Chapter Twelve
Chase
I take my time getting ready, deciding on a pair of suit pants and a dark grey sweater. I stare at my reflection in the mirror and then I run my hands through my hair, roughly styling it into place. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out on a date. I’ve been with women, sure, but never like this. I haven’t been with someone I can potentially see a future with since Casey. It’s scary, because in order to see where this can go, I have to put myself out there, where I risk getting hurt again.
Again.
God, am I actually admitting that losing Casey hurt me?
I know it did, but knowing it and admitting it to myself are two different things. For two years after we separated, she still occupied my thoughts. Lately though, it’s not Casey I’ve been thinking about. Hell, I hadn’t thought about Casey at all in two whole weeks.
Things have been going well, but I feel like I’m waiting for things to go wrong. I think that’s part of why I want to take her out tonight. I like her, and I want her to know that this is more than just sex. Though the sex is fucking mind-blowing.
I’ve booked us into one of the top restaurants in Boston, where we will be served a seven-course degustation menu prepared by one of the top chefs in the country, who happens to be an old college friend of mine. I’m actually kind of nervous about it. It’s like I’m worried that if she gets to know me too well, she might decide this isn’t worth it. Or maybe you’re worried she’ll find out everything you’re hiding. I frown, realizing how anxious that makes me.
Maybe I like her even more than I thought.
Right on seven, I knock on her door. I hear movement on the other side, but it’s a moment before she opens it. She smiles at me. I take her hand and kiss it.
“You look stunning,” I say to her.
“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself,” she grins. “So, where are we going?”
“Have you heard of Kingston?” I ask her. I already know the answer will be yes.
She laughs at my question. “Everyone has heard of Kingston,” she scoffs. Her eyes widen. “Don’t tell me you got us reservations there?” she gasps. “How?”
“What can I say? I know people,” I grin. “So, shall we go?”
She nods. I take her hand and we walk to my car. I help her in and then shut the door, walking around the front to the driver’s side. She smiles at me as I get in and buckle in my belt. I start the car and drive off, the excitement in my stomach beginning to give way to nerves.
We drive through the city in the direction of the water, which the restaurant overlooks. I pull to a stop outside it and get out, handing the attendant my keys. Alana waits until I open the door for her and extend my hand.
Alana clutches onto my arm as we walk through the restaurant, her eyes wide with excitement. I glance down at her short, dark purple dress, my throat constricting. Why did I have to make tonight about everything other than sex? Fucking her is all I can think about, seeing her in that dress, but I’m determined to show her that this is more just about sex.
“Holy shit,” she hisses, tugging at my arm. “I'm pretty sure that’s Kayne West over there.
I turn and smirk. “Yeah, that’s him,” I say with a chuckle.
“You seem less impressed than I am,” she comments, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Which I’m assuming means you’ve been here before?”
I nod as the waiter leads us to our table.
“Once or twice,” I grin.
Once or twice being nearly every month.
Not only do I like the food, but I'm also friends with the owner. We went to college together, so we catch up and have lunch every now and then.
I sit down. Alana looks around, the smile never leaving her face. Then she glances around, like she’s lost something.
“What have you lost?” I ask her curiously.
“Nothing,” she mutters. “I was just looking for the menu.”
“There is no menu,” I say with a smile. “Degustation means the chef decides what to serve. It comes out over seven courses. Small courses,” I add when her eyes widen.
“How have I never heard of this is before?” she says, shaking her head. “This is perfect. I hate making decisions. I'm terrible when it comes to choosing when I have more than one option.”
“I’m having trouble believing that,” I say with a grin.
“It’s true. Three weeks later and I'll still be trying to work out the pros and cons.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” I say with a smile.
“It is when I miss out on the things I want because of it,” she replies.
“It's funny, because I would've thought the opposite about you,” I say. “I see you as calculated and organized.”
She shakes her head vigorously. “No way. I've always been like this. I used to drive my father crazy when I was younger. He’d asked me to choose somewhere to go out for dinner and I'd still be deciding on the drive there. One time we went on a vacation and I was still booking the accommodation a hour before we arrived.”
I chuckle, studying her with amusement.
“What?” she grins. “I’m a sucker for making sure I’m getting the best deal.”
The first course comes out. I smirk when I see what it is. Escargot. I’, not the biggest fan, but I'm more interested in seeing her reaction. I'm pretty confident her reaction isn’t going to be positive. The waiter places her plate in front of her. She leans forward and breathes in. “God that smells amazing,” she murmurs. “I love escargot,” she adds, when I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Wow. You actually know what they are,” I grin. “I'm impressed.”
“Believe it or not, I've been known to fine dine on one or two occasions,” she teases. “I had them nearly every day when I was in Paris.”
“Paris?” I repeat. The shocks keep coming.
She nods. “I spent four weeks there right after I finished high school. It was my way of proving to myself that I could handle being on my own,” she explains.
“So you went alone?” I say, surprised. I’ve never been a seventeen year old girl, but I’d imagine that’s a pretty big deal. “I’m even more impressed. There’s so much more to you than I realized,” I add.
“Because I'm indecisive and I’ve been to Paris alone?” she jokes. “Which, by the way, was a hard decision to make. It came down to Rome, Paris and Berlin, so I drew one out of a hat.” Her eyes sparkle. I’m not sure if she’s joking or serious. “So,” she says, raising her eyebrows. “When do I learn more about Chase?”
“What you want to know?” I say.
She smiles, her eyes locking on mine. “What you want to tell me?”
Everything.
The next course comes out before I can answer her question. I smirk when I see that it’s chicken livers. I shake my head, because this one sure to test her. I didn't know what the menu was, but Luke knew that I was bringing a date, so I'm pretty sure this is his way of messing with me.
Without missing a beat she leans forward and scoops up a forkful of the delicate meat, before putting it into her mouth. She smiles, a dreamy expression forming on her face. I shake my head.
“Do you know what they are?” I chuckle.
“Chicken livers?” she says. She looks at me and raises her eyebrows. “Anyone would think that you were trying to trip me up, Mr. Winston.”
“Hey, in my defense I had no idea what the menu would be,” I say.
“Uh huh. Sure you didn't,” she replies, narrowing her eyes.
The rest of the courses aren’t nearly as risky, and before I know it, we just finished number six. Alana narrows her eyes at me.
“Is dessert one of these courses?” She asks playfully. “Because if not, you owe me something sweet. The same rule applies, whether you cook for me or take me out, Mr. Winston.”
“Gladly,” I chuckle. “Ice cream on the way home it is, then. I’d offer you the choice between ice cream and waffles, but I wouldn’t want to put you in a hard position.” I wet my lips and stare into her eyes. “At least, not that one.”
“How thoughtful of you,” she retorts.
After dinner, we walk along the river, enjoying the ice cream I promised her, while continuing to get to know one another. Then out of nowhere, she curses loudly. I glance at her and raise my eyebrows.
“I left my jacket back in the restaurant,” she explains. “It’s one of my favorites,” she adds, a pained expression on her face. “Would you mind…?”
“Going back and getting it for you?” I guess. I glance back up the steep hill we’d just walked down and smile. “Of course. I’ll be right back.”
I lean over and kiss her before I start the trek back uphill to the resteraunt.
I’m out of breath and sweating buckloads by the time I reach the front doors. I look everywhere, for the missing jacket, but I can’t find it. It’s literally vanished. After nearly twenty minutes of searching and an argument with the waiter, I give up and walk back to where I left her, to break the news.
“I’m sorry,” I begin. Then I frown and eye her suspiciously. “That jacket you’re wearing looks awfully similar to the one you just sent me on a marathon to retrieve,” I comment.
She glances down, her eyes widening.
“How on earth did that happen?” she exclaims. She stares at me innocently, but her eyes are laughing at me. “I guess I must have had it right here all along and I didn’t even know it.”
“This wouldn’t happen to be payback for that time with my shirts, would it?” I growl, wrapping my arms around her waist. She laughs as I thrust her against me. I kiss her, my mouth ravaging her neck. “That was very disrespectful of you, Alana,” I mutter. “I might have to teach you a thing or two about manners.”
“Oh, really?” she says, smiling at me. “You know you deserved that,” she says.
She presses her mouth onto mine, kissing me slowly. I sigh as she pulls away, my lips still tingling from her touch.
Glancing at my watch, I wince. It’s late—much later than I was expecting. I have no idea where the time has gone, but I’ve had fun. Even more than I’d expected. I take her hand and walk her back to my car.
We get in, neither of us saying much for most of the drive back. But it’s not a bad silence. It’s one of those where you’re happy and content just letting things be what they want to be. I glance over at her and smile as we pull into her street.
I pull up outside her apartment complex and I insist on walking her to her door. The moment we reach it, I lift her face to mine and kiss her, pressing my mouth against hers. She sighs, closing her eyes until I pull away. I study her expression, taking everything I can about her in.
“Do you want to come in?” she asks shyly.
I smile at her. “More than anything,” I admit, my heart pounding. “But I won’t.”
I lean over and kiss her again on the lips, this time slowly and tenderly, savoring every little touch. She sighs as we part, her eyes closed, her eyebrows slightly raised. I chuckle and kiss her again, then let go of her hand. I want to go in there so badly, but I also want to show her that I can be more than just about sex. Even if it fucking kills me in the process.
“See you tomorrow, Alana. Sweet dreams.”