damage to your car.”
“My insurance had lapsed the day before. There was no way I was filing a police report.” Liza blushed. “I do have insurance now, and I paid my bill the same day.”
Their plates empty they pushed them aside to wait for the check. Liza picked up her purse when the waiter appeared at the table.
“Put that away. I told you, my treat.” Julian pulled out his wallet and handed his card to the waiter. “Besides, you did mention a home cooked meal, remember?”
“Would tomorrow be okay?”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I’m not in a rush. I have the day off and it’s payday. I can pick up what I need on my way home from the bank.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Favorite type of food?”
“My last name’s Vitalli. My grandfather arrived by boat – from the Tuscany region.”
“I’m not sure if it will compare, but I can arrange some Italian food.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Think we could have lunch on Thursday?”
“I thought you said tomorrow? I’m working all day.”
“I meant, let’s have lunch together at a restaurant.”
“Three meals in three days, people may insinuate we’re dating.”
“Let them talk. If this were a date, I’d say we broke all the cardinal rules. Talking exes, money, and health issues.” Julian smiled.
“I kind of liked it. Less formal, no pretending to be someone we’re not.”
“Maybe we should have non-dates more often. We’ll say we’re becoming fast friends and see how it goes from there.” The waiter arrived with the folder. Julian signed the receipt, put his card in his wallet, and stood to pull Liza’s chair out.
“You’re a walking talking contradiction.” Liza turned around to face him.
“How do you mean?”
She rested a hand on his chest. “One minute you’re looking at me like you want to devour me and the next you’re the perfect gentleman.”
“I’m far from perfect, babe.” Julian caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “But I may be perfect for you.”
“Down Casanova.” Liza laughed and they headed out the door.
*****
Liza’s lack of sleep caught up with her on the ride to Bryton and she found herself drifting. She was comfortable with Julian. Even after learning of his job and the fact he smoked pot, she was comfortable enough to fall asleep while he was driving.
When she opened her eyes, they were in his driveway. “I thought you were taking me home?”
“I thought we’d stop here for a bit before I drove you home. If you’re okay with it?”
“I suppose I could stay for a bit. I am pretty tired though.”
Julian led her into the house and then into the kitchen. “Coffee or something stronger?”
“A little coffee would be best,” she told him. “I don’t drink a lot. A little goes a long way.”
“I can drink a pot and fall asleep.” He set about making coffee as she sat in the stool she had the night before. “Why don’t you wait in the library? I’ll bring your coffee to you.”
“Lots of milk and a little sugar.”
“I’ve got hazelnut creamer if you’re interested.”
“Even better. Skip the sugar and use creamer instead.” She headed out of the kitchen and around the corner to the library. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls.
Sitting on the sofa turned out to be a bad idea. She was half-asleep by the time Julian joined her. He sat down next to her, which woke her and handed her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and smiled. “Perfect.” He sat close enough, their legs were touching.
“Good. I figured you for a more creamer than coffee kind of girl.” He smiled and draped his arm across the couch, his fingers stroking her back. “Movie?”
“I don’t think I’m awake enough.”
His fingers brushed her neck and he trailed them under her scarf. “You should take this off.” His lips were close enough to her ear, she could feel his breath.
“Julian—”
He tugged the scarf from her neck and his fingers returned to trace the line
“My insurance had lapsed the day before. There was no way I was filing a police report.” Liza blushed. “I do have insurance now, and I paid my bill the same day.”
Their plates empty they pushed them aside to wait for the check. Liza picked up her purse when the waiter appeared at the table.
“Put that away. I told you, my treat.” Julian pulled out his wallet and handed his card to the waiter. “Besides, you did mention a home cooked meal, remember?”
“Would tomorrow be okay?”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I’m not in a rush. I have the day off and it’s payday. I can pick up what I need on my way home from the bank.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Favorite type of food?”
“My last name’s Vitalli. My grandfather arrived by boat – from the Tuscany region.”
“I’m not sure if it will compare, but I can arrange some Italian food.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Think we could have lunch on Thursday?”
“I thought you said tomorrow? I’m working all day.”
“I meant, let’s have lunch together at a restaurant.”
“Three meals in three days, people may insinuate we’re dating.”
“Let them talk. If this were a date, I’d say we broke all the cardinal rules. Talking exes, money, and health issues.” Julian smiled.
“I kind of liked it. Less formal, no pretending to be someone we’re not.”
“Maybe we should have non-dates more often. We’ll say we’re becoming fast friends and see how it goes from there.” The waiter arrived with the folder. Julian signed the receipt, put his card in his wallet, and stood to pull Liza’s chair out.
“You’re a walking talking contradiction.” Liza turned around to face him.
“How do you mean?”
She rested a hand on his chest. “One minute you’re looking at me like you want to devour me and the next you’re the perfect gentleman.”
“I’m far from perfect, babe.” Julian caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “But I may be perfect for you.”
“Down Casanova.” Liza laughed and they headed out the door.
*****
Liza’s lack of sleep caught up with her on the ride to Bryton and she found herself drifting. She was comfortable with Julian. Even after learning of his job and the fact he smoked pot, she was comfortable enough to fall asleep while he was driving.
When she opened her eyes, they were in his driveway. “I thought you were taking me home?”
“I thought we’d stop here for a bit before I drove you home. If you’re okay with it?”
“I suppose I could stay for a bit. I am pretty tired though.”
Julian led her into the house and then into the kitchen. “Coffee or something stronger?”
“A little coffee would be best,” she told him. “I don’t drink a lot. A little goes a long way.”
“I can drink a pot and fall asleep.” He set about making coffee as she sat in the stool she had the night before. “Why don’t you wait in the library? I’ll bring your coffee to you.”
“Lots of milk and a little sugar.”
“I’ve got hazelnut creamer if you’re interested.”
“Even better. Skip the sugar and use creamer instead.” She headed out of the kitchen and around the corner to the library. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls.
Sitting on the sofa turned out to be a bad idea. She was half-asleep by the time Julian joined her. He sat down next to her, which woke her and handed her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and smiled. “Perfect.” He sat close enough, their legs were touching.
“Good. I figured you for a more creamer than coffee kind of girl.” He smiled and draped his arm across the couch, his fingers stroking her back. “Movie?”
“I don’t think I’m awake enough.”
His fingers brushed her neck and he trailed them under her scarf. “You should take this off.” His lips were close enough to her ear, she could feel his breath.
“Julian—”
He tugged the scarf from her neck and his fingers returned to trace the line
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