Part 3 (2/2)
Her face got hot all over again, thinking about it. He looked at her, she looked at him, and neither one of them seemed to know what to say, so they ate.
Rosalie stomach suddenly felt as if her throat had been cut. It must have been the embarra.s.sment. The more wine she consumed, the easier the dinner conversation flowed. Unfortunately, her newfound ease didn't reduce her appet.i.te. At least, their clean plates made Vinny happy.
After dinner and two bottles of wine, they drank demita.s.se spiked with sambuca and ate an exceptional cannoli, one of her all-time favorites. She took a bite of the delectable dessert and eyed Nick as she licked powdered sugar off her top lip. Nick cleared his throat. He'd been doing that all night.
She had a smile on her face, but how could she not, when she ate cannoli? She was having a great time, and it wasn't because of the food, though she had to admit, great food helped. Nick had turned out to be a lot of fun. She wanted to see him again, so she needed to warn him. She knew it wouldn't make a difference. Guys don't listen, but never let it be said she hadn't been straight from the get-go. She put down her cannoli and looked him square in the eye.
”You know, you're making me break one of my rules.”
He raised an eyebrow. ”You have rules? About what?”
”About dating. Dating rules.”
”Should I ask what they are?”
”I'm breaking rule number three. If you fight on a first date, don't make a second.”
”I haven't asked you out on a second date.”
”After that kiss, if you hadn't asked me out, I would have asked you.”
He wiped his mouth with his napkin and pushed his plate aside. Then he rested his elbows on the table and leaned toward her. ”Really?”
”Yeah, but don't let it go to your head. Now, before I do something like ask you out-”
”You know, I don't think I've ever been asked out. I've been propositioned, but never asked out. Why do you think that is?”
”Maybe because you never let a girl get a word in edgewise?”
Nick smirked and she melted more, but then she'd kinda been melting like a Fudgsicle at the beach ever since she'd set eyes on him.
Rosalie cleared her throat. ”As I was saying, before I ask you out-”
”Do you think I'll accept?”
”Nick, if you don't put a sock in it, it will never happen, believe me.” She rushed on before he could comment yet again. ”We have to get a few things straight. First and foremost is that I'm not looking for marriage, and I'm not one to change my mind. If that's a problem, you might want to pull a Barbara Bush and just say no.”
”Nancy Reagan.”
”Nancy Reagan what?”
”She coined the phrase 'Just Say No.' Do most men say no?”
”No, most men smile and nod, and two years later they're down on one knee.” ”This happens often?” ”Well, twice now.” ”I see. Two out of how many?” ”Three.”
”What happened to number three?”
”He was number one, and well, he ranoffand-joinedtheseminary.” ”Excuse me?”
”I said, he ran off and joined the seminary.”
”Was this before or after you... um, spoke to him?”
”After. Anyway, back to the point. I like being single. I like having my own place. I like my job, and I like doing what I want to do when I want to do it. I'm not looking for a man to take over my life. So, unless you're looking for a monogamous, commitment-free, no strings relations.h.i.+p, do us both a favor and just say no.”
”What about the others?”
”What others?”
”The other men you've dated. Come on, you're what, twenty-five?”
”Twenty-seven. What's your point?”
”You're twenty-seven, and you expect me to believe you've only dated three men? Come on, Lee, I wasn't born yesterday.”
”I never said I'd only dated three men. I dated plenty. I meant I've only had three relations.h.i.+ps.”
”Now, I don't want to misinterpret your meaning again, so let me see if I understand. You told me you didn't want a 'relations.h.i.+p,' because the word relations.h.i.+p implies commitment, which, if my hearing is correct, you want no part of.”
She nodded.
”I don't understand what you're talking about.”
”Christ, Nick.” He smiled, one of those smiles again. She watched as the dimple in his left cheek popped out, or in, really, and the skin around his eyes crinkled. Then his mouth did this amazing twisty thing before his lips curved up and opened enough to show off a beautiful set of white teeth. They were perfect, she thought, except his right front tooth slanted over the other. Not that a person would notice, unless she looked close or kissed him, both of which she'd done. But, like everything else about him, Rosalie mused, it screamed s.e.xy. She remembered how it felt when her tongue slid over it and... A s.h.i.+ver ran its way up her spine.
”Lee? Are you okay? You're s.h.i.+vering.”
”Oh, I'm fine.” She rubbed her arms and tried to catch her train of thought-it must have slipped out of the station without her. Oh, yeah, she remembered. ”Anyway, I meant... um, a s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p.”
”Oh, so you are are propositioning me.” He smirked again as he leaned back in his chair, turning toward her. He crossed his arms and looked so d.a.m.n smug. propositioning me.” He smirked again as he leaned back in his chair, turning toward her. He crossed his arms and looked so d.a.m.n smug.
”I never said... You know, forget I said anything.” She took a sip of her demita.s.se and the last bite of her dessert. She didn't look at him, but felt him watching her. She brought her fingers to her mouth to lick off the cannoli cream, but remembered her manners and refrained, even though the thought of wiping the cream on her napkin almost killed her. What a waste.
She was reaching for her napkin when Nick caught her hand. Great, cream would get all over him. For the life of her, she didn't see how he could miss such a big glob of the stuff. She obsessed over it while Nick brought her hand to his mouth and licked off the cream. He proceeded to suck on every one of her fingers while keeping his eyes locked on hers.
She'd heard guys sucked on fingers and toes and other things. But not any of her her guys. She was no virgin, but it was as if the guys she'd been with had gotten directions from the same book- guys. She was no virgin, but it was as if the guys she'd been with had gotten directions from the same book-How to Get Off in Ten Minutes or Less-and took it as a challenge. They all beat it.
Nick knew how to take his time. She didn't know how long he'd spent sucking on her fingers, but she wouldn't be surprised if they were pruny. He only stopped because Vinny came to tell them to lock up on their way out.
Nick helped Rosalie up-and she needed help. In her quest to drown her embarra.s.sment, they'd finished two bottles of wine and had sambuca with their demita.s.se. It worked like a charm. Nick held on to her and smiled. She felt so good, tucked under a guy's arm and held close to his side, especially a big guy like Nick. She felt all warm and toasty and slightly buzzed. Okay, maybe more than slightly.
The next thing she knew, they were face-to-face and moving, but not going anywhere. He held her so close, she felt the vibration of his humming in her chest.
”What are we doing?”
”We're dancing.” He kissed her temple, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Frank sang ”I've Got You Under My Skin,” and she couldn't help but chuckle at the warning, but like Frank, she couldn't resist. She kissed him.
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