“So tell me about yourself, Elia,” Eric says as we pull into the restaurant. Thai Palace. I’m kind of shocked to see that it’s not fancy at all. I look down at my dress and wonder how foolish I look.

Date or meeting, I still dressed like I was going, in a very slutty fashion, to some fancy restaurant. The truth is, though, that it definitely put me at ease to see that he wasn’t showing off.

I think Eric doesn’t even realize that the iPhone was a kind of extravagant gift. Particularly for a girl that he just met.

“Umm,” I mumble. I’m not sure what to say. “I’ve always wanted to work in a bookstore.” My words are at least a little pointed. I still don’t need a fidget spinner extravaganza taking over my dreams. “I don’t have a boyfriend...I’ve never really had one. I’m friends with the girls at the store, and I tend to spend most of my time reading.” Oh god, why did I say any of that? I start talking faster, and my eyes feel like they are going to pop out of my head. “As you can tell I’m not that interesting and am like one step away from being a crazy cat lady, but I don’t like cats.”

“That’s the one step, huh, then?” Eric says with a laugh. He walks around the car and opens my door. “I’ve never been in a very serious relationship, either. I don’t like cats but Rose does.”

I cock my head to the side.

Eric actually looks flustered. His eyes are wide now. “Rose is my daughter. Well, in every way that matters…” Eric smiles at me.

“Wow. I never would have guessed Mr. Fidget Spinner was a baby daddy,” I say, trying to sound like I’m not freaked out.

Okay, so that’s unfair. But you don’t understand...I may be a virgin, but I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I don’t date because I don’t want to mess around with men that aren’t serious about family.

So how did I find a guy who says he’s never been in a serious relationship...and he already has a kid?

Eric puts his hand on the small of my back, and we walk toward the restaurant.

“She’s mine because someone...they left her on my doorstep, at my medical office.” Eric swallows.

“Oh, that’s so sad,” I say and shake my head. “I sound so stupid. I’m so sorry that I said that. I...I am so sorry that my life is so boring you had to tell me a bunch of stuff that’s really personal. I have personal shit you don’t tell on dates, like not first dates or business meetings—”

“Elia,” Eric says through a laugh. “It’s okay.” He opens the door and shoots me this charming look. A woman behind the counter actually looks him up and down as we enter. He is just too good looking to not get ogled. “I actually feel like I can tell you anything.”

I chew on my lip and look away from him. I feel something inside that makes me feel like I can trust him too.

Gah, you must think I’m crazy.

Eric must as well.

But all that cockiness seems to have faded away. His charm feels genuine, warm.

He orders for us, which I don’t mind at all because I don’t know anything about Thai food, really. I couldn’t even pronounce the words!

“I’ve never come here with someone before. Rose is only six so most stuff is not exactly palatable to her,” Eric says, running his finger over mine my hand across the table.

Dinner is full of light flirting and delicious flavors.

I didn’t know where to begin with asking him about the store, and I don’t want to talk about it for tonight.

Maybe I’m weird but I start thinking about my conversation with Ryan, and my gut tells me not to talk about the store.

And even though I’m enjoying dinner, that nagging feeling in my gut has me thinking, shit, if Eric does buy the store, then I probably shouldn’t be dating him.

“Let me get the check and get you home. Don’t want you late for work tomorrow,” Eric says with that smile that makes me tingle down to my toes just thinking about him.

“We had such a nice dinner,” I say, poking his arm. “I don’t know why you want to stir me up now.” I waggle my eyebrows at him.

Eric runs his hand from the nape of my neck to my spine, pressing his lips against my ear with a whisper. “Maybe I like my dessert stirred.” His warm breath against my ear makes my pussy ache with an intensity that I’ve never felt before. While he pays, I decide ...tonight’s the night I’m going to lose my virginity. I wasn’t sure how this would happen. I wondered if it ever would. But the way I feel right now, I know that I can’t resist the very real temptation before me, and I don’t want to.