Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
They walked away from the library and headed toward the main city center. There were not a lot of cars around as the streets had boulders to stop them taking shortcuts through the main city. Trucks and vans were able to make stops, but the shopkeepers had to come out to allow them entry. The city was busy. There was rarely a time it wasn’t.
Holly didn’t have a clue what to say to this man. Dating had been hard ten years ago, or at least that’s what she heard. She and William had known each other for a few months before they went on a date. Their relationship had come about through mutual friends. All of which over the years had either stayed William’s friends or dropped by the wayside. She had to wonder if that was because they knew of William’s cheating and didn’t want to face her.
It no longer mattered to her.
This was a date and William had to be the last person on her mind. It wasn’t like she had been thinking about him for the past year. All she wanted was be clear of him and now that she was, she was still thinking about him.
They arrived at a restaurant that was very much closed. Mason lifted his knuckles and gave a rap on the door.
Holly looked toward him then at the restaurant. “I think this one is closed.”
“Oh, it is, but not to me.”
Seconds later the door opened and Holly watched as the man cheered, saying something in Italian, and embracing Mason. They did that man-hug thing where they embraced, slapped each other on the back, and then pulled apart.
The man turned toward her and pressed a hand to his heart. “Beautiful,” he said.
Holly couldn’t help but smile and gasped as she was pulled into a hug and then each of her cheeks kissed in turn.
“I have prepared a special menu for you tonight. Please, come in. Come in.”
Mason put a hand at the base of her back and urged her forward. She stepped inside and saw there were several tables that were not set, but there was a single table with a few candles, and wineglasses already filled.
The man pointed at the table.
“I prepared this just for you, Mason.”
“Thanks, Phillip,” Mason said.
Seconds later they were alone as she watched the man she now knew was Phillip walk away. There were a couple of people at the bar and she saw waiters milling around, but no one approached them.
Mason pulled out the chair and she slid into it, not exactly sure what she should do.
“There’s no one here,” she said.
“I called ahead. Asked Phillip if we could have the restaurant to ourselves for the evening.”
“Okay, that’s not strange at all,” she said.
He chuckled. “I didn’t want any interruptions tonight.”
“A Saturday night—isn’t this like the busiest night of the week?”
“This is my restaurant,” Mason said. “I’ve already taken care of the details.”
“Oh,” Holly said.
What did she say to that? She sat down and Mason pushed the chair beneath the table. She slid her bag onto the floor between her legs, pressing her ankles close to it as she stared at Mason. Some of her hair had pulled out of her ponytail and she pushed it out of the way and watched him.
“So, the nightclub and restaurant business,” she said. “Do you own more of them, and are they spread out across the country?”
“I own them in this city, along with a few other ventures,” he said.
“What kind of ventures?”
“I don’t like to put all my eggs into one basket. I learned long ago that to succeed, you always need to know when to take the plunge.”
“When to take the plunge?”
“Yes.” Mason smiled. “Have you been on many dates, Ms. Allan?” he asked.
She blew out a breath and chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
Holly tried not to cringe but she doubted it worked. “No, I’ve not been on many dates at all. I was married, as I know you know, but dating wasn’t exactly high on his list.” She pressed her lips together. “I don’t know how to date. I don’t know how to be around men. Last night was just a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. I saw the dress in a shop, I wanted it, I wore it, I went dancing. That’s the breakdown of what happened last night.” She had to make him realize last night wasn’t anything special. She didn’t go out of her way to appeal to men, it was just dancing for herself. Not for anyone else.
Mason reached for her hands. “Then how about we start at the beginning and you stop panicking? I’m not your ex-husband. I’m a new guy, who saw a beautiful woman, and he wants to get to know her.”
She licked her lips. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Why shouldn’t it be easy for us, Holly?”