Page 14 of Vicious Temptation

“Sweet, I think,” I tell the server.

“I can recommend a plum wine I think you’ll love,” he suggests, and I nod quickly.

“I’ll take that, then.”

“I’ll be back with your drinks in a moment.” The server hurries away, and I look across the table at Gabriel, feeling suddenly shy.

“Sake is an acquired taste,” he says, smoothing his own napkin in his lap. “It’s better cold than hot, in my opinion. The flavor profile comes out better. You can try a little of mine, if you like.”

There’s an intimacy to the suggestion that makes my neck heat, the idea of sharing a glass. I swallow, forcing a thin smile. “Maybe.”

Gabriel glances down at the menu. “Is there anything in particular that sounds good? I’m partial to seafood, and I hear their crispy shrimp appetizer is delicious. But I also considered the omakase, if you don’t mind being surprised. It’s chef’s choice,” he explains. “They’ll bring out a variety of small dishes for us to try.”

A wave of relief washes over me at the idea of not having to pick anything else tonight. “That sounds wonderful,” I agree, and Gabriel smiles.

“Alright then. We’ll do that.” He closes the menu, settling back in his chair just as the server reappears with our drinks. My wine is a pale rose color, in a long-stemmed, squared-off glass. Gabriel’s sake comes in three small ceramic cups, nestled on a dark wooden tray. He picks one up after the server leaves with the omakase order, tilting it towards me. “To a lovely summer night out.”

I manage to keep the small smile on my face, doing my best to hide my nerves, and tap my wine glass gently against his. “This place is beautiful.”’

“It is,” Gabriel agrees, taking a sip of his sake. He sets it down, gesturing to the small cup. “Do you want to try?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, I don’t know if I’m brave enough for that.”

He laughs. “It sounds like neither of us gets out much. I assume for you, that’s your father keeping you mostly under lock and key?”

“It’s not quite as dramatic as that,” I admit. “I can go out when I want to. I’m just a little more of an introvert, I guess. I have a close friend who lives in the city, so I come out to visit her sometimes. But she works a normal job—in computers—and New York is an expensive place to live. So we definitely don’t go out to restaurants like this. And my father only gives me a small allowance,” I add quickly, because I don’t want Gabriel to think I’m too stingy to treat my friend.

“Well, I’m happy I could expand your horizons.” He pauses as the server returns with two small plates, setting one down in front of each of us. There’s a soft bun on it with what looks like a glazed meat filling, with pickled vegetables and a creamy sauce. “I used to go out a lot more often than I do now.” There’s an odd note of sadness in his voice that startles me—it seems out of place for the conversation we’re having. He doesn’t seem like a man who would have a great deal to be sad about. “But these last few years, I’m afraid I’ve become a bit of a homebody, too.”

“I’m sorry for the way we met.” I bite my lip, feeling a quiver of nervousness as I look at him. “Running into you like that.”

Gabriel laughs, taking a bite of his bun. “I’m not,” he says frankly. “I doubt I would have met you, otherwise. And I’m glad I did.”

I can feel my cheeks warming, and my stomach twists in a way that makes me wonder if I’ll be able to eat even a bite of the food in front of me, as delicious as it looks. Why couldn’t I have met him before? He seems so genuinely good, and I feel bad that I’m going to have to let him down.

But it would be so much worse later on, when he would find out everything going on in my head, everything below the surface, and be disappointed in me in a dozen other ways.

“You are?” The question slips out, a way of stalling, but Gabriel just nods, dabbing his napkin against his lips as he finishes the small bun. Mine is still sitting untouched, and I force myself to reach for it, taking a tiny bite.

It’s incredible. Soft and sweet and salty and tangy all at once, and I take another bite without thinking about it, the first time I’ve really wanted to eat in months. I’m halfway through it before I realize I’ve forgotten my manners, and I set it down, feeling my face warm again at Gabriel’s amused smile.

“It really is delicious, isn’t it?”

I nod, taking another bite as I see the server headed our way with another course. He takes the dishes away, replacing them with two black ceramic bowls containing small, crispy shrimp in a sticky orange sauce, poised on top of a bed of pickled seaweed.

“You mentioned that your father didn’t think there was anything you could do besides get married.” Gabriel reaches for one of the sake cups, taking a sip. “What would you do, if you had the chance?”

“Go to college.” The answer comes out immediately. “But that doesn’t fit with his plan. To be fair,” I admit, “If I were a son, I’d probably get to go, but only to enhance the ability to run the family business. My father is a man who believes in tradition and legacy, not choices. Especially when it comes to his children.”

“Hmm.” Gabriel picks up his chopsticks, poking at a shrimp, his expression curious. “What would you go to college for?”

I balk at that question. I like Gabriel, for all that I know, tonight can’t go anywhere, and I don’t want to hear him mock the career I’d choose for myself. I don’t want the disappointment of knowing he’d see it as a glorified hobby, and I don’t doubt that he would. He seems different, but I very much doubt he’s that different.

I’m aware that I’ve put him up on a bit of a pedestal, but that doesn’t matter. Tonight will be the only time we see each other, and I want to keep this as a perfect memory, with nothing to mar it, if at all possible.

“I’m not sure.” I don’t like lying, but I also don’t want to continue this particular line of conversation. Not turned on myself, anyway. “Did you go to college?”

Gabriel nods, scooping up a shrimp with his chopsticks. I do the same, briefly closing my eyes at the taste. It’s perfectly crunchy, sweet and citrus and salt. As I scoop up another I decide this is my favorite restaurant in New York. I’m sure that there are others just as good, but this one has outstripped any other I’ve ever been to.

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