Are you ready to order, or may I start you out with some appetizers?”
Paul raised his eyebrows to me and I shook my head. “I think we’ll just skip right to ordering our meals,” he said, indicating for me to go first.
“I’ll have the spinach ravioli with the asiago cream sauce, please,” I told him.
“Anything to drink?” he asked.
“Water is fine.”
“Are you sure, Aly? I was thinking of ordering a bottle of wine,” Paul interjected.
“Oh, you were? Well in that case, yes please,” I said with a little smile.
Paul’s burst of laughter warmed my insides and I couldn’t help but join with him. “That settles it, then. Your finest bottle of wine and I will have the chicken fettuccine,” he told Tate.
“Both great choices, but you really can’t go wrong here. I will go put your order in and bring you our finest wine.” Gathering our menus, he turned and walked through the swinging doors.
Paul grabbed a roll and split it open. “This place smells delicious, doesn’t it?” he asked as he buttered his roll.
“Yes,” I said, breathing it in once again. “I cannot wait to eat. I’m starving.”
Paul sat back in his chair, looking at me. His green eyes had a darker tone to them tonight, one that made me suddenly feel little currents run up and down my arms. What was he thinking?
“How are your parents doing?” he asked.
My parents? That was not something I would have guessed was on his mind. Not wanting to show my surprise, I took a sip of my water.
Tate returned with our bottle of wine. “Here you go. This is our finest in the house tonight. It’s the 2008 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon at $135 a bottle. I hope it meets your satisfaction.” He uncorked the bottle. Pouring some in our glasses, he told us our meals would be out shortly then left us to our drinks.
“My parents are doing well, thanks,” I answered after Tate left. I started twisting my hair around my finger, trying to keep myself busy and not focus so much on how sexy he was. “They just got back from yet another cruise to the Caribbean and had a fabulous time.” I took my first sip of the wine. I moaned in pleasure when I tasted it, it was so good. Looking at Paul, I saw his gaze was focused on my lips, then at the hair wrapped around my finger. Realizing I showed a little too much pleasure at the wine, I blushed.
“I’m glad to see you like the wine.” He winked at me. Now it was my turn to watch as his full lips met the wine glass and he took his first sip. Watching him swish it slowly around in his mouth made my stomach flutter. When I saw his eyes on me as he swallowed the liquid, they burned right through me and I couldn’t breathe. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen and I knew I couldn’t hide it.
“Damn,” he said. “I really like this wine. I’m going to have to buy a bottle to take back home.” He swirled the wine in his glass and took another sip, still not taking his eyes off me. I knew I was staring but I couldn’t help it.
He raised a brow and chuckled. “I’m not sure if it’s me or the wine that you’re enjoying at the moment, but I’d prefer to think it’s me so don’t tell me if I’m wrong.”
Blushing again, I averted my eyes to my own wine glass and took another sip. “Well, in that case, I won’t say anything at all, Pierce.”
He put a hand over his heart. “You wound me, Chase,” he said, using my last name for the first time that I could recall. I found it cute.
“Well, you did tell me not to say anything if you were wrong. I’m pleading the fifth,” I teased as Tate brought us our meals. Setting them down in front of us, I about died at the aroma. I was so hungry.
Once Tate left, I dove in. I didn’t even care anymore if Paul thought it cute or not. I just needed to satisfy my hunger.
Paul took a gentle bite of his food and I laughed. Shoving my hair behind my ear, I took another bite of mine. The asiago sauce was amazing. I reveled in it, then took another sip of wine. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
“How’s your food?” he asked.
“Oh my gosh. It’s so