My voice goes up in a question at the end because I’m hoping he’ll get what I’m saying and not make me say it.
He turns to me with a plate of prime rib, bright green vegetables, and fried potatoes, then produces a fork. He then proceeds to feed me with it himself. “You’re hungry. Eat first. Then we talk.”
Chapter Ten
Milo
Our bellies full of prime rib, Cecily and I have moved from the kitchen to the table I’ve laid out in the dining room, especially for one purpose.
Dessert.
While we wait for the surprise, I thread my fingers through hers on the table. “I don’t date princesses, just so you know. And that wasn’t my yacht. I was filming in the Mediterranean, and some influencers invited me to a party on their boat. I can’t even believe anyone cares about some princess sunbathing nude.”
Cecily seems to accept my explanation. I desperately want her to know that’s not the kind of person I am.
“Still,” she says. “I have way less experience with dating than you do.”
“It’s true that I’ve gone on dates with lots of women. But I don’t sleep around, Cecily. I haven’t had a serious relationship in years. In the meantime, I get invited to many, many events because of my job. I have to go to award ceremonies, galas, all kinds of things, and I don’t like to go alone. I have lots of friends, and they get to be my plus-ones. Tabloids would have you believe I’m a heartbreaker but ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you it’s pa
tently false. If I ever broke someone’s heart or mistreated someone, it wasn’t intentional. I’m just a regular dude from Pennsylvania. I’m still that guy.”
Cecily studies me for a long minute. “I guess I should know better than to trust everything I hear about you.”
I wait to speak because she looks as if she might have something else to say.
“Still, I’m not sure,” she says.
“Not sure you like me? Not sure I’m your type?”
She sighs and says, “I’m not sure I want to start a fling with someone who could be leaving town at a moment’s notice.”
I lean toward her and say, “What makes you think I’m interested in a fling? I’m not. I don’t do that.”
“But you’re 40, and you never married? Never had kids?”
I squeeze her hand, hoping she’ll understand. “My parents divorced when I was a pre-teen, and it really hurt. It was an ugly custody battle. I swore I would never do that to a kid or to the mother of my would-be kids. I wanted to be absolutely sure. So, in the meantime, I’ve been enjoying life, and I have no regrets. And that is what makes everyone assume I have a wild personal life full of one-night stands when that’s not the case. Does that make sense?”
She nods but then furrows her brow. “If you’re not prone to flings, but you’ve been following me around like a puppy the last two days, it stands to reason that I would assume you want something brief.”
I shake my head. “You’re funny, and intelligent, and interesting, and sexy as hell.
“Maybe it’s crazy because we’ve only known each other a couple of days. But I have a long history of taking chances on a whim and going with my gut. My gut is always right. I’m getting one of those signals right now. And it’s telling me to stop, settle down, and think about what I really want. What I really want is more time with you, Cecily. I know we barely know each other, but I feel it. You pulled me in without even trying.”
Chapter Eleven
Cecily
Milo doesn’t say he’s probably in a world of trouble with many people by pushing back his schedule to spend time with me.
The thought of that is absolutely wild to me, yet also astonishingly sweet. And also ridiculous.
I should let go of his hand now and really think about what he’s saying. I would be wise to proceed with caution. But I don’t. I can’t, because he’s holding my fingers, keeping me still.
Milo leans toward me a little, his eyes switching from one of my eyes to the other. It’s almost like he’s physically unable to stop looking at me, following me.
His full lips feather against mine in a delicate kiss. He follows this by tracing a line of kisses across my cheek, and then the other cheek, and back down to my mouth.
By the time his lips reach mine again, I’m sunk.