Page 20 of Off Her Game
5
“I’m sorry about the viral video thing ruining everything tonight,” Noah said as they approached the motorcycle.
“Not your fault that guy’s an asshole.” Tori stared at the helmets attached to the motorcycle in dread. “You can drop me at home.”Or we say goodbye here and I’ll hop on the subway.“When do we get to have this much fun again?”
“I owe you dessert and a hint on forty-one. There’s this Italian place near the Flatiron with the best tiramisu.”
“You can’t be serious. This date was about the two of us being seen together, right? Mission accomplished.”
“Please, Tori. Let’s have coffee. Let me make this evening better.” He picked up her hand. Heat focused on the point of contact. For a single moment she longed for another kiss. Maybe more.
She removed her hand from his. “Why? What’s the point? No need to keep pretending.”
“Even though this is what it is, I want to make sure you have a nice time. We didn’t even get to eat. We can’t end a first date like this.”
She traced a crack in the sidewalk with the toe of her shoe. “Let’s reality check this, okay? This isn’t a real first date. A real date between us never would’ve happened. Guys like you don’t date girls like me. You might want to fuck a girl like me as a curiosity, but not date. This is whythis”—she waved her handed in an inclusive back-and-forth between them—“makes no sense. It doesn’t even make sense for us to do a date number two.” She stared at passing cars, unable to meet his gaze. “We can talk about level forty-one next time since we’re required to have a second time.”
“True, I’ve never dated anyone like you. Come have dessert with me. I haven’t spent time with a woman who’s a Trekkie since high school. Well, other than my mom, and there’re a few ladies at work, not that I’d be taking them out anywhere. Come talk to me about the new movie, not the one that just came out on video but the one scheduled to release next year. We can even talk about the bots, if you like.”
Trekkie talk did tempt her. She had a few hours to kill until she found out if she had to be at the Stadium tonight. “Not too long, though. There’s a meet tonight. I’m probably going to get called in, which I know you want.”
He released a breath as if he’d been anxious about her reply. He nodded to an idling car across the street. “We’re driving this time. I texted my driver. He brought a friend to ride my bike home.”
“Oh, thank Jesus,” she muttered.Oops.Her cheeks blazed.
He chuckled.
“I meant, how very thoughtful of you.” She followed him to the waiting car.
As he slid into the car next to her he made a call, “This is Noah Harrison. I’ve got two for dessert. Do you have a table? I’d prefer the one in the private room where we won’t be bothered.” There was a pause. “Excellent.”
Outside an unfamiliar Italian restaurant minutes away from the restaurant they just left, he took her hand and led her to the front of the throng waiting to be seated. She liked how big and strong his hand was around hers.
The hostess smiled broadly. “Mr. Harrison, your table is ready.”
The hostess led them to a table in an isolated private room at the far back of the restaurant. Soft guitar music played in the background while the smell of garlic swirled around them.
Tori examined the dessert menu. “How’d you manage to get a table? This private one in particular? They’re super busy.”
“The owner’s son works for me.” He fiddled with his silverware and wouldn’t meet her gaze.
A short, round Italian in white chef attire scurried to their table. He grabbed Noah’s hand and pumped. In a thick accent, he said, “Signore Harrison. Such an honor. So pleased you have come tonight. So pleased.”
Noah’s eyes softened when he spoke to the chef. “Antonio, let me introduce Tori.”
Antonio clasped her hand between both of his large hands. “La signorina,it is an honor to meet one so beautiful. Signore Harrison hasn’t brought a lady with him in a long time.” Antonio said low, conspiratorially, but not low enough that Noah couldn’t hear, “We’d do anything forhim. Anything. He took in my son when life beat him to the gutter. He give him job and saved his life.” He released her hand to dab at the moisture gathering in his eyes. “We owe him everything. My boy was headed nowhere good, probably to die in gang fight, but now he’s a success and about to give me a grandchild.” He turned to Noah. “What may I make for you tonight? On the house. Anything.”
A blush suffused Noah’s cheeks. “I enjoy everything you make. Are you hungry for dinner, Tori, or just dessert?”
The sweets addict in her screamed for a fix. “Dessert works.”
“Tiramisu, double portion. Two forks,” Noah requested.
“And a coffee.” She had a long night ahead.
“Decaf for me.” Noah smiled at the chef.
“Of course. But you never pay.” With a hand flourish, Antonio bustled away as fast as his large frame could weave between tables.
