Page 17 of Hooked on Mack (Hooked #7)
Larissa
Mack and I found ourselves standing outside the entrance of the quaint little Italian eatery.
“Shall we?” Mack asked, offering me his arm.
“Of course.”
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and intimate. “Table for two?” the maitre d' inquired, giving us a welcoming smile.
“Yes, please.”
“Right this way.” He guided us to a secluded table near the back of the restaurant, giving it a sense of privacy, the conversation from other diners only a low hum.
As we settled into our seats, there was something about his effortless charisma that always managed to draw me in, despite my usual guarded nature.
“Quite the romantic setting, don't you think?” he whispered, leaning in slightly across the table.
“Indeed,” I agreed, a blush warming my cheeks. “I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.”
“Did you hear about the latest case over at my firm?” Mack asked, swirling a piece of bread in olive oil before taking a bite.
“Which one?” I replied, picking up my own slice and echoing his movements. “It seems like there's always something new happening.”
“Ah, well…” He chuckled. “I'm referring to the one involving our rival firm and their client who tried to sue the city for damages after tripping on an uneven sidewalk.”
“Ah yes, that one. They really thought they had a chance, didn't they?”
“Indeed, but it just goes to show how unpredictable our work can be.” He took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving mine. “Speaking of which, how are things going outside of the office? Any exciting plans on the horizon?”
“Nothing too thrilling,” I admitted with a shrug. “Just trying to find more time for myself, you know? Rediscovering hobbies and interests outside of the courtroom.”
“Ah, that's important.” He nodded. “What kind of hobbies are we talking about?”
“Believe it or not, I've been getting into painting recently,” I confessed. “Nothing too serious, just a way to clear my mind and express myself creatively.”
“Wow, Larissa, I never would have guessed,” Mack said, his surprise not judgmental. “You'll have to show me some of your work sometime. I'd love to see it.”
“Maybe, if you're lucky,” I teased, enjoying the unexpected turn in conversation.
“By the way,” he added, looking me up and down with an appreciative smile, “you look incredible tonight. That dress is absolutely stunning on you.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah yes, Italian food, my one true weakness,” he admitted with a grin. “Though, to be fair, who can resist the allure of fresh pasta and authentic tiramisu?”
“Only a monster, I assume,” I joked, reveling in our easy banter. “But really, you should branch out more, Mack. There's a whole world of culinary delights just waiting to be discovered.”
“Perhaps you'll have to show me some of your favorites,” he suggested. “Consider it another way to expand my horizons outside of work.”
“Maybe I will,” I agreed, savoring the excitement that bubbled up inside of me as we continued to chat and laugh throughout the night.
“Alright,” I chuckled, placing my wineglass down on the table and gathering my courage. “I have a confession to make.”
“Ooh, a confession?” Mack asked, raising an eyebrow. “This should be good.”
“Okay, don't get too excited,” I warned, feeling the familiar sharpness of my tongue soften ever so slightly in his company. “It's just that… well, I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I?—”
“Wait!” he interrupted, leaning forward with mock seriousness. “Before you continue, let me guess: you're secretly a superhero by night, fighting crime and saving the world?”
“Ha! Not quite,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “Though I can see why you'd think that, given my many talents.”
“Of course, of course,” he agreed, grinning. “But please, do go on. I'm all ears.”
“Right,” I breathed, my heart pounding like a gavel in my chest as I prepared to reveal my true feelings. “I was just going to say that I… I would really like to go on a proper date with you, Mack. Like, outside of work events and random dinner outings. An actual, intentional date.”
There, I said it . Much to my relief, Mack's smile widened, crinkling the corners of his eyes with genuine delight. “Larissa, I've been waiting,” he admitted, reaching across the table to briefly touch my hand. “I would love nothing more than to take you on a real date.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely,” he assured me, his eyes twinkling like the stars outside the restaurant window. “In fact, I already have a few ideas in mind for our first.”
“Is that so?” I raised an eyebrow. “Well, I do hope your plans involve something other than Italian food, Mr. Harrington.”
“Trust me,” he winked, leaning back in his chair with a confident air. “You're in for a treat.”
A warmth spread through my chest as I reached for my wineglass.“Mack, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this.”
“As am I,” he replied, his eyes never leaving mine, causing a flush to creep up my cheeks.
All the years I'd spent burying myself in work, chasing success at the expense of my own happiness, and for what?
The brief moments of pleasure were few and far between, often overshadowed by late nights at the office and weekends filled with paperwork.
As I looked into Mack's warm, inviting eyes, it was time for a change—time to start truly enjoying life beyond the courtroom.
“I need to admit something,” I began hesitantly, trying to find the right words. “All these years, I've been so focused on my career, on winning cases and building a reputation. But tonight, there's so much more to life than just that.”
He nodded. “It's not always easy to find a balance. But I believe we owe it to ourselves to try.”
“Exactly. I want to start enjoying life more—and I think this date is the perfect beginning.”
Mack raised his wineglass, the corners of his mouth lifting into a familiar, charming smile. “To new beginnings, then.”
“New beginnings.”
“Come on. Let's let loose tonight! I know the perfect place. There might even be… dancing involved.”
Dancing? The thought thrilled and terrified me. My heart pounded at the prospect. “Alright.”
“Trust me, you won't regret it,” he promised, shooting me a reassuring wink that made the butterflies in my stomach flutter even more.