She nodded, visibly grateful for his assistance. “Yes, very much.”
“Then a lemon drop for the lady, Roland.”
Roland bustled off to get their drinks and Tessa smiled at Ian in relief.
“Thank you for that. I’m not much of a drinker,” she confessed. “Just a little wine or champagne on occasion. Peter – he didn’t like keeping alcohol around the apartment.”
“Why was that?” Ian inquired curiously.
Tessa paused for a moment before replying. “He grew up with an alcoholic mother who was also abusive. Peter had a rough time of it with her and just couldn’t handle having any liquor around as a result.”
Ian nodded. “That’s perfectly understandable. And you don’t ever have to feel pressure to drink if you don’t choose to, Tessa.”
A busboy entered the room while they waited for their cocktails, filling water glasses and setting out a basket of assorted breads and a beautifully arranged plate of olives, charcuterie, and pates. Roland arrived a moment later with their drinks – the lemon drop in a frosted martini glass for Tessa, and Ian’s preferred blend of single malt Scotch in a heavy crystal tumbler.
“Sir, I’ll leave the menus for you to look over at your leisure. Enjoy your cocktails,” offered Roland.
Alone again, Ian picked up his glass and clinked it lightly against Tessa’s. “To getting to know each other,” he toasted with a gentle smile.
Her cheeks flushed fetchingly as she smiled in agreement and took a tentative sip of her drink.
“It’s delicious,” she told him. “Thank you for suggesting it.”
“My pleasure, darling. And while it may taste like lemonade it’s a great deal stronger, so sip it slowly, all right?” he cautioned.
She nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m – sorry if all of this is so new to me. I’m sure all the other women you date must be - ”
“Stop.” He placed a finger over her lips. “First, I believe I already told you not to apologize for anything. And second, despite what you might think, there have actually been very few women I’ve dated in my life. Especially not in the past two years.”
Tessa was gaping at him in surprise. “But there are always photos of you in the newspaper and – and Gina and Alicia are always talking about who you escorted to this event or the other.”
Ian shook his head in mild disgust. “Don’t believe anything those two shrews say, especially Alicia. I’m well aware of how much they gossip, but I promise you they know next to nothing about my personal life. Suffice it to say that attending a social function with a female friend or acquaintance doesn’t always equate to dating her.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “I know this is all new to you, Tessa. And while I don’t want to ever make you feel ill at ease, at the same time it makes me very happy to know that I’ll have the honor of introducing you to a great many pleasures. Both in and out of my bed.”
Her lips trembled and her eyes grew wide at his last statement. Glancing down, he had to stifle a groan when he noticed the hard peaks of her nipples poking against her dress, betraying the arousal she felt from his softly spoken words.
“We’d better start looking at the menu,” he murmured huskily, and handed her one of the heavy leather-bound books.
Ian was aware of Tessa’s distress from the moment she began to scan the expansive and complex menu, with its numerous courses and elaborate descriptions. And when she began to twirl a lock of hair around her finger in agitation, he asked her gently, “Would you like me to order for both of us, Tessa?”
She looked up at him gratefully. “You wouldn’t mind? I’m sor – I mean, I’m just not familiar with a lot of these dishes.”
“I know.” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “And I don’t mind in the least, darling.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his cheek. “You’ll soon learn, Tessa, that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
Her glossy pink mouth fell open in a round “O” of surprise at his quietly impassioned declaration. He was astonished to see the shimmer of tears in her eyes, and his heart ached as one teardrop began to trickle slowly down her rosy cheek.
“You’re so good to me,” she whispered. “So kind. I don’t have any idea how I got this lucky.”
“Darling.” He reached across and softly kissed each of her eyelids, brushing the tears away with his thumb. “It’s not luck – it’s fate. You were meant for me all along, Tessa. It just took a while for the stars to align properly. Now, let’s take a look at this menu together, hmm? You tell me if there’s something I suggest that you don’t like.”