Page 81 of The Affair
Opening the door, he held out his hand and helped me out, taking his time to admire my dress just one more time. “You really are stunning, Elle.”
“Thank you,” I answered, wanting to just forgo the whole silly date idea and go straight to the after-party.
And by after-party, I meant sex.
Lots and lots of sex.
He took me by the hand, and we headed across the street toward the restaurant. Roma’s was known in town as the fancy place. This was where you took your sweetheart for anniversaries or to pop that all-important question. It was, by no means, anything like a five-star dining experience you’d find in Asheville or New York, but the food was fresh, the chef was magnificent, and it was the closest thing to elegant we had in Pine Hurst.
Sawyer was pulling out all the stops tonight, making sure to step forward to hold open the door for me. It was a simple gesture but one that made me feel treasured.
The place was busy but not packed. Being a weekday, it had a subdued vibe that instantly made me feel at ease. The lights were low, the candles were aglow, and the air smelled of roasted garlic and Italian spices.
Sawyer must have called ahead and made reservations—one of those things he’d said he wanted to do this afternoon, I assumed—so the hostess led us right to our table, a small spot toward the back with a view of the patio. The twinkling lights, used mostly for the summer months, were gorgeous, making a beautiful backdrop for our meal.
When the waiter arrived, Sawyer ordered a beer, and I went with wine. Soon, the conversation was flowing.
“So, how does it feel? To be on a date with me?” he asked, leaning forward in his seat.
“What do you mean? Does it feel weird? Or am I enjoying myself?”
He shrugged. “Both, I guess.”
Taking a look around, I tried not to notice the quick glances in our direction. Although they were being discreet, people had certainly noticed the two of us.
“I’m not going to lie,” I confessed. “It’s definitely different than baking cookies in my kitchen.”
“You mean, the eyes?” He grinned.
“Yeah,” I answered. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“That we’ll be the talk of the town by tomorrow morning?”
“Are you ready for that?” I asked.
“The question is, are you?”
Leaning forward, I reached out and took his hand, knowing the eyes that were watching would have a field day with that. “We’re doing nothing wrong,” I answered. “Let them talk. And to answer the rest of your question, yes, I am having an amazing time.”
He smiled, and it was a smile that could light up the room. “Good.”
Our drinks arrived just then, and we took a moment to order.
When I decided to try their gnocchi, his eyebrows rose in amusement. “Didn’t like mine?”
“No,” I countered. “I liked yours so much that I’ve been craving more.”
Although we were talking about food, the silence that followed felt more like static. Yes, we were both craving something, but it had nothing to do with gnocchi.
If I crawled over the table and mounted him, that would sure get the gossip mill going.
Clearing my throat, I decided that was probably not the best way to introduce our relationship to the town.
What had Sawyer said earlier that day—saving it all up for later? Yeah, okay, I could give that a go.
“Let’s play a game,” I suggested.
“What kind of game?”
