Free Under His Skin by Emeline Piaget Page A

could it be that I found this new woman just as fascinating, if not more so?  I was going to find out. She turned as she heard the door open.  I could see the relief wash over her face.
     
    “Did you miss me beautiful?”  She grinned at my question.
     
    “You did leave me all alone and vulnerable,” she teased.
     
    “I will try not to leave you so long next time.  I would hate for another knight in shining armor to sweep you off of your feet.”
     
    “We wouldn’t want that now would we?” She batted her eyelashes.
     
    “No, we wouldn’t. Not at all.  Let me check and see if our table is ready, I promise not to be gone long,” I winked at her.
     
    I walked up to the hostess table, gave her my name and she stated that our table was ready.  I motioned for Addison.
     
    “Our table is ready,” I informed her.
     
    “Wonderful, I’m starving.”
     
    “Me too,” I said. 
     
    We followed the hostess to our booth.  We took our seats and she handed us our menus.  She told us that our server would be with us momentarily. 
     
    “Have you been here before?” She asked me.
     
    “Yes, I’ve brought my mom here a couple of times, she absolutely loves it.”
     
    “What do you recommend?”
     
    “Everything that I’ve had has been excellent.  I don’t know if you can make a bad choice.”
     
    We spent a few minutes chatting and looking over the menu.  She closed her menu and I felt her intently watching me over.  I glanced up to see her biting her bottom lip.
     
    “Would you like some wine?”
    “I would love some wine.”
     
    “Do you have a preference?”
     
    “I will defer to you since you’ve been here before.”
     
    The server came to our table and introduced herself and told us if she needed more time she would be more than happy to come back in a few minutes.  I ordered one glass of Meritage ‘Magnificat Melbac and one glass of Moscato ‘Secco Italian Bubbles.  She left to grab our wine.
     
    “I think I know what I would like, what about you?” I asked.
     
    “Yes, I think I’d like to try the eggplant al forno.”
     
    “Oh yum that sounds good.  Are you up for an appetizer?”
     
    “Sure, but only if you share it with me.”
     
    “It would be my pleasure.  The fried cauliflower is really good, maybe not the healthiest, but delicious.”
     
    “I can’t wait to try it.  What else are you going to have?”
    “I’m a fan of the Veal Marsala.  It’s one of the best I’ve had.”
     
    Our server Cindy returned with our wine and take our order.  I let her know that we were ready to place our order.  I ordered a Caesar salad for two, an appetizer and our entrees.  Our server commended our choices, told us that she would put them in and be back to check on us shortly.
     
    “How do you like your wine?”
     
    “It’s so good.  Wow!  I’m really impressed.”
     
    “I’m glad you like it.”
     
    “I really do.” She smiled at me over her glass, biting her lip again.

Chapter 14
    Addison
     
    Dinner was amazing.  We spent most of dinner just chit chatting. I asked more about his car fascination, he asked about the boutique.  He wanted to know why I started it, did I enjoy it, was it business steady, had I considered opening another location, etc. He seemed really interested.  By the time dinner was over, I was stuffed.  I felt like I was going to burst through my dress, and then he ordered dessert.  I had no idea where I was going to put it.  It was a delectable concoction.  It was called Frou Frou cake; it was a white Genoese cake with white chocolate mousse and shavings of white chocolate.  I think I literally moaned as I took a bite.  Cindy came as we were wrapping up and asked us if we needed anything else.  Stephen looked at me and I shook my head no.
     
    “No, I think we are done for the evening,” Stephen told her and handed her his American Express card.  She took it and told him that she’d be right back.
     
    “Was