Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 74214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Geez. It’s that bad out there, huh?” I asked, taking a sip of my wine.
“Been a while since you were on a date?”
“I was busy figuring out where to move, packing up, moving, finding a job, trying to find ways to fix up my apartment without doing any permanent changes that could get me in trouble. And, well, trying to get over my last relationship.”
“Was he an asshole?”
“Opened a dating profile the same month we became official.”
“Dick.”
“Yeah. And I guess I won’t be getting set up anymore, living this far from my family.”
“Oh, don’t get your hopes up. If my ma decides we aren’t a good fit, she’s not giving up on you. You’re gonna be her little pet project now. Especially since she knows where to find you.”
“Well, maybe I can make some new friends that way at least. I love everyone at work, but most of the employees are still in their teens. And nothing makes you older than nodding to what they are saying, then grabbing your phone to look up the slang.”
“I swear my fucking nieces and nephews are speaking another language sometimes.”
The server came back and I bit back any insecurity I felt at ordering four different slices of pizza. Then Dante went ahead and made it easier by ordering the same for himself.
“Are you going to punish yourself at the gym after this?” I asked.
“Nah. I hit the gym this morning. Might take a run before bed. Kinda just depends on if my mind will shut down enough for sleep or not. I recommend my gym, if you’re looking for one.”
“For right now, I’m getting a ton of exercise at work. And I’m kind of excited about the prospect of walking or biking along the beach in the summer. I want to look into hiking, too. There seem to be a lot of paths in the parks around here. If it’s safe.”
“As a whole, yeah, it’s safe. I mean, far be it from me to tell a woman that places that are safe for me are safe for her, but the rates of robberies and sexual assaults are pretty low around here.”
“That’s comforting. Because the missing rate around here is kind of scary.”
Dante shifted in his chair and reached for his wine. “Mostly men, though,” he said.
“Is a possible serial killer of men supposed to be comforting to me?” I asked, brows scrunching.
“Well, the women are safe from him if he exists.”
The food arrived then, and the conversation turned toward local attractions that I could check out over the next year, including a big local fair, movies and music on the beach, apple picking, dinner cruises, and a really cool-sounding giant koi pond that moved up high on my priority list.
The food and wine were gone too soon, and as a rush of other customers came through looking for places to sit, it seemed rude to keep taking up a table.
Dante insisted on paying, then walking me all the way to my car, even though it meant he would have to double back to his own car closer to the restaurant.
“Thanks for dinner,” I said, just barely able to stop my gaze from drifting to his lips that I couldn’t help but wonder if they tasted like pasta sauce or wine.
“Of course. I’ll see you at work. And apologize in advance for my mother’s inevitable drop-in.”
“I’m sure you’re worried for nothing.”
To that, Dante gave me a knowing smile.
And I found out soon enough why.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dante
“I got the wine,” I said, making my way through the kitchen door at my mom’s place, my arms weighed down with two bags from the liquor store. “Why do we need this many bottles? Did you invite half the neighborhood over?”
“Well, the whole family is here, so kind of,” Valley said from her perch on top of the island. She was in another of her professional pantsuits, but her gray jacket was draped over one of the kitchen chairs. Her dark, wavy hair was pulled back in a clip and her mascara was a little smudged around her green eyes. A long day of work explained the wine glass in her hand that was nearly two-thirds filled.
“Oh, don’t you look handsome,” my mother said, putting down her slotted spoon, wiping her hands on her apron, then coming over to straighten my lapels. “I made a handsome boy, didn’t I?”
“I dunno. I remember his faux hawk and porn-stache stage,” Valley said. “I think a good haircut does a lot of the heavy lifting.”
“Careful, Val. I remember your blonde stage. Or should I say orange, since you never got it fully lifted?”
“Goth stage,” she shot back.
“Trucker hats and tube tops,” I said, smirking when she winced.
“That was a rough one.”
“Stop teasing your brother,” Mom demanded, making me look toward my sister. Being the only girl, our mother was usually first to defend her against the rest of us.