"Hey, next week, I have to be down in Florida for a meeting. You want to come with me? We can shut down the office and just have a couple of days to ourselves," I ask.
She smiles excitedly. "You love to take me places, don’t you?"
"I just like being with you," I respond honestly.
"Well, I can’t deprive you of that then."
"Okay, good. I’ll have my secretary buy your ticket tomorrow." I wink.
"Hilarious. If you expect me to do it, I’m buying myself first class," she answers before changing the topic to something random.
We spend the next hour lying in bed naked, talking about how quickly we can get Sarah moved into my apartment. She tries to convince me to wait the two months until her lease is up, but I refuse. I’m more than willing to buy it out. If I had my way, I’d hire movers first thing in the morning, but she refuses, stating that we need to work out the details a little better. I promptly decide to hold her hostage at my place until then.
One week later…
"EVERYTHING OKAY?" I ask as Leo drops his keys on the dresser of a lavish hotel in Florida.
"Yeah, why? What’s wrong?" He eyes me suspiciously.
"Nothing. I was just worried. I thought your meeting was over, like, an hour ago."
"It was, but I had to make some stops. No big deal. Just work shit." He removes his suit jacket and walks to the bed to kiss me. "You look gorgeous," he says, raking his eyes over my chest.
Upon Leo’s insistence, I went shopping today and bought a new dress for tonight. It didn’t take much convincing. Now that we are moving in together, the old purse strings have loosened up a bit. He tried to give me his credit card, but I enjoyed paying for the short, emerald-green cocktail dress myself, even if it is Leo’s hand writing my paycheck.
"Thanks. You look pretty nice too." I pull his baby-blue tie, dragging him down for another kiss.
"Cásate conmigo," he whispers as he releases my mouth.
"Will you teach me some Spanish?" I ask. "I hate not understanding you when you say stuff like that. And I know you lie to me when I ask."
He laughs and nods. "Of course. Although I’m not sure what’s Spanish for ‘y’all,’" he teases before stepping away. "We’re going to be late. I made early reservations so we could go out and hit some of the nightlife later."
"Oh, that sounds great. Let’s go." I stand up in my four-inch heels, meeting Leo almost eye to eye. In these shoes, he’s only an inch or so taller than I am. He doesn’t back away, even when I try to take a step around him.
"New shoes too?" he asks, brushing the hair off my shoulder.
"I needed them," I explain. "Which reminds me. I need a raise too." I turn my head, and he trails wet kisses up my neck, sending chills over my body.
"Cásate conmigo," he repeats into my ear.
"What does that mean?" I grab his biceps to balance.
He leans away with a full-blown megawatt smile and answers, "I’ll tell you later. Let’s go eat." Grabbing my hand, he pulls me from the room.
"WOW. THIS place is gorgeous," I say as we walk into a stunning restaurant that overlooks the beach.
"See, aren’t you glad I talked you into getting a new dress?" He smiles, resting a hand on my lower back, guiding me toward the ma?tre d’. "Leo James. We have reservations," he tells the older gentleman, who leads us to a table right by the large bay windows.
"I feel like we’re eating on the beach," I tell Leo as he pulls out my chair.
"I think that’s the idea, ángel."
The menus are placed in front of us and I begin studying the entrées as Leo orders a bottle of wine.
Growing up in Savannah, I was exposed to every possible seafood you can imagine. I loved it all. Fresh shrimp and fish are some things I’ve missed while living in Chicago. As my eyes race over the menu, my stomach lets out an audible growl.
"You hungry?" he jokes.
"Well, I didn’t think I was, but the sight of this seafood section has changed my mind." I glance up to find his menu closed and resting on the table in front of him. His smoldering eyes are locked on me. "You already know what you’re getting?" I ask curiously, wondering how the hell he could have possibly decided that fast.
"How about you just order two meals and we can share? I think you are frothing at the mouth." He laughs.
"It all just looks really good." I go back to reading the menu and moan when my eyes find shrimp with truffled grits.
"I can tell." He laughs again, reaching out to hold my hand.
"Okay, it’s decided. You are getting the salmon and scallops because they are calling my name. And I’m getting the shrimp and grits because what kind of Southern girl would I be if I didn’t?" I look up to find him watching me intently once again.
"Whatever you want, ángel." He interlocks our fingers and rests them on the table.