Page 9 of The Don's Dilemma (Caprice Langden)

“Alright, then.”

He cleared his throat. “I’ll pick you up at eight. Text your address to this number.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Alright, then. Have a nice night, Suzanne.”

“Okay, Gabriel. You, too. Be good.”

“Good night.”

I smiled again. I couldn’t help it. “Good night.”

Before he could say “alright then” again, I hung up. Should I play hard to get? Do I wait until tomorrow morning to send him my address? Do I take a shower, clean up the kitchen and then casually send him my address as if it were an afterthought? If I sent it now, would he think I was too eager?

I shook my head. So what? I was eager.

I added his number to my contacts, typed in my name and address, and hit send.

I put the phone down and started to eat my dinner. As I’d told Gabriel, I didn’t really cook. It wasn’t worth the effort for one person. Before I took three bites, my phone vibrated on the coffee table. While I had been eager to send my address to Gabriel, I didn’t expect a rapid reply.

Gabriel: Got it. Thank you.

Me: You’re welcome.

Gabriel: You live at The Coffee Spot?

Me: LOL. No. Above it. I can meet you there if you want.

Gabriel: No.

Gabriel. I’ll come to your door.

Me: The entrance to the apartment building is the door on the right of TCS.

Gabriel: I’ll be there. 8pm.

Me: Yes. 8pm

Gabriel: Alright then.

Me: Be good.

The three dots blinked longer than his earlier comments. What was he typing?

Gabriel: You seem very concerned about my moral character. I promise, I’ll always be good to you.

Me: LOL. It’s not that. It’s just a habit. I will tell you the story over dinner.

Gabriel: Can’t wait. See you tomorrow.

Me: Goodnight.

I barely made it through the next day. My nerves were tying more knots than the US Navy. Dates were no big deal. I went on them fairly regularly, but I considered them to be more of a test than anything romantic. I found it hard to meet people in my world because I basically had no world. I stayed within my small circle of family and close friends. Lord knows if it hadn’t been for Gabriel’s efforts, I wouldn’t be going out with him, either. Despite Sabine’s urging, I would have let the chance pass without a second thought. The last three dates I’d been on were from dating apps which is why I considered them to be tests more than an actual dates. I found it hard to open up in preliminary conversations and texts.

You couldn’t really know someone until you met them, until you had a chance to gaze into his eyes, watch his smile as it moved across his face, and admire the way he owned a room the second he walked into it.

Gabriel’s confidence was hypnotic. He elevated the usual swagger to an art form. Not cocky. Not arrogant, but...inherent. Purposeful and effortless.

---