Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Nathan is special, our relationship is special, and last night eased all my nerves.
I can’t wait to take this next step with him.
I feel soft lips on my shoulder. “There you are.”
I turn toward him and my breath catches. He’s the epitome of masculinity. He’s wearing a black linen shirt and tight black jeans. His hair is messed to perfection, and his only accessory is his chunky silver Rolex watch. He clinks his glass with mine, and his dark eyes hold mine.
“Are you ready?” He lifts his glass to his lips. The double meaning and the weight of his words doesn’t go unnoticed.
I smile softly as butterflies dance in my stomach. “Am I ever.”
* * *
“This way, please,” the waitress says as she leads us through the restaurant.
We follow, and she takes us through to an outdoor courtyard where colorful fairy lights are strung through the trees and fire lanterns are lit around the perimeter.
There is a man in the corner playing a guitar and singing.
She gestures to the table, and Nathan pulls out my chair. “Thank you.”
“Can I get you any drinks?”
Nathan gestures for me to go first. Always such good manners. I open the menu as I try to look what to get. “I’ll have a…”
“What’s a good choice?” Nathan asks as he scans the menu.
“Sangria?” she offers. “It’s our most popular cocktail.”
“Oh, sounds good.” I smile. “I’ll have a glass of that.”
“Make that two,” Nathan agrees.
“We serve it in a jug.”
“Sure, sounds great.” Nathan hands her his drinks menu, and I do the same.
“I’ll be back to take your orders soon.” She leaves us alone.
I look around in awe. “Look at this place, Nathe.” It’s alive with chatter and the guitar music creates a wonderful atmosphere. The waitress arrives back at the table with a huge jug of sangria and two glasses not long after.
Wow, that was quick. They must have this stuff on speed dial.
“Here you are.” She places them on the table, and I giggle at the size of the glasses. They look like jugs, too. She pours us two, and with another smile, she leaves us alone.
Nathan takes a sip of his drink and raises his eyebrows at the red drink in his glass. “Hmm, not bad.”
I take a tentative sip. I hope I like it. There must be ten liters here. I’m happily surprised. It’s fruity and delicious. Ten liters may not be enough.
Nathan chuckles and we clink glasses.
“I love this place,” I whisper as I look around.
“Nice, huh?” Nathan opens his menu and looks through the choices. “What are you having?”
“Hmm.” I go through the choices, too. “I think for entrée, I’m going with the pasteles de cangrejo.”
“What’s that?”
“Grilled crab cakes with mustard sauce.”
“Hmm, sounds good.” He twists his lips as he looks through the choices. “For the main, I’m going to have the Arrachera steak.”
“Hmm, yum.” I smile goofily. “I’m having so much fun in Majorca already and all I’ve done is sleep and order dinner.”
He chuckles. “Good news.”
I take a drink of my sangria. “This is so good—too good, probably, although most definitely adding to my fun. For a main course, I’m going to have the pollo al ajillo chicken.”
The waitress comes back over and we order our meals. She leaves us alone again.
Nathan refills our glasses.
“Not too many,” I say. I can feel my head getting woozy already. “This is potent.”
We fall silent and stare at each other across the table. I don’t know what he’s feeling, but I’m feeling a little starstruck.
“So…” He smiles as he takes a sip of his drink.
There’s an undercurrent of excitement buzzing in the air between us.
“So?” I beam.
“What do you normally talk about on your dates?”
I shrug. “I usually ask about forty questions so I can do an internal risk assessment.”
“Ah, the dreaded forty questions.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Why, what do you talk about on your first dates?”
“Well, this is my first one.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“This is my first ever first date.”
“How is that possible?”
“Well, I was too young when I met Robert, and since then…” His voice trails off, and he shrugs.
“You’ve never taken someone on a first date?” I stare at him in horror. “Like… ever?”
“Nope.” He catches his bottom lip in his teeth, as if slightly embarrassed. “Another of my firsts given to the lovely Eliza Bennet.”
“Well.” I smile proudly, happy with that answer just quietly. “I’ll have to make it memorable.”
“You already have.” His eyes hold mine.
I smile softly. Oh, this man…
“So?” He rolls his hand out. “Fire away.”
“What?”
“Ask me your date questions. I want to see if I qualify.”
“Okay.” I take a sip of my drink as I narrow my eyes while I think of one. “What makes you happy?”
“Seeing my family happy.” He pauses. “And seeing you happy.”
I swoon and take his hand over the table. “I am happy.”