Free Choosing Happy (Madison Square #2) by Samatha Harris Page B
Authors: Samatha Harris
to let him in, grabbing my clutch and phone as a knock sounded on the door. I looked at Margot once more and she smiled, blowing me a kiss for luck.
I pulled open the door to see Sean in a dark wool coat with a dark blue scarf hanging loosely around his neck. He wore his trademark infectious smile, and his stormy gray eyes darkened a bit as he looked me over.
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
“So do you.”
Chapter 8
Sean
I pulled up outside Lily Bleu, the tiny little French bistro that my family has owned for generations. Gran’s mother opened it in the thirties just before Gran was born. It was small but charming with bistro tables covered in white table cloths and votive candles that flickered in the dim light.
Framed black and white photographs depicting Paris in the twenties lined the beige colored walls, and thick, black canvas curtains framed the windows. The smell of fresh baked bread wrapped around us as soon as we entered, and I took a deep breath, letting the warm, delicious scent wash over me as my muscles relaxed.
I didn’t normally bring women to Gran’s restaurant, especially not on our first date, but this place was home. I was comfortable here, and given Madison’s reservations about tonight, I could use the home field advantage.
“What do you think?” I asked, gesturing to the open dining room. It was a relatively slow night. Most of the time the place was packed, every table full and a few people waiting around outside for one to become available.
“It’s nice,” she said, removing her coat as I led her to a small table in the back. “So, we just seat ourselves?”
“I do,” I said, pulling out her chair as she took her seat. I sat across from her and she raised an eyebrow at me. I laughed. “This is my grandmother’s restaurant. I’ve practically lived in this place since I was a kid. Best food in the city, hands down.”
“In your completely unbiased opinion.” She smirked. She was already beginning to relax. Her smartass comment was telling. The entire ride she was tense and quiet, picking at her fingernails and biting her lip while staring out the window. The change in her attitude and body language was just confirmation I’d made the right choice.
“Trust me,” I said, leaning over the table with a wink.
She watched me, and I could see the wheels turning in her head while she decided if she really could trust me, but it was about more than just the food. I reached across the table, resting my hand over hers. Her cheeks flushed and she squirmed a bit in her seat.
God, how she responded to me was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. If touching her hand was working her up, what would it be like when the real fun started?
I heard a throat clear and looked up into the sweet face of my baby sister, Emily. Her long brown hair was tied in a messy knot on top of her head and she wore a waiter’s uniform: white button down shirt, black skinny jeans, and a long white apron.
“Hey, kid,” I said, jumping to my feet and wrapping her in a bear hug. “When did you get in? I thought you weren’t coming until next week.”
She shrugged. “I finished my exams early. I figured I would surprise you.”
Em’s eyes dipped to Madison, and I turned to see her watching us with a curious look.
“Oh shit! Sorry. Madison, this is my sister, Emily,” I said, sliding into my seat.
Relief spread across Madison’s face as she smiled up at Emily. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking Em’s hand.
“You too,” Em said. She turned back to me and raised her eyebrows, but my smile said it all. This one was special.
Em straightened and pulled an order pad from the pocket of her apron. “What can I get you to drink?”
I leaned across the table. “White okay?” Madison nodded. “Just bring me a bottle of the usual,” I said. Em smiled and disappeared down the hall to get our wine.
“So, your sister?” Madison
I pulled open the door to see Sean in a dark wool coat with a dark blue scarf hanging loosely around his neck. He wore his trademark infectious smile, and his stormy gray eyes darkened a bit as he looked me over.
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
“So do you.”
Chapter 8
Sean
I pulled up outside Lily Bleu, the tiny little French bistro that my family has owned for generations. Gran’s mother opened it in the thirties just before Gran was born. It was small but charming with bistro tables covered in white table cloths and votive candles that flickered in the dim light.
Framed black and white photographs depicting Paris in the twenties lined the beige colored walls, and thick, black canvas curtains framed the windows. The smell of fresh baked bread wrapped around us as soon as we entered, and I took a deep breath, letting the warm, delicious scent wash over me as my muscles relaxed.
I didn’t normally bring women to Gran’s restaurant, especially not on our first date, but this place was home. I was comfortable here, and given Madison’s reservations about tonight, I could use the home field advantage.
“What do you think?” I asked, gesturing to the open dining room. It was a relatively slow night. Most of the time the place was packed, every table full and a few people waiting around outside for one to become available.
“It’s nice,” she said, removing her coat as I led her to a small table in the back. “So, we just seat ourselves?”
“I do,” I said, pulling out her chair as she took her seat. I sat across from her and she raised an eyebrow at me. I laughed. “This is my grandmother’s restaurant. I’ve practically lived in this place since I was a kid. Best food in the city, hands down.”
“In your completely unbiased opinion.” She smirked. She was already beginning to relax. Her smartass comment was telling. The entire ride she was tense and quiet, picking at her fingernails and biting her lip while staring out the window. The change in her attitude and body language was just confirmation I’d made the right choice.
“Trust me,” I said, leaning over the table with a wink.
She watched me, and I could see the wheels turning in her head while she decided if she really could trust me, but it was about more than just the food. I reached across the table, resting my hand over hers. Her cheeks flushed and she squirmed a bit in her seat.
God, how she responded to me was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. If touching her hand was working her up, what would it be like when the real fun started?
I heard a throat clear and looked up into the sweet face of my baby sister, Emily. Her long brown hair was tied in a messy knot on top of her head and she wore a waiter’s uniform: white button down shirt, black skinny jeans, and a long white apron.
“Hey, kid,” I said, jumping to my feet and wrapping her in a bear hug. “When did you get in? I thought you weren’t coming until next week.”
She shrugged. “I finished my exams early. I figured I would surprise you.”
Em’s eyes dipped to Madison, and I turned to see her watching us with a curious look.
“Oh shit! Sorry. Madison, this is my sister, Emily,” I said, sliding into my seat.
Relief spread across Madison’s face as she smiled up at Emily. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking Em’s hand.
“You too,” Em said. She turned back to me and raised her eyebrows, but my smile said it all. This one was special.
Em straightened and pulled an order pad from the pocket of her apron. “What can I get you to drink?”
I leaned across the table. “White okay?” Madison nodded. “Just bring me a bottle of the usual,” I said. Em smiled and disappeared down the hall to get our wine.
“So, your sister?” Madison