Nicola helped me find a seat at the table. The contrast between his gentlemanly manners and his bad-boy flair was intriguing. Definitely, I was falling madly in love far too soon. Truthfully, I should have been finished the instant our gazes connected across the bar some weeks ago.
The waitress didn’t even give me a sideways look when she brought out our champagne that Nicola had ordered for the two of us. Nicola was the only one she saw, so she nodded and ran off to do what he said. The fact that he was still giving his undivided attention to me mitigated any jealousy I could have felt.
Still concerned about the evening’s lavishness, I said, “You didn’t have to bring me champagne.”
He looked at me with startling severity. ” I’m getting tired of you telling me what’s optional. I’m aware that it’s not necessary on my part. The reason I want to help you out is because of you. ”
“Oh.” Truth be told, I didn’t see it coming. Whenever he did anything kind for me, I immediately felt bad about it. This kind of attentiveness and consideration was foreign to me. “Appreciate it. “Just getting accustomed to it, I suppose.
A slant of his head indicated mental disarray. ” People being nice to you is unusual for you, right? ”
I readjusted myself in my chair. There was more to this inquiry than I had bargained for. I had feelings for Nicola, but I wasn’t quite ready to trust him. Regardless of how much I wished it.
“I’m not used to so much attention.”
The furrows between his eyes grew. “That men don’t constantly grovel at your feet is a lie you simply cannot sustain. ”
I felt like I was going to wriggle out of my chair under the scrutiny. “I don’t hang out with guys very often,” I finally admitted.
He gave me a moment of thought before nodding. “No, I’m not a boy, that’s for sure. I intend to treat you with the respect you merit. ”
The fact that the last one was wearing the crown of authority didn’t phase me in the least. His unyielding demeanor actually made it simpler for me to agree with him. Due to his caring nature, I was able to let go of my social anxiety and let him take care of me however he saw fit.
That’s fine with me. Without even considering it, the word “agree” left my mouth.
The bright light of his grin struck me square in the chest, and I almost forgot to breathe. “You’re doing fine, sweetie.”
It was an odd thing to say, but hearing those words lit up a fire deep within me.
I finally managed to mutter, “I’m not a girl,” though there was no conviction in my words.
Again his eyes blazed, the candlelight catching in his otherwise pale blue eyes. “No, you’re not. Does the fact that I said it bother you?”
After giving it some thought, I decided to be honest. “No.”
His arrogant grin was back. “Excellent.”
To be honest, I didn’t know what made him so happy about my answer, but his infectious good humor made me grin too.
Once the champagne had arrived, Nicola placed the order for our meal without so much as a glance at the menu.
He ignored the waitress and looked at me instead.
“It was my intention to order for both of us, so I apologize if that’s inconvenient. This is my go-to meal, and I hope you like it as much as I do! ”
I told him, “I don’t mind,” and I meant it. Although my inner feminist should be fuming, I appreciated that he was eager to show me something he found enjoyable. I was famished for information about him. If so, “Have you been to Dallas’s before?”
” Several Occasions. The meal here is nearly as wonderful as what they serve at the restaurant my family runs back home. ”
I strained forward, eager to hear the first substantive detail about him. “I was wondering whether your family managed a restaurant, and you told me that they did. Where?” ”
His face closed in on himself, avoiding any more contact with me. “Lasvagas”
“Oh. So, you call that place “home?” His quick withdrawal brought back my worries, and I nervously fiddled with the napkin on my lap.
“No.” The strain on his chest was relieved and his grin returned. I really like my time at Havard.
If you were asked, “What do you like most about where you live?” I was happy that his tension had subsided, so I inquired fast.
He woke me up with a raging appetite. “That seems like it should go without saying. I’m glad I finally got to meet you. ”
For a moment, I was unable to take a full breath. It was a shockingly powerful statement, but it got my heart racing all the same.
, “I’m delighted I met you, too.”
He extended his hand and took up his champagne glass, lifting it in a toast. To show that I was also participating, I matched his action by touching my glass to his.
He only muttered, “Cheers,” but the weight of the toast outweighed the joyous mood. It was a toast to our new friendship that brought us together, and we were drinking to mark the occasion.
When I was ready, I tilted back my glass and let the bubbling liquid wash over my mouth. More than the sumptuous taste, I was loving the time I was spending with him. The thought that I hadquestioned his interest in me just the night before felt unbelievable.
Although we had only just met, I felt a deeper connection to him than I had with any other guy. I was about to ask him some questions to learn more about who he was, but he broke the ice first.
“What are your major?” It wasn’t really a question, and I was OK with it nonetheless. The fact that he didn’t sugarcoat anything was appealing to me. The effect was invigorating and seductive.
I went to college for Art. This is my first semester officially participating in the university. My father had hoped that I would follow in his footsteps and major in medicine, but I just wasn’t that interested.
The glint in his eyes suggested a kind of longing. “I’d really like something like Art. Seriously, that’s incredible. “