like what I’m seeing and what I’m hearing. A lot.
“Now that you won your big case, who will you help next?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get a text message that inspires me.”
That makes me laugh.
Instead of entrées, we select five appetizers to share as our conversation continues.
He’s slicing into the goat cheese ravioli while I tell him about my friends Charity and Shawn.
I nibble on a crab cake as he fills me in on the firm, his partners, and the office, making me laugh as he tells stories of his staff pranking him by sending him singing telegrams, which he happens to find incredibly embarrassing.
He chews on calamari as he listens to me go on about this time Charity and I went skiing, only to be stuck at the top of the mountain because she was too scared to come down.
We laugh about our common love of the show Impractical Jokers while enjoying our oysters. We happen to have the same favorite episode and a deep love for the comics.
Over a shrimp tempura roll, he reminds me of being an only child, and I tell him about growing up as the youngest of five children.
“My sisters are both married to their college sweethearts. My brothers have gorgeous and equally successful wives.”
“Nieces and nephews?” he asks.
“Six,” I say, and his eyes widen. “They’re awesome and my absolute pride and joy. You’d think that would keep everyone happy enough to not worry about my single status, but it only makes things worse.”
“Ah, so you’re the spinster of the group.”
I raise a fork in agreement. “Yep. My parents aren’t my biggest problem though. It’s the siblings. They’re all professionals—a doctor, day trader, vice principal, and an ad executive—so my entrepreneurial whims are a little too adventurous for them to grasp. Plus, they never approve of anyone I bring home. Heather analyzes his job. Fiona, his looks. Henry thinks he’s smarter than everyone—and possibly is—while Matthew is ready to bench anyone just to show he’s more masculine. No man stands a chance against the Morgana crew.”
“Then, you’re not bringing the right man over to see them,” he says with a cocky smile.
“Have anyone in mind?” I tease.
“I bet I could come up with someone.” He winks.
Everything about dinner is going great. The food is amazing, the service is prompt and friendly, and my date is … well … a dream. As someone who just came out of a one-sided relationship, I can instantly feel the difference. Sebastian is a proud man but not in a negative way. In fact, I feel as if he looks at me, a woman he has welcomed into his world, as something he finds pride in as well.
He wants to know about me, and in return, I’m enamored by him. When you look up the word swoonworthy on the internet, I bet there’s a picture of Sebastian Blake next to the definition.
Our dishes are cleared, and the waitress comes to ask if we’d like anything else. Sebastian declines and asks for the check. He must sense my confusion as he leans in.
“You seem disappointed in no dessert.”
“Surprised actually. I hope you don’t think I’m a confection snob.”
“Not at all. I happen to have something special planned.”
“How special?”
“A jazz club.”
“Jazz, huh? What makes you think I’d like that?”
“It’s more of a jazz fusion club. When I called last night to tell you what time to be ready, I heard the music in the background.”
He has a good ear. I was listening to the Lady Lady album by Masego. The artist incorporates the saxophone into his music creation, making a sexy, sultry blend.
“Jazz for dessert it is.”
He moves his hand across the table until it’s lying on top of mine. His palm is large and hot as it encloses my tiny one. “I also heard they serve the most amazing chocolate martinis.”
A slow, sexy smile graces my face as I look at him from under my lashes. “Well, Mr. Blake, it seems you have figured out a way into this woman’s heart,” I say as I roll my palm over, exposing it to his.
He takes my hand and raises it to his lips. “Then, let’s get out of here.”
We drive to the other side of town, where a neon sign with the word Jazz is lit up in blue outside the building. After we exit the car, Sebastian holds the door for me as I step inside, and I feel like I’ve been transported to another time.
Red brick walls are on