THE LONG DRIVE into town was extremely uncomfortable. Sam was such a quiet person and it unnerved me. Every so often, he’d look over and smile, which would extinguish my anxiety.
I am such a social imbecile.
This ‘friends dinner’ was way out of my depth and I was having trouble knowing what to say or do to ease my nerves.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Sam ran over to my side of the car and opened the door with a grin like a true gentleman. I kind of wish he’d just treat me like a friend, not a date, but I wasn’t going to hurt his feelings again—although I really hoped he wasn’t getting the wrong idea.
The Italian restaurant was one of the newer ones in town, and it boasted an authentic menu. They advertised an extensive wine list, and I was eager for a glass to help soothe the unease that was just below the surface, waiting to rear its ugly head at any moment. The lobby was very swanky and the garlicky smells were to die for. As the hostess led us to a private table in the corner, I glanced around the room, noticing that there were few patrons this evening. For some reason, it gave me an eerie feeling. I really had to get out more.
Once seated, the server brought us some bread and filled our wine glasses with the house wine. After we were alone again, Sam finally decided to speak. “Lia, thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me. I already feel like I know so much about you”—he paused—“but I can’t wait to learn more,” he rushed quickly.
“Uh, me too,” I replied, not really sure what else to say.
Yep. Social imbecile.
“I know you said we’d just have dinner as friends, but I can’t help but feel a connection between us. It’s like we’ve known each other for so long. You’re so beautiful that, sometimes, I have a hard time looking at your perfect face.”
Um, okay. Maybe I’m not the only social imbecile at this table.
Things were just about as weird as they could be at the moment.
Before I could form a response, Sam grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. I tried not to jerk my hand away, but my responses to this sort of thing were second nature at this point in my life. As I quickly yanked my hand back, suppressing a frown, I realized that I’d upset him.
Again.
Damn, I really needed to quit doing that. His expression was almost unreadable, but I could sense that he was angry with me.
I decided to let it all out at once. “Sam, I’m sorry. I told you I don’t date. This is all new to me. I thought we were coming here as friends, so you can imagine my surprise with the way you are behaving. You brought me roses, you opened all the doors for me, and now, you’re kissing my hand. I really don’t want to give you the wrong idea, but I am in no way interested in forming any kind of relationship other than friendship. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you.”
I thought this might bring clarity to our dinner, but instead, he angrily slammed his fist on the table, causing the glasses to slosh their contents and me to nearly jump out of my skin. He took a deep breath before pinning me with his glare. The muscles in his neck were tightening and untightening as he clenched his jaw together.
“Lia, I have waited three long years for this night. I expect you to respect me enough to not insult me as you’ve just done. Now, we’re going to enjoy this dinner and that’s the end of that,” he replied coolly as he proceeded to butter his bread as if he hadn’t just attempted to scare the crap out of me.
What in the world is wrong with this guy?
I grabbed my wine glass with a trembling hand and emptied its contents in one swift gulp, fighting the tears that were forming in my eyes.
“Excuse me. I need to go to the ladies’ room,” I whispered, not making eye contact with Sam. He nodded as I stood, but before I could get past him, he grabbed my hand again, this time rather roughly so I couldn’t pull it away.
“Lia, don’t be long. I don’t want to have to come after you,” he spoke calmly as I shivered. Then he released me and went back to buttering his bread.
With that, I slung my purse over my shoulder and tried to appear composed as I made my way to the restrooms.
Once I was in the safety of the ladies’ room, I ran into the first stall, locking the door behind me. I sat down on the lid of the toilet and tried not to cry, but tears angrily forced themselves out.
What the hell kind of person am I having dinner with?
In an effort to comfort myself, I pulled out Cale’s card. Just seeing his name typed across the front brought a smile to my lips. I wanted to call him—I really did—but I needed to deal with the situation I was in first and foremost.
How am I going to get through this dinner with Sam without setting him off any further?
Feeling defeated, I left my temporary sanctuary in the stall. When I reached the sink to wash my hands, I couldn’t help but look at my reflection. I didn’t like my reflection. Weakness was all I saw in the girl who peered back at me. It was time to lift my chin and finish what I had allowed to start.
This is why I don’t date.
After leaving the ladies’ room, I was turning the corner when I crashed right into my favorite rock-hard chest. His smells assaulted me as I sniffed him like a freaking dog. His arms instinctively engulfed me like they’d done every other time we’d met like this. He must have felt how much I needed him because he gently tugged at the back of my hair, tilting my head upwards, and brushed a kiss to my forehead. The tranquility of our embrace left me momentarily forgetting about the terrible evening I had been having until this moment.
Cale is such a calming force.
Even though I had my own plans for my life, fate had other ideas because she kept slamming me into Cale as if to knock a little sense into me.
I pulled back and looked into his comforting, blue eyes. “Cale,” I breathed.
“Lia,” he whispered back and bent over, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
The sweet kisses weren’t enough and I needed more from him. I opened my mouth so he could slip his tongue in. As he teased my tongue with his, I noticed that he still tasted minty and manly like earlier.
Yummy.
My perfect moment was shattered by an angry voice behind Cale.
“What the hell, Lia?” Sam barked.
I jumped with a squeak from being caught.
Obviously not liking Sam’s tone, Cale spun around in one swift movement while pulling me behind him.
“Who the fuck are you?” Cale demanded as he glared at Sam, hands fisted at his sides.
I squeezed Cale’s arm, unsure what to do but needing to touch him. All I could do was cower behind him and watch the drama unfold.
Definitely a social imbecile.
“I’m her date. Who the fuck are you?” Sam retorted nastily, taking a step towards us.
Cale immediately tensed at his words, not his proximity.
Shit.
Cale knew that I didn’t date. This wasn’t exactly how I planned for this evening to go.
“Bullshit. Lia doesn’t date and she certainly wouldn’t waste her time with a loser like you, so back the fuck off,” Cale practically growled, his jaw clenching and unclenching.
Unsure what to do but definitely not wanting this to escalate, I spoke up. “Cale, I am having dinner with Sam. We’re friends. I was just about to tell you,” I uttered weakly.
Cale turned around and looked at me, clearly trying to figure out how I could turn him down every single time yet do exactly what I’d said I wouldn’t do with another man.
His hand reached up and touched my face. A question.
With tears welling up, I frowned. An answer.
“I see,” is all he said to me with a pained expression in his eyes before spinning on his heels and stalking out of the hallway and back into the restaurant.
My heart actually hurt to see him walk away.
Surprising me, Sam grabbed my hand and pulled me back towards our table. “Our dinner has been served. We better get back before it turns cold,” he stated simply, as if the events that had just unfolded hadn’t happened.
Without knowing what else to say, I nodded and followed him back to the table.
Meet Lia, social imbecile extraordinaire.