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He touched the hand with which I touched his face and accepted my words. “Okay. If that’s how you really felt, I’m glad. But, if I’d known it was your first time…” He laughed softly. “Remember that hotel suite I talked about? If I’d known I was going to be the first man to fuck you, I’d have gotten that suite, and I would have had someone go in and spread rose petals all over the bed. I would have had the hotel get a bottle of their best champagne and a bucket of ice ready for us. I would have made it the sweetest, most romantic first fuck you could have ever wanted.”
He pulled me into a hug, and the most tender warmth spread inside me. Somehow, Elijah could make pure lust sound like the most romantic thing in the world. In his arms I said, “We can still do that, you know.”
“First chance we get,” he said.
_______________
There’s something about being relieved when my worries turn out to have been for nothing that gives me an appetite. After my confession to Elijah was met with his complete understanding, I was more than ready for a great dinner at a great restaurant.
Elijah had gotten us a reservation at a French restaurant that had me looking forward to some fantastic cuisine in a romantic setting. It was as gorgeous and atmospheric as I expected, with low, soft lighting and filled with the most wonderful smells. The hostess showed us to our table, which I was surprised to find was a table for four.
Elijah pulled out a chair for me, and as I sat down, I asked, “Why two extra seats? Who’s eating with us?”
He sat down beside me with a coy and mysterious kind of smile and said, “I’m not spoiling the surprise.”
I hadn’t been in Cincinnati long enough to know anyone, really, except Elijah and Barbara and Ben, and I hadn’t really socialized with anyone from the office except Elijah. I had no idea who could it possibly be.
Soon enough, a waiter came with the wine list and some warm bread and butter and right behind him, Elijah’s surprise showed up. Elijah gestured to someplace across the restaurant, and I heard a familiar male voice call his name. I looked, and sure enough, there was Ben, along with the fourth member of our dinner party.
In spite of our elegant surroundings, I couldn’t help letting out a squeal as I jumped up and threw out my arms for a hug with…my sister.
She gave me the biggest grin in return. “Surprise, Sis!”
We hugged almost tightly enough to crack each other’s ribs, and by this time Elijah was standing up, shaking hands with Ben. Leanna let me go and turned her attention to Elijah, and I got just a little nervous.What was my sister going to say to the man that she knew took my virginity and at least temporarily broke my heart?
“So,” she said. “The famous Elijah.”
Seeming a bit humble, Elijah said, “And, the big sister.”
Time stood still at our table until Elijah offered Leanna his hand, and they shook. They were actually okay. I didn’t know what confounded me more, that my sister didn’t hate Elijah or that my sister was actually here.
Seriously needing to be brought up to speed, I asked Elijah, “How did allthishappen? Did you invite them? How did you…”
Leanna cut in. “Ben and I… We started talking. A lot. He assured me that Elijah is okay. And, since I happen to thinkBenis okay, I agreed to him and Elijah setting this up as a little surprise for you.”
Feeling relieved for the second time this evening, I said, “Well, it worked. I’m definitely surprised.” I gave Elijah a look that told him,In a good way.
“You’re a sly one, aren’t you?” I said to Ben.
“Sometimes you’ve got to get one in under the radar,” he said.
We all laughed at that, and now Ireallyhad an appetite. We sat down and Elijah called the waiter to bring menus.
CHAPTER35
Elijah. Saturday
Corinne and Leanna were doing “girl stuff” this morning, leaving me to go to the gym, to work out and then hang out with Ben. The two of us were at the juice bar in the gym, talking about how things were going with him and Leanna, which sounded very promising. I’d gotten my phone out of the locker room in case Corinne left messages during my workout or in case she called now. There was nothing from Corinne, but when the phone rang I expected it would be her.
It wasn’t.
Ben asked, “Leanna? Corinne?”
“No,” I said. “Mysister.”
“Okay,” said Ben. “I’ll be over there.” He went to assist another gym member on one of the machines.
I picked up for Sarah. “Morning. How’s everything?”