I hadn’t thought about my words. But the least I could do was be honest. He deserved it. “I wore this dress for you and put on the perfume you told me you liked when we first met.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I know. But it’s nice to hear you admit the truth for a change.”
“God, you’re so arrogant. You couldn’t just accept the compliment.”
He cupped my face in his hands. “Friday night. Just the two of us.”
I nodded. Somewhere between him opening up to Izzy during dinner and the ride home, I’d given in.
Hunter’s eyes dropped to my lips. “Now kiss me. I missed this mouth.”
For the first time, I didn’t think about it. I kissed him—well, at least it started that way. Hunter took it over after about three seconds. It was tamer than the kisses we’d shared before, probably because we were both aware that Izzy was just down the hall and could walk out at any moment. But it was no less passionate. Before it broke, he did that thing that drove me wild—catching my bottom lip between his teeth and tugging. Lord, the man can kiss.
“Seven o’clock?” he asked.
I nodded. “It’s a date.”
He smirked and leaned down for one last peck on my lips. “Yes, it is. It was always a date.”
Chapter 19
Natalia
I’d never been so nervous for a date in my life. It made no sense. I’d spent time with Hunter, knew he was a decent guy, so why was I unable to sit down and relax? In the last half hour, I’d unloaded the dishwasher, reorganized two kitchen cabinets, and now I was checking the date on each spice in the spice rack. I shouldn’t have gotten ready so early. When the buzzer rang, I literally jumped at the sound.
Wine. I need wine.
“Come on up,” I feigned calm and casual as I pressed the button to unlock the interior door downstairs. I then proceeded to run to the refrigerator, pour a glass of Shiraz and down it like it was medicine. I made it back to the door just as Hunter stepped off the elevator.
He was dressed more casually than I’d expected—in a pair of jeans and a navy polo. Don’t get me wrong, he looked delicious, but when I’d asked him how to dress for where we were going, he’d said a sexy dress and heels. As he strode toward my door, his eyes did a sweep over me, and I felt warmth travel through my body that had nothing to do with the alcohol coursing through my veins.
“I think I overdressed.”
Hunter leaned in and covered my lips with his for a quick hello. “Nope. You’re dressed just right.”
“But you’re wearing a polo and jeans. You said a sexy dress, so I thought that meant the dress code was more formal.”
“I said sexy because that’s what I wanted to see on you. There is no dress code where we’re going.”
“Where are we going?”
“My place. I’m cooking you dinner.”
“I could have worn jeans for that.”
He smirked. “Might want to ask where we’re going in the future, rather than what you should wear. Because my answer’s always going to be sexy dress and heels, even if we’re going to McDonald’s.”
I laughed, stepping aside. “You’re impossible. Come in for a minute. I need to tell Izzy I’m leaving.”
Inside, Izzy had emerged from her bedroom and was hanging on the refrigerator door. She glanced up. “Hi, Hunter.” And went back to staring at the food.
“I made you ravioli.”
“I’m on a diet. Do we have anything low carb?”
“What? A diet? Since when? And better yet, why? You’re a size two.”
“Since this morning.”
I walked to the refrigerator, took out the ravioli and sauce and put it on the counter. “Start your diet tomorrow.” I kissed her cheek. “Mrs. Whitman knows I’m going out. I won’t be home late.”
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
“No one in the apartment while I’m gone.”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “There goes the rager I had planned.”
The nerves the wine had calmed were back in full force once I was on the way to Hunter’s apartment. I stared out the car window, debating whether I was ready to sleep with him. I’d thought we were going out to eat, and since he knows I have to be home early for Izzy, it wasn’t something I’d been worried about. Now dinner was at his house, and I knew all it would take was one kiss and my decision-making skills would be hampered. I needed to make a decision while I was not under the influence of his hard body pressed against mine.
Hunter side-glanced to me and back to the road. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”