Page 10 of Bear With Me
When I unlock the doors, he tugs the handle and leans down in the open space. “I’m glad you found it okay.”
“Wherever ‘it’ is.” I peer back at the nondescript faces of the brick buildings behind me. “Care to tell me what we’re doing?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He offers me a hand and I take it. He helps me out and neither of us let go when I’m up on my feet. I shut the door with my hip as he leads me toward one of the buildings. “You’re going to get the official Hillsborough welcome tour. The dry version.”
“C’mon,” I say and I’m mortified to find that my voice is breathy with excitement. “Where are you taking me?”
Declan flashes me a grin. “Now what kind of surprise would that be?”
“The kind that doesn’t feel like an episode ofCriminal Minds.”
He laughs at that and says, “You have an overactive imagination.”
“Says the man leading me into an abandoned building.”
“You’re going to eat your words in a few minutes.”
“I hope you mean figuratively.”
The door to the building is old and doesn’t look like it’s been painted in my lifetime. Declan raises his free hand to knock and I’m struck by the fact that I’m still holding onto the other one. His hand is warm around mine and I can’t help but notice how well they fit together. When I look up I catch him staring at me, there’s a warm glow reflecting back in his eyes.
The space between us heats and I wonder if he’s going to flip tradition and kiss me at the beginning of the date instead of the end. Thoughts of the night before make me hope it’s the former. I’m about to do something completely out of character—again—and make the first move, when the door opens to reveal a middle-aged man with neatly trimmed facial hair and a hefty gut. He motions us in, slapping Declan on the back.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Cain. And you brought a lovely lady with you today.” He turns to me and takes my free hand, bringing it to his lips. “Bellisima, you must be Sullivan. Welcome, I am Antonio. Come, come, I have a table ready for you.”
I follow Declan down a dimly lit hallway which opens up into a dining room full of mismatched tables with red tablecloths and low lighting. Soft candlelight flickers from tea lights floating in water in the centerpieces. Antonio leads us to a table in the corner and pulls out a chair for me. I reluctantly let go of Declan’s hand to sit. Antonio provides a menu as Declan takes the seat opposite of me.
“Thank you,” I say to Antonio.
“Prego. Can I start you off with anything to drink?”
“A beer, please, Tony,” Declan says.
“Soda is fine, thank you.” Antonio smiles widely and winks at me before departing.
“Terrifying, isn’t it?” Declan says.
I blush. “Well, what’s a girl to think when you take her to an empty parking lot in the middle of nowhere?”
“You say that like we didn’t meet in the middle of the woods.”
“Point taken. You didn’t bring me back there so I guess that’s a good thing,” I tell him as I flip through the pages of the menu. I immediately decide on the soup and salad. When Declan doesn’t respond I glance up and say, “What?” when I find him looking at me again.
He shakes his head ruefully. “Nothing, I’m just wondering what you’re doing with a man like me.”
“A man like you?” Does he mean older?
But Antonio interrupts to ask for our orders before Declan can respond. He brings out garlic bread and marinara sauce along with our drinks. I dive in, breaking the bread into pieces and dipping them into the sauce.
“I never would have known this place was here,” I tell him.
“Hillsborough’s best kept secret. Only the locals know it’s here and we keep it from the tourists.”
“So you’ve lived here your whole life?”
“Pretty much,” he says with a nod before taking a pull from his beer. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“You’ve never wanted to go to the city? See what that’s like?” I wonder if he ever gets out of his office or if every day is like that for him. It was like he was letting the world and his life pass him by. At least I have Sam to annoy and keep me company. I suppose now I can add Nonna to that list as well.