Page 67 of The Arrogant One
He moaned out a deep breath. “Tonight, I’m with the guys. How about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow I can do since I’m with Bryn tonight.”
“Are you going to let me take you out?”
I laughed. “Maaaybe.”
“Whatever you decide, I’m good with.”
I didn’t know if I should take him to my favorite Thai restaurant or the seafood one I’d fallen in love with a few weeks ago. Or if we should stay in and bask in his incredible cooking and finally take a dip in that big, wonderful Jacuzzi tub that was out back of his house.
So many decisions.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.
“You sure will.”
“There’s something so sexy about this restaurant,” Bryn said as she sat across from me, turning the stem of her wineglass between two of her fingers so the dark red cabernet splashed along the sides. “And the food? Sigh, it’s so good.”
We’d decided on a steak house for dinner. One that was high-end and loved by most.
“You’re not going to believe me when I say this, but I’ve only been to this location twice.”
Her brows rose. “What? You live, like, five minutes fromhere.”
“I know.” I pulled off a corner of the sourdough loaf that was still warm and had the right amount of crispness, and I swiped it across the butter that was whipped and dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar. “There’re just so many restaurants from Santa Barbara to San Diego that I need to cover, it’s rare for me to come back to a place unless I really love it, like that sushi restaurant we always end up at. I dream about that nigiri.”
“When food is your job, everything changes. You’re eating for mortgage money, baby.”
I slowly nodded with the biggest smile, my eyes closing as the sweetness of the sugar hit my tongue. “Truth.”
A food runner approached and set a plate between Bryn and me and said, “Tuna tartare over a bed of avocado, ginger, and tempura flakes with a wasabi aioli drizzled on top and a splash of ponzu. There are fried wonton crisps on the side for dipping. Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” I said to him.
“I’m drooling,” Bryn replied when he left our table. “Do you want a pic before I dig in?”
I laughed. “You know me too well.” I slipped out my phone and pulled up the Camera app, holding my cell over the plate, snapping several photos from different angles. “All set.”
She took one of the wontons and scooped it into the tuna like it was a dip. “Oh my God, yes.” She spoke behind her hand.
“So, it’s as good as it looks?”
She moaned, “Better.”
As I was putting my phone back, a text came across the screen.
Lockhart
I can’t stop thinking about you.
“Only one thing in this world can make you smile that big, and that’s Lockhart.”
I held up a finger, letting her know I needed a second, and started to type.
Me
Stop … you’re going to make me think I’ve found my future husband.
