Chapter 60 Date Night
Hallie looked at the city skyline from the top of a restaurant rooftop garden. The whole dining area was sheltered by a canopy of flowering shrubs, and she and Finn were the only guests.
Apparently, Finn had booked it exclusively for the evening.
“So, do you like this place?” Finn asked, after they toasted each other with glasses of champagne.
“You’ve really pulled out all the stops,” Hallie said. “I’d say this is almost as good as the Lonesome Cactus.”
Finn raised his well-sculpted eyebrows. “I’ve never been to the Lonesome Cactus, but if you like it, it must be amazing.”
“Oh, stop it! Seriously, what’s all this?” she gestured at the opulent rooftop garden and the wait staff ready to serve them. “This is only our first date, or second date if you count the workout?”
“You’re not used to being spoiled,” he said.
“I grew up on a ranch, so no. We would get up at 6 a.m. to feed the animals and work hard every day.”
“Let me guess,” Finn added, “you had to walk ten miles to school, and it was uphill both ways.”
“Something like that,” she said, laughing.
“Okay, I’ll tell you the truth about why I pulled out all the stops tonight.” His eyes studied her seriously. “You made quite an impression on me. I was dating someone else when I met you, but now I ended it because I’d like you and me to be exclusive. I feel really strongly about you!”
Hallie had wanted to hear those words from a guy she had liked in the past, but now coming from Finn somehow wasn’t doing it for her.
Why was she bored all of a sudden?
She feared Luke was starting to have too much influence over her life since she was becoming compulsively bored all the time like him.
Maybe it was really the fact that compared to Luke, Finn was just a little ‘blah’?
But then, who wouldn’t be?
She was suddenly horror-stricken because Luke did seem like the most exciting man in her life.
“Are you okay?” Finn asked. “I’m sorry if it came out too suddenly. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I’m an idiot.”
“No, it’s all right,” Hallie said. “I’m glad you told me.”
“But you’re not saying yes?” he prompted.
“I...” Her gaze fell as she tried to decide what she really wanted. “I don’t know if I can answer that question so quickly.”
“I get it,” Finn said, though she could see a shade of disappointment in his face.
After dinner, they walked down the street, and Finn volunteered to help her find a cab.
“Thank you for the wonderful date,” Hallie said.
“I hope you’re not just saying that out of pity,” he replied, “because I’m not giving up.”
Hallie smiled at him. She still liked him, just maybe not enough to dive into a whirlwind romance so quickly.
Finn was leaning slowly towards her, his arms open for an embrace. It felt so warm and inviting that she inched forward, melting into his arms and meeting his half-open lips.
It was a nice kiss. Not like the kind of kiss one imagines and dreams about, not the kind of kiss that fills the body with liquid fire and empties the mind of all thought. But a sweet, slightly alluring kiss.
It was probably the perfect goodbye kiss.
***
MISS SANTER HAD JUST been leaving the weekly meeting of the Society for Women’s Advancement in Business when she saw the couple walking down the street.
She could not believe it! That hussy who was always stealing Luke’s attention was here walking with another man!
And it seemed like they were flirting.
Miss Santer was on the other side of the street, and they paid no attention to her as she stealthily trailed them.
When they stopped walking and kissed, she was outraged on Luke’s behalf! How could this two-timing floozy do this to him? At the same time, she was thrilled to be able to catch Hallie in the act. She whipped out her phone and took a photo.
This would be something interesting to show Luke tomorrow...