“I still can’t believe you agreed to go on a date with the guy.”
“Why?”
“You said yourself that you aren’t looking for a relationship.”
“I’m not. Just because we go out for dinner doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship.”
“Does he know that?”
“As a matter of fact, he does.”
“Then what are you doing? If you’re not dating the guy what’re you—” JJ’s words trail off when I give him a come-on-JJ-put-the-pieces-together look, and he starts shaking his head. “What’re you getting yourself into?”
“I’m having fun. I’m doing what you do.”
“Yes, but I’m a one-night-stand kind of guy. You are most definitely not a one-night-stand kind of girl.”
Frustrated that his words are hitting close to home, I cross my arms over my chest. He holds up his hands in surrender.
“I don’t mean anything bad by it. It’s just that you’re an emotional person. You wear your heart on your sleeve, even if you like to think you don’t, and you get invested in people when you swear you won’t. Do you really think you can have sex with this guy and not get emotionally attached?”
I shrug. “I can try.”
“Trying and doing are two different things. What happens if you fail? What happens if you end up falling for the guy?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that absolutely will not happen—I won’t let it—when the buzzer on the intercom goes off. It has to be Rex. I press the button and tell him I’ll be right down.
“He’s not coming up here to get you? What kind of asshole doesn’t come to the door to pick up his date?”
I kiss JJ on the cheek and open the door. “And that is exactly why I told him I’d meet him downstairs. And to answer your question, if I fall—which I won’t, so that’s a big if—I’ll pick up the pieces because I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. Gotta go.”
“Your usual table?” the hostess asks, giving Rex a perfect, blinding-white smile.
He nods. “Thank you, Stella.”
Stella? He knows her by name? How often does he come here? Better yet, how many women has he brought here?
With a hand pressed to the small of my back, Rex guides me through the restaurant. Several employees greet him by name, each one taking the time to look me over.
“I assume you come here often.”
We approach a table tucked in the corner, lit up with the glow of three candles. Rex pulls out my chair, which I promptly take, and he sits down next to me.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
Stella hands each of us a menu. “Is this your first time at Ambrosi’s?” she asks me.
“It is.”
“Well, you came with the right person.” She winks at Rex. “Your usual, Mr. Ambrosi?”
I gasp, and Rex grins, but doesn’t look at me.
“Not tonight, Stella, but thank you. For now, I’ll have water.”
“And for you, ma’am?”
I scan the drink menu for the most expensive glass of wine. Rex deserves that for not telling me he owns the damn place. But before I get the chance to order, Rex clears his throat.