protest, I can’t think of a more perfect date than this.
When I walk Olivia to her doorstep, I thank her for spending the night with me and for giving me a chance. Her smile turns shy.
“I should be the one thanking you, Luke. You made so much effort and I like how we spent the date.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. It was pretty amazing.”
I can’t help but agree. Then I can’t help looking at her lips, which are still shiny with lip gloss after all these hours and as tempting as ever. I know I was hellbent on making this non-physical, but with the night wearing me down, I can’t help but lean in now.
She tilts her head, welcoming my presence, and our lips connect in a soft kiss. Then the soft kiss deepens as the taste of her sinks into my soul, and she must feel the same as she makes a small sound in her throat before her hands fist on my dress shirt. I emit a groan when one of those hands slides down my stomach, where I know she can feel my muscles contract every time our tongues slide against each other.
“Liv.” Thoughts trickle like sand from my head, overtaken by desire and her sweetness. I cup her cheek to change the angle of the kiss, then press her against the wall to grind my erection against her. “Liv.”
She gasps, then grinds back. Her nipples are stiff against her bra and dress, an undeniable proof of her arousal. But there’s a part of us that’s aware we can’t go beyond now, so we do our best to keep it light—or at least, not jump each other like we did in the past.
When I know I’m seconds away from carrying her back to the limousine and fucking her there—because hell, it’s another fantasy of mine—I make the conscious effort to back away and break the kiss. A surge of satisfaction thrums in my belly when Olivia makes a small sound of protest, telling me I’m not the only one who wants more.
Her lips are swollen and her cheeks are flushed, a sight that will never fail to affect me. Darkened green eyes stay on mine as she catches her breath and eventually lets my dress shirt go…just in time, too, as the door beside us opens and Riley’s head peeks out. She lights up at the sight of us.
“I thought I heard voices! Hi!”
It’s a very good thing we stopped when we did. I clear my throat, steady my racing heart, and grin at her.
“Hey, there. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Riley bites her lip. “I was going to. Nancy tried to get me to sleep, but I told her I wanted to wait for you guys and ask.”
“Ask what?”
“Are you staying the night, Dad?”
My amusement shifts into shock, then hope. The look is visible in Riley’s eyes, too, but it’s mine that’s dashed when Olivia clears her throat and answers for me.
“I’m afraid he’s not staying the night, sweetie. He’s just here to drop me off. Aren’t you, Luke?”
Her tone is light, but her words are asking for backup. Disappointment courses through my system, but I bank it in and force myself to nod.
“Yeah. And you should go to bed, missy. It’s late.”
Riley pouts that I’m not staying, but it soon turns into giggles when I pick her up and shower her face with kisses. It’s crazy how I went from wanting to hold her so much to being free to do so whenever I want. It’s a privilege that I will never take for granted.
As for Olivia…we look at each other before I step in and kiss her cheek, keeping it polite this time.
“Goodnight, guys. I’ll see you next time.”
Then I turn around before I can change my mind.
It’s for the best, I tell myself. Casual is where it’s at, and I can’t expect her to commit to me that fast, especially when a kid is already involved and might get hurt.
But why does it feel like I’m losing her bit by bit every time she denies me more?