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Tilly
I need to stop with the dating apps. What the hell is wrong with me? I was about to have dinner, and then most likely sleep with a man who was involved in an attempted murder case.
I don’t care if he was a witness, an accomplice or if he was the person who did it.
The way Sebastian reacted to him was enough to make me want to cut Donald out of my life for good.
I can’t say I’m disappointed.
The only reason I agreed to a second date was that the kiss at the end of our first date held promise.
I almost let my libido guide me into bed with another jerk.
“I should probably run the name of every guy I’m about to go on a date with past you first,” I joke as I look at Sebastian’s face.
My attempt at humor to break the silence doesn’t work.
He’s still scowling. He hasn’t moved an inch even though Donald stormed out of the apartment at least three minutes ago.
“Where did you meet him?” he questions.
I’d bet my last dollar that Sebastian doesn’t have any dating apps on his phone. The man could walk out of our building without a shirt on, and he’d have a handful of potential fuck partners within seconds.
“On a dating app,” I confess. “We have a lot in common.”
“Like what?” His chin lifts.
Seriously? Do I need to answer that?
His silent stare tells me I do.
“He likes animals and since I’m a vet assistant, that matched up.” I stop and take a breath. “He’s a fan of Broadway musicals. You wouldn’t know that from looking at him, but he told me that he could score tickets to that new show that everyone is raving about.”
His gaze narrows. “You need to stay away from guys like that.”
This conversation feels like it’s slipping closer to lecture territory, so I attempt to stop it in its tracks. “Another rule that Lisa and I had was that we didn’t talk about who we were dating or sleeping with.”
“You slept with him?” He takes a step closer to me. “When he said he would have shown you the time of your life I assumed he meant a first fuck, but that happened already?”
I look down at my dress. My breasts are heaving and that’s not because I’m trying to look sexy. I’m breathing heavily. It’s a combination of the adrenaline rush of finding out that Donald wasn’t who I thought he was and hearing Sebastian talk about fucking.
“We didn’t.” I shake my head. “It was just a kiss.”
“A kiss?” His brows jump in surprise. “You kissed him?”
I run my hand along the side of my neck, feeling flush. “It was more of a peck after our first date last month. A goodnight, so-long-until-next-time kiss.”
That lures a smile to his mouth. “Good to know.”
I look back toward my closed bedroom door. “I’m going to change my clothes and then make some microwave popcorn for dinner.”
“Don’t change.” His eyes meet mine as I turn back when he speaks. “We’re going for spaghetti.”
“Spaghetti,” I echo. “We’re going out for dinner?”
“You’re all dressed up.” He rakes me from head to toe. “You haven’t eaten yet. I haven’t either. Let’s go grab some pasta.”
My pulse thrums at the thought of spending an evening with him. My heart shouldn’t be racing. He’s not suggesting a date.
We’re just two people going out to share a meal.
“After you, Matilda.” He motions toward the apartment door. “You’re about to have the experience of a lifetime.”
“I am?” I ask with a smile. “How so?”
He rests his hand against the small of my back. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”
***
Sebastian wasn’t joking. This is an experience I’m never going to forget.
I’ve had a lot of spaghetti in my life but none as delicious as this.
The pasta at Calvetti’s is in a class of its own. It’s handmade with a rich sauce and spicy meatballs. I’ve almost eaten every bite of food on my plate.
Sebastian finished his ten minutes ago.
“I told you it was amazing.” He smiles broadly. “I can’t believe you’ve never been here.”
“I can’t either.” I laugh. “Maya’s been here with Julian. It was on one of their first dates.”
I leave out the extra X-rated information my sister provided about Julian touching her under the table while they were sitting in one of the booths that line the back wall. My gaze darts in that direction to a couple seated next to each other, kissing with fervor.
Maybe that’s part of Calvetti’s experience.
You come for the pasta and stay to come.
I shake off my ill attempt at a new slogan for this quaint family run restaurant.
“Do you use dating apps to meet men often?” he asks in a low tone.
I swallow a sip of red wine. “I wouldn’t say it’s often, but I’ve met a few great guys that way.”
“Great?” He eyes me suspiciously as he reaches for the glass of ice water in front of him. It’s the only thing he’s drinking tonight. “Yet you’re still looking.”
I sigh heavily. “Isn’t part of the fun the search?”
“The search for the one?” He draws out the last word.
“Until tonight I would have answered yes to that question.” I laugh softly. “My sisters both found their Prince Charming. I was looking for mine too.”
“You’re not anymore?” His brow furrows.
I lock eyes with him. He’s a beautiful man. His jaw is covered with late day scruff that only adds to his allure. His inky hair is thick and the perfect length for a woman’s fingers to get lost in. His features are strong and his shoulders broad.
If someone had asked me six months ago to draw a picture in my mind’s eyes of what my ideal man would look like, it would be Sebastian right down to the small mole on the right side of his neck under his ear.
There’s nothing about him I’d change.
“I’m looking for someone who thinks that the best place in the world is next to me.” I gaze down at my glass of wine. “I’m not sure I’ll find him, but I know that after tonight, I’m deleting every dating app I have on my phone.”
The moment is broken when the owner of the restaurant approaches us with a large piece of tiramisu on a plate with two forks.
Sebastian smile brightens as the older woman sets the plate down between us. “You’re the best, Martina.”
Her gaze darts from my face to his. She says something in Italian to him and he nods sagely.
Once she’s out of earshot, I pick up one of the forks. “What did she say?”
He hesitates briefly before he dives his fork into the corner of the dessert. “She said you’re beautiful.”
I cast my gaze down to hide my wide smile.
“She’s right,” he says quietly as the jarring ring of a cell phone interrupts us.
I glance at my purse out of instinct, but his phone is in his hand before I have a chance to fish mine out.
“Sebastian Wolf,” he answers succinctly as his eyes meet mine. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Call Brant. He’s closer. He’ll take the lead on this one.”
“You need to go to work,” I state the obvious when he ends the call. “I’ll get home on my own.”
“I can take you.” He stands and buttons his gray suit jacket.
“I’d like to stay.” I eye the dessert. “I’ll have another couple of bites of this and then I’ll grab an Uber.”
“Promise me you won’t take the subway dressed like that.” A grin ghosts his mouth.
“I promise.”
“I’ll get the check on my way out.” He glances toward the door before his gaze falls back on me.
“Thank you for dinner. “ I fumble in my mind with what to say next but he jumps in before I have a chance to get in another word.
“I’ll likely be out all night so lock up tight and sleep well.”
With that he’s headed toward Martina and I’m left with a desperate need to know more about my new roommate.
