She shrugged. “It’s delicious,” she answered and turned back to her food.
“Mine too,” I said even though she hadn’t asked.
Alice and Mabel Turner stopped at the table just as we finished our entrees. “Mr. Mayor, it’s such a delight to see you doing something other than work,” Alice cooed.
“Indeed,” Mabel added with a wide smile. “It’s darn good to see you dating, Chase. A man like you should be married with children, and Carlotta will make a mighty fine wife.”
Was it getting hotter in the restaurant? My pulse raced and my heart slammed against my chest at the expectations. They were ruining my ability to relax and to enjoy this first date with her, dammit. “Um, sure. Thanks.”
When they were gone Carlotta glared at me. “Their words are just their own opinions, Chase. No one is proposing a shotgun wedding, or any other kind.”
I nodded and reached for my water, guzzling down the whole thing before I reached for her untouched glass. “Yes, I know.”
“Do you? Because you’re acting as if you don’t know.”
Franco the Third chose that moment to make his appearance at our table. He was a loud and boisterous man with thick black hair and a patch of gray at each temple. Unlike his father and grandfather, he didn’t sport the pot belly, or the thick black moustache. “I have made a wonderfully delicious and romantic dessert for the happy couple!” His words were so loud I cringed as I risked a glance around the restaurant.
All eyes were on us.
“It smells divine,” Carlotta responded easily. “Is that amaretto I smell?”
“Good nose,” he said flirtatiously. “Only the finest for you. Go on, taste it.”
I couldn’t move, could only watch as Carlotta dipped her spoon into the spongy cake until she made her way to the thick, chocolatey center. As soon as the chocolate touched her tongue, she let out a low sensual moan and lust slammed against me with the force of an eighteen wheeler.
“Oh wow Franco, that is magnificent.”
He laughed, fully pleased with her praise. “Feed some to your fella, let’s see how our mayor likes it.”
I held up a hand with a tight smile. “That won’t be necessary. I’m capable of feeding myself.” To that end, I grabbed a spoon and took a bite, surprised at how delicious it was. “Incredible,” I sighed and offered the chef a smile.
“Perfect! Enjoy,” he commanded and walked off, leaving our table in yet another tense silence.
The evening hadn’t gone to plan at all. I tried, I really had. This night was meant to show Carlotta that I could do this, that I could handle a public relationship, but it had only proven the opposite. Everyone digging into my personal life, offering up opinions on my choice of woman, assuming we were destined for marriage and babies. It was too much pressure, too presumptuous, and I hated every damn moment of it.
I chanced a look at Carlotta, at first glance she seemed totally unbothered by it all, but as I looked closer I could see the tight lines pinched around her mouth, the ramrod straight set of her spine, the lines of strain around her eyes. She looked uncomfortable, or maybe furious.
“This didn’t go as planned,” I offered with a smile of commiseration.
She didn’t smile back. “You know what I think Chase? I think this evening went just as you planned.”
“What? How could you-,”
She took her time responding, taking two more bites of the lava cake before she pushed it away, seemingly disgusted. She reached for her glass of wine and finished it off too. “You brought me to one of the busiest restaurants in town, in the middle of town, where you knew there would be no peace. You did it on purpose, but what I can’t figure out is why. Were you hoping this would convince me that you were right and we should keep us a secret?”
Had I? Were my motives so cold and calculating.
She laughed. “You don’t even know, do you?” She laughed again, bitterly this time, and she dabbed the corners of her mouth and dropped the napkin on the table. “Yeah well thanks Chase for trying.”
“I did try,” I insisted with a fire I didn’t truly feel.
“You keep telling yourself that Chase. I hope it makes you feel better about things.” She stood and fixed a smile on her face before she leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “Now you can stop trying, because I’m done. Thanks for dinner.” She walked away and with my back facing the door, I couldn’t risk letting my gaze follow her without drawing more stares. More gossip.
I finished off the lava cake, paid the bill and made my way home knowing that Carlotta and I were a thing of the past.
Chapter 23
Carlotta