“You don’t seem spoiled at all.”
I shrug, taking yet another sip of wine. “Emotionally spoiled, I guess. We didn’t have a lot, but I felt like I had everything.”
He stares at me, lips parting slightly. “That’s one thing money can’t buy.”
“What’s that?”
“Love,” he says simply.
That’s one thing I’ve never thought much about. We assume that money equals happiness and that it allows a person to have everything they want, but it means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I wet my lips, picking my next words carefully. “What about you? How was your childhood?”
He sits back in his chair, eyeing me warily. “Lonely.”
“Were you an only child?”
“I have one sister. My parents decided they needed to fail more than one child.”
My mind wanders in so many different directions. Was he abused? Did they abandon him? All of it makes my heart ache.
“My dad was a successful district attorney who eventually got a seat on the judge’s bench. I’m sure he was a nice guy at some point, helping so many people, but he was always too busy to spend time with us. I remember the things he bought, but nothing more.” His voice shows a vulnerability I’m not used to.
“And your mom?”
He sighs, running his hands over his face. “She didn’t work, but being the wife of a successful lawyer meant keeping up appearances. She was more concerned about how we looked and what activities we participated in than anything else. But don’t feel totally sorry for me, I had a very nice nanny.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? You didn’t raise me.”
I hesitantly reach my hand across the table, covering his. His eyes go to where our bodies are connected then back to mine. “That doesn’t mean I’m not sorry.”
The waiter chooses that moment to reappear, setting our sizzling steaks in front of us as well as a dish of grilled asparagus and roasted baby potatoes. “Anything else I can get you?”
I look to Pierce to answer, but he’s staring at me the same way he was a few seconds ago. “More wine, please,” I answer for him.
Our conversation turns to our high school and college days while we devour our dinner. I even let him in on more details of my life with Derek, how hard I fell, and how it all fell apart. Pierce alludes to a couple serious relationships, but nothing that went too far.
I’ve had him on this pedestal because of everything he’s accomplished at a relatively young age. Since the other night, I’ve seen a new side to him—one that makes being around him easier. He has way more than I do, but inside, where it counts, he’s just another guy. A nice, sophisticated guy who happens to be really easy to talk to.
“Wine?” Pierce asks, pointing to my empty glass. My thoughts and opinions are already swimming in a sea of alcohol. It’s too good. “Come on,” he urges, “I bought a whole bottle, and there’s just a little left.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” Every glass has been going down easier than the last.
The waiter clears everything from the table. “Can I interest you in some dessert?”
I’m about to say yes, but Pierce interrupts. “No, thank you.”
I want to argue, but the look on Pierce’s face warns me not to. I wait until the waiter walks away with Pierce’s credit card to bring it up. “I really wanted chocolate.” I sound like a typical woman, but I don’t care. Plus, I’ve had wine, and nothing goes better with wine than chocolate.
“You’ll get your chocolate.”
When we walk out of the restaurant his hand takes its usual position on my back. “There’s somewhere I want to take you. Do you want to grab your coat?”
“Are we walking?” If we are, I’m in trouble. The alcohol makes it almost impossible to feel my legs. I could have gone without the fourth glass.
“The car is out front.”
Thoughtful.
Smart.
Charming.
He helps me safely into the car and climbs in the other side. I shiver against the cool leather seats, missing the warmth of the restaurant and red wine.
“Come here,” he instructs, holding out his arm.
Without hesitation, I scoot over to him, letting his arm fall over my shoulders. He tucks me against his body. Blame it on the alcohol or whatever, but it feels nice. “I’d offer you my jacket, but I like this better.”
“Me too.”
It’s completely dark outside, but the Christmas and city lights give it a layer of romance. I hate myself for even thinking this way, but this is one of the most perfect moments I’ve ever experienced. The company. The setting. The peacefulness.
“We’re here.” Pierce nudges me. If I thought tonight couldn’t get any better, it just did. “You said you wanted chocolate.”
We’re parked right outside of Serendipity. Thoughtful, definitely thoughtful. “I can’t believe you did this.”
He shrugs like it’s nothing, but it means everything to me. Our eyes lock under the faint streetlight. I can’t remember the last time anyone did this for me—taking a simple comment and using it to surprise me. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, in the best possible way.
An invisible string pulls me to him until my lips brush against his. Light as a feather. Tender. I pull back, but he grips my chin between his fingers, holding me close to him. He covers my mouth with his, working his fingers back into my hair. My body has the warmth it didn’t have a few minutes ago, but it isn’t the fireworks I felt with Blake. It’s a slow simmer . . . it’s just different.
He puts a period at the end of the kiss by pressing his lips to mine three times over. As he pulls back, he smiles, running his thumb over my swollen lower lip. “Ready for some frozen hot chocolate?”
“Yes,” I answer. That little voice that keeps whispering doubts in my ear is back, but I quiet it. I’m living every woman’s dream in New York City; there’s nothing to be confused about.
I MOAN FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME, scooping every last bit from the bottom of my crystal dish. The hot chocolate is as delectable as I thought it would be.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a woman moan quite like that, and certainly not over chocolate,” Pierce teases, swiping his thumb along the corner of my mouth. “You had some whipped cream there.”
“You should try some. It’s by far the most delicious thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
A wicked grin spreads across his face. “That’s unfortunate.”
We’ve been playing the flirtation game since we sat down. I bait. He catches. I really took off when I found out he doesn’t like chocolate. Who doesn’t like chocolate?
Licking the whipped cream from my upper lip, I find his attention on my mouth. The movement wasn’t intentional, but the look in his eyes tells me he believes it was. “Do we need to stop somewhere to get you dessert?” I ask.
He leans in closer. “I had my dessert . . . in the car.”
My cheeks heat, probably turning as red as the maraschino cherry on my frozen hot chocolate. “It’s a good thing you’re such a cheap date,” I shoot back.
“The best things in life don’t cost a thing.”
There’s been a weird buzz between us since the kiss in the car. I’m waiting for him to bring it up, but the only reminder I get is in his eyes—the constant glimmer. There’s a new look of adoration within them, more intimate.
And while the frozen treat gives me a reprieve from conversing, I let my crazy mind roam free again. Since I moved to Chicago, actually since things ended with Derek, I don’t have a clear picture of who I am anymore. Maybe I really did leave the old me behind and come into a new life completely. I had only given away a few kisses before meeting the guy I spent the last seven years with. The guy I gave my heart, soul, and remaining firsts to. Now, I feel like I’m just handing my affections away, or maybe I’m just tasting a little bit of everything while I decide what it is I really want.