It’s nice.
He just comes across as so approachable and sweet.
“I’m here far too often. My practice is only a few miles away and sometimes when I’m working late, I run over and get some carryout instead of cooking. I should warn you, I’m not much of a cook.”
“We’re in trouble, because neither am I,” I confide.
“Good thing there are a lot of restaurants around for us to try.”
The man is speaking my language. I love to eat and try new foods and different things. Sadly, my budget doesn’t always allow for that. It’s too soon to blurt out my financial situation, nor do I expect him to cover all our meals, but if we’re really going to date, maybe I should start working it into our conversation.
Before I can, Matt steers the conversation in a slightly different direction. “How long have you been a massage therapist for?”
“Around four years now.”
“Did you start your courses directly out of high school?”
I grin. “Is this your roundabout way of asking how old I am?”
“Partially,” he admits.
“I’m twenty-five. I got my associates degree and then decided I wanted to give massage therapy a try. Which meant more classes and certifications. And here I am.”
His grin widens, his hand snaking across the table to capture mine. “Yes, here you are.”
It’s becoming apparent that Matt is naturally a cheesy romantic.
Warm, bubbly feelings overtake me, and I grip his hand back. I like this.
And I definitely like him.
CHAPTER SIX
TRICIA
I could pretend that I don’t already know his age, but I don’t see the need to bother.
Licking my lips, I do have to ask, “Is our age difference going to be an issue?”
“That depends on you,” Matt says carefully. “You might not want to be dating such an older man. There’s going to be a marked discrepancy between your friends’ boyfriends and me. I’m not a young man anymore. I don’t party all week and live on beer and pizza. I keep my vitamins and medications in a pill organizer, and I get creaky far faster than I did even five years ago.”
Matt’s eyes never leave mine, and I appreciate how transparent he’s being. I’ve never dated a man over thirty before. But honestly, after those kisses, there’s no way I’m not going to see where a relationship with him goes.
“I also use a pill organizer, so definitely not a deal breaker,” I tease, loving the laugh lines fanning out from his twinkling brown eyes. “As to the partying, there’s a time and a place for that, and I don’t expect you to be a party animal. I’m not. I love a good time as much as the next girl, and I’ve been known to go over my limit when it comes to tequila shooters, but that’s not an every weekend thing for me. It never was.”
“Tequila shooters, huh?”
“My weakness. Remember the trip I mentioned?” At his nod, I continue, “That was a girls’ getaway and yeah, I went overboard.” Laughing, I shake my head. “You wouldn’t believe some things we got into…” I trail off as the thought that was itching at the back of my brain returns.
Clarissa’s love spell!
Blinking rapidly, I take stock of the man in front of me.
Kind, funny, and romantic? Check!
Tall and handsome? Umm… hello, he’s gorgeous!
Great in bed? I certainly hope to find that out.