the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Stunning?
I’d expected hot or pretty or even beautiful. But stunning? Me?
I know the shock on my face matches my thoughts. “Oh, thank you.” I smile at him and I know my dimple must pop out because his eyes widen even further.
“And you’ve got dimples. Shit girl, I think I just fell in love.”
“Alright, Casanova, I’ve got to hit the lady’s room,” I say pointing to the door.
“Wait, what’s your name?”
“Stassia.”
He puts a hand over his heart and shuts his eyes. “And a name that suits you. I’m Trent,” he says as he holds his hand out for me. I give him mine, and shockingly he raises it to his lips and places a kiss to my knuckles. That southern charm is real, huh? “That guy you’re with…is that…?” he starts, but stops, assumedly waiting for me to fill in the blanks.
“He’s my…” I start to answer with the truth, but something—and I’m not sure what exactly—stops me. “We’re not together if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It’s what I was asking. You live here or are you just here for the weekend? Because I’d love to take you out? Or if you’re around tonight, my friends are throwing a party later?”
“Stassi?” My head snaps towards the voice and I spy Dominic moving towards me with what seems to be an annoyed look on his face.
“Hi.” I smile and, surprisingly, one does not find his face in return.
“I was getting worried; are you alright?” He looks at Trent and then back to me and I nod, trying my best to keep tensions low.
“Of course.”
He gives Trent the once over and then me again before nodding at me. “I see. I’ll just meet you back at the table then.” A guilty feeling rips through me and I don’t know why. Is he…jealous? He didn’t even pull a ‘she’s my stepdaughter, so you better watch yourself,’ or any kind of fatherly shit he’s said in the past.
“He’s kind of intense,” Trent says as he raises his pierced eyebrow. “You may not be together, but he surely wants you to be.”
“I…don’t think so.” I shake my head.
“Alright,” he chuckles. “Well, can I have your number? I’ll text you when I get off, and see where you are?”
“Ummm, sure.” I write my number on the pad he hands me before heading to the bathroom. As soon as I enter, the gravity of what just happened hits me hard. Was Trent, right? Did Dominic…want me? There was no denying what had been shifting between us in the last month, but did he really want to cross that line? Or merely…flirt with it?
I reapply some lipstick before I head back to the table. I spot a glass of water in front of my seat and Dominic staring down at his amber liquid pensively.
“Why the long face? Miss me that much?” I take my seat and give him a smile but he doesn’t return it.
“You like him?” His tone is even without even a hint of playfulness. It almost sounds accusatory, like he’s upset that his hypothesis might be correct.
“The waiter? Well, we exchanged about three sentences before Hurricane Dominic came in. What was that about anyway?”
“I just worry about you…” He lowers his voice and leans forward. “You should have seen every head that turned when you walked by. Watching you like…like you were their prey or something.”
“Well, you’d never let anything predatory happen to me, now would you?” I say with a wink. I pull the glass to my lips and take a long sip before licking the excess water from my lips.
Dominic shifts in his seat and I wonder if he really is affected by me. “He asked me if I wanted to go to this party later.” Dominic goes to respond but I hold my hand up. “I’ve seen enough movies that I won’t just go gallivanting off with a Charleston townie at night all alone. That’s how young tourist girls get roofied and date raped. Maybe if Kate were here.” I shrug. “Besides, I’m not going to leave you at home all by your lonesome. Clearly, you need me around.” I smile and for the first time, he smiles back.
“I do enjoy your company, Stassi.” He swallows and takes a long sip of his drink. “Probably far more than I should.”
The rest of dinner is less intense. We laugh and talk and even though his mysterious comment about enjoying my company still sits in the back