take private clients.”
“How can you do that if you work here?”
“I’m an independent contractor. I have a gym membership just like everyone else. I made sure I could still work privately when I took the job.”
“How much for private clients?” I asked.
He smiled. His perfectly straight teeth were a beautiful contrast to his tan skin. “Depends on the client.”
He was going to play coy. I sure was out of practice. I hadn’t dated in a while and not seriously since college.
Then there was Bryce.
Though we’d had panty-melting sex, we’d never actually had a date.
And we never would.
I smiled and touched his forearm lightly. His skin was warm. “For me?”
“How about lunch?”
“Sure. I’d be happy to buy you lunch.”
“No,” he said. “I’m a gentleman. A lady never pays when she goes out with me.”
Damn. “How are you getting paid, then?”
“The company of a beautiful woman, of course.”
Was he for real? I stopped myself from shaking my head.
What the heck? Jade had told me to get out there. To meet someone.
Dominic James was definitely someone.
“Okay. You’ve got yourself a client.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I have another client coming in ten minutes. After our half-hour session, I’ll shower and change, and then it will be lunchtime. Meet me at the front desk at noon?”
“Well, I—”
“Treat yourself to a steam.”
“A half hour in the steam room? I’d be a puddle,” I said. “But I have some lifting to do. I’ll do that, and then I’ll steam and shower. I guess I’ll see you at noon.”
He smiled once more. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Dominic James was even better looking in street clothes. Jeans, a T-shirt, and a black hoodie did a lot for him.
So he wasn’t Bryce Simpson. He wasn’t blond and beautiful.
But he was dark and handsome.
And he was here.
More importantly, he was interested.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.”
“Since I’m new around here, where’s a good place for lunch?”
“Depends on what you’re in the mood for. Jenny’s is good for typical diner food. Then there’s the Noodle. They serve Asian fusion and ramen. Sushi in the evening. There’s the Bungalow that’s run by Mrs. Pagliacci. She serves amazing pasta and other Italian stuff.”
“They all sound wonderful. I’m sure we’ll sample all of them while we work together. You choose.”
I loved them all, but where was I least likely to run into Bryce? He and Henry could still be downtown. He’d most likely choose the diner, where Henry could have crackers and soup. Next to that, the Noodle. What kid didn’t love noodles?
“Let’s try the Bungalow,” I said.
“Good enough.” He gestured for me to walk ahead of him, and we left the gym.
The Bungalow was a block over, and we made it without running into Bryce and Henry. I was tense the whole way. We were seated quickly, and the server gave us water and menus.
“What do you recommend?”
“Everything’s great. The lasagna is my favorite. She uses a special spice blend in the sausage that I’ve been trying to duplicate for about a decade. I haven’t been successful yet.”
“Are you a chef?”
“Not technically. I’ve taken a few classes, but it’s still mostly a hobby.”
“Ah. I love good food. I think we’re going to get along just fine.” He signaled to the server. “We’ll both have the lasagna. I’ll have an iced tea.” He nodded to me.
“Two,” I said.
“Two lasagnas, two iced teas. Got it.”
Dominic turned to me. “If you’re not a chef, what do you do?”
What did I do indeed? I was a live-in cook and nanny for my brother. That didn’t sound very interesting. Not that I was embarrassed, but this was a first date.
God. A first date.
How long had it been since I’d had a first date?
“Have you heard of Steel Acres Ranch?”
He shook his head.
“I own a quarter of it.”
“Steel. Marjorie Steel.”
“That’s the name.”
“Tell me about your ranch.”
“It’s my brothers’ ranch, really. They do all the work. I’m a silent partner. What I actually want to do is study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.”
“What’s stopping you?”
What wasn’t stopping me? “Family obligations. For now.”
“What type of obligations?”
I took a sip of water and then cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, but we just met. I don’t feel comfortable…”
“Telling me your family history?”
“Something like that.”
“No problem. What do you want to know about me? I’m an open book.”
“Where are you from?”
He laughed. “A tiny town in Iowa called Horse Fork. I’m not even kidding.”
“Well, Snow Creek isn’t exactly a thriving metropolis.”
“That’s why I’m here. I spent the last several years in California, but I like the small-town life.