“It’s a wonderful little town, isn’t it?”
“Hmm?”
I look up at Milton. I haven’t been listening to what he’s been saying.
At all.
Actually, I’m not sure I’ve been paying attention to what he’s been saying since he picked me up at the house and walked me down here to the Il Pescivendolo, a little Italian seafood place right by the water.
I can’t.
Milton is nice, but…
I cringe at the thought.
Maybe I don’t want nice. Maybe I want naughty.
Maybe I want wickedness.
Because if it’s so bad, why does it feel so good? Maybe I’m going to hell, but if hell is the things Rowan Hammond does to me…
I shake my head, blinking and forcing a smile as I look at Milton. “Sorry, something outside caught my attention.”
He smiles. “That’s quite alright. Something in here caught mine.”
I force a smile as he reaches across the table and squeezes my hand in this weird way that makes me think more of a grandfather and less a date.
“I’m so glad your father has given his consent to this, Eva.”
“This?”
“Our pending marriage, of course. Lord above, I can’t wait to make you my bride.”
I smile thinly. “Right, uh, yeah.”
“And I do hope the children have your eyes.”
I cringe a little inside as I force another plastic smile to my face.
“I’m so glad to hear about your purity, too.”
My eyes snap up to his face. “Excuse me?”
He grins, this nauseatingly hungry look on his face. “Your father assured me of your purity, even with you being engaged before, and I must say, it pleases me.”
I want to throw up in my mouth.
“My purity?”
“Your…” He coughs. “Your intactness. I trust your father’s word of course, there’s no need for a doctor to examine you.”
I stare at him, my stomach churning, and I can feel the nausea and the revulsion spinning inside of me as the waiter walks over.
Wait, no.
The waiter isn’t a waiter at all.
“So how is the food here?”
It’s Rowan.
I almost choke on my water as he pulls up a chair from a neighboring table and sits right down at ours.
“Rowan!” Milton smiles in surprise. “I didn’t expect to-”
“Surprised to see me here, I know.” He shoots me a quick look before he glances around the restaurant. “Great place, Milt. I’ve been dying to check this place out.”
He picks an olive tapenade and truffle oil covered crostini off of Milton’s plate and takes a bite. “Think it’s a good date spot?”
Milton’s brow furrows in confusion. “Uh, yes. Yes I do.” His eyes say he probably wants to add, “until you crashed it”, but he doesn’t.
Rowan finishes his crostini, licking his fingers clean, before he leans in towards Milton. “Listen, friend, I’m sorry to intrude like this, but I just thought, well, with all your outreach and missionary work, you might be the one to come to about this.” He gives Milton a serious look. “You’re good with sinners, right?”
Milton suddenly sits up a little straighter, nodding seriously at Rowan. “Of course.”
“Oh, thank the Lord,” Rowan says, crossing himself — the wrong way, I notice.
“Well, I just saw a big sinner outside.”
“Oh?”
“Oh yeah, big time. Total harlot.” He shakes his head. “I’m telling you, she just kept taking her shirt off and talking about…” He leans close as if the next part is only meant for Milton’s ears. “Oral sex?”
Milton’s face goes red. Rowan grins wickedly.
“I should go deal with this shouldn’t I?”
Rowan shrugs.
Milton turns to me. “I’m sorry, Eva, but the Lord’s will demands I do what I can to help the wayward find their flock. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” I say with a smile.
He nods feverishly as he turns to Rowan. “Thank you, brother.”
“Of course, brother.” Rowan nods seriously. “And don’t worry, I’ll stay with her. Go do what you must.”
“Amen to that,” Milton says seriously, closing his eyes and crossing himself.
Rowan rolls his eyes at me.
“You’re going to hell,” I say flatly as Milton rushes out of the restaurant.
Rowan grins. “Probably.”
“I’m on a date you know.”
“No you’re not, you’re on a business dinner.”
“A date.”
“Ever been on a real date, angel?”
I don’t answer him.
“Well, they’re not set up and pre-negotiated by your father and his religious cronies. Besides, you don’t want to be here with that guy.” He picks at another crostini off of Milton’s plate.