Page 8

“Why did you come here?” I ask, then take a sip of my cocktail. I hope he doesn’t find it an insensitive question.
He winces, and I grimace, hoping I haven’t blown it completely. This is the hottest guy who’s shown any interest in me in years.
I can’t blow it on our first date.
First date?My own thoughts take me by surprise. First date implies that I’m hoping there’ll be more. Am I really so lonely that I would jump into bed with the first guy who smiles at me?
Whoa, I think.Jump into bed? Get ahold of yourself.
I know how to have fun but that seems unrestrained by anyone’s standards.
“A business trip,” he says. “I’ve been away from home for nearly a year now.”
“Wow. You must miss home.”
He shrugs. “Yeah. But I’ve been traveling the world. It’s good. It’s fun but… yeah, I guess I miss home.”
“I can’t imagine being away from my friends and family for a whole year. I would find that really hard.”
“I think I do,” he says quietly.
“We’ll both get there someday. To Bellamare, I mean.”
“How come you’ve never been?” he asks gently.
Now it’s my turn to shrug. “It’s expensive. Plane tickets cost a fortune — and that’s before you even think about hotels or places to eat or things to do. I could never afford it on my salary.”
A strange glint comes into his eyes, a sparkle like I’ve just told him something amazing, and I can’t help but frown in response. All I said is that I haven’t got enough money to travel. I guess it’s not something he would understand, if he’s a businessman who’s been traveling the world for the last year.
Clearly, money isn’t an issue for him.
“Do you have a savings account for it?” he asks, and I shrug again.
“Yeah, but life keeps getting in the way. One day, though. One day I will get there.”
“Well, if you ever do get there, I would love to show you around.”
“Whoa, tiger,” I say. “Why would I run away to a country with a guy I’ve only just met?”
“Who said anything about running away? I was just proposing a trip, but if you’re down for forever…” He flashes his best grin at me, and I let out a laugh.
“You think you’re so charming, don’t you?” I say, narrowing my eyes.
He smirks at me. “I don’t think it. I know it.”
“Confident, huh?”
“I know what I’m doing,” he says, raising both eyebrows
“Oh, yeah? You just think I’m going to fall for you like that, do you?”
“Well, wearealready having a drink, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” I say firmly. “A drink. But I like to know people a little better before I fall in love with them.”
“So love is on the table, then?”
I scoff and try my best to look serious, but his dumb little grin undoes me and I can’t stop myself from smiling. “We’ll see how it goes.”