Page 10 of Charmed By the Enemy

As much as I appreciated that, there was something about the way he winked at me that rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like he was expecting me to swoon or something.

The waiter came over, putting water in front of us and providing a wine menu. I wasn’t a wine expert, but I figured I’d look it over and pick something white to go with my fish. But I didn’t even get the chance to look at the list of options. Chase took the liberty of ordering a bottle for us to share without consulting me at all.

I ground my teeth together in frustration, but decided to let it go and choose my food. I’d be damned if I was going to let him pick my meal too.

When the waiter came back, we placed our orders—shrimp scampi for me and sea scallops for him—and started up with small talk. I had more than enough experience going on first dates, and I found that this part could usually tell me everything I needed to know about a potential future with the man I was with.

We could click immediately, falling into easy conversation and developing a bond before dessert arrived. Or things could turn awkward quickly as we both struggled to find common ground, knowing that the chemistry just wasn’t right.

Then, there was this date.

I didn’t get a good feel for whether or not common ground existed between us because I was barely able to get a word in edgewise. It was less of a conversation and more of a monologue as Chase talked about himself nonstop.

At first, I didn’t mind. The idea was that we should get to know each other. But it quickly became obvious that he was just bragging about himself, trying to impress me. I learned about his massive success in the stock market and the multiple vacations he took every year. He name-dropped celebrities that he supposedly partied with regularly and informed me that he was in the process of buying a second home in the Hamptons.

The best part of all of his boasting was that he tried to make it seem like he was a self-made man but let it slip that he came from an obscenely wealthy family. Basically, he was a trust fund baby that didn’t have to work hard for anything.

I wasn’t the type to judge a man on how much money he had or didn’t have, but I couldn’t help feeling like it was sad that he was trying so hard to make himself look good. It was backfiring. The more time we talked, the less attractive he seemed to me. He didn’t change physically, of course, but my view of him was altered by his cocky attitude.

He was getting uglier by the minute.

The wine he ordered us was dry with a strong citrus flavor. I didn’t have a sophisticated palate, so maybe I just didn’t appreciate it, but it wasn’t a taste that I liked at all. At least the food was good. Flavor exploded inside of my mouth, and I let out a small groan with the first bite. Chase’s eyes locked on me, and I could see the heat swirling in those blue depths.

Again, I wanted to feel something. I wanted towanthim.

But I didn’t.

I couldn’t help thinking that Levi wouldn’t take me somewhere like this if we went on a date. He’d plan something fun for us to do, like go-karting or roller skating. I’d always liked that about him. He had a free spirit and infectious enjoyment of life.

Stop thinking about him.

The date continued, and Chase eventually asked me more about myself.

“So, what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a violinist with the New York Symphony Orchestra,” I told him, smiling as pride filled my chest. I’d worked hard to earn my spot among some of the best musicians in the world, and I was passionate about playing music.

“You play the violin as your job? Why would you want to do that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it just seems boring to me. Songs with no lyrics make me want to take a nap.”

He chuckled like he wasn’t insulting my life’s work, and I didn’t bother responding. I was ready for this date to be over, so I bent my head over my plate and started eating faster. I had learned my lesson here. No more trying to force a connection when I didn’t feel a spark with someone to begin with. Some things couldn’t be faked.

I would just have to find another way to forget about Levi.

When the meal was over, my stomach was full, and I was feeling a little tipsy from the wine. I didn’t love the taste, but I’d had two glasses, hoping that the alcohol would turn this evening around for me somehow.

Chase drove us here in a red convertible with a white racing stripe on the hood. It had brown leather interior and an engine that purred. It was nice and didn’t seem like a rental car to me.

“Is this your personal car?” I asked curiously as he pulled out onto the road. The wind whipped through my hair around, and I couldn’t help thinking that the ride to and from the restaurant was the best part of the date.

“Of course,” Chase replied, looking amused. I wasn’t sure what was so funny about what I said. “I ride in style or not at all.”

“So, you bring your car on vacation with you?”

He nodded. “Shipping it down here costs more than the whole vacation, but I’m going to be here for two weeks, and I need some wheels. Besides, it’s worth it to see the looks of envy on everyone’s face.”

---