He touches my lip and gently pulls it away from my tooth. “I love when you do that. When you try not to smile, you do that. You bite down on the side of your lip. But when you're upset or thinking hard, you bite your front teeth down across the middle. And when something makes you happy and you try to hide it, you lick your bottom lip. It’s very sexy.”
“I think you've been looking at my mouth an awful lot.”
He runs the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip.
It feels so sensual that I close my eyes, wrap my lips around it, and give his thumb a little kiss.
I slowly open my eyes. Vincent’s expression is indecipherable. He looks both amused and a little offended.
I back away quickly and nervously take a big gulp of water.
“I shouldn’t have touched your lip like that,” he finally says. “I gave you the wrong impression, but you’re right. I have been spending a lot of time looking at your mouth. At your face. I feel like a little kid right before Christmas.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because in you, I can see my dream again.”
We watched the sun sink below the horizon, ate dinner, had dessert, and talked more about the movie. He does have some really cool ideas, and it’s easy to get excited just because he’s so seriously passionate about it. I didn’t drink any more wine with dinner. I realized when we got up earlier that I was a bit tipsy.
He looks at his watch. “Do you need to be home soon? It’s getting late.”
“No, not really. I’m good.”
“Let’s go for a walk on the beach, then.”
My phone buzzes as I pick up my purse. “It’s my mom. I should probably answer.”
As we walk out of the restaurant, I say into the phone, “Hey, Mom.”
“Where are you?”
“Just finishing up with dinner. Why? What’s up?”
“Are you having dinner with a much older, smoking hot man?”
“Um, no. Tommy had a business meeting tonight. Didn’t he tell you?”
Mom starts laughing. “That’s not what I meant. Millie’s friend, Barbara, called her and wanted to know who the hot man that you’re having dinner with is and why she’s never seen him before. She also said she prays he’s your uncle, and you can set them up. Millie said she sounded a little drunk, though.”
“Can we talk about that when I get home?”
“So you are at dinner with a hot older man?”
“He’s not that old, and yes. Bye, Mom.”
“Gossip flying already?” Vincent asks.
“You have an admirer.”
My car is parked up front, so the valet hands me the keys. Vincent follows me to my car. He keeps taking steps closer to me and, pretty soon, I’m leaning with my back up against the side of it. His entire body is about six inches away from mine.
“Is it you?” he asks.
I laugh. “The lady from the bar. You did say you like older women. Want me to set you up?”
“Probably not.”
“So, when will you have the script done?”
“I’m shooting for August.”
“I can't wait to read it. So, I think I better skip the walk on the beach and get home.”
He cups his hands on my shoulders and slides them slowly down my arms. “I had a nice time tonight. You have my mind going a million places.”
“Where is it going?” I ask.
“Just all the things we talked about, brainstormed. I need to get home and write them all down. This isn't a slam to your mom's talent, okay? She’s one of the best actresses around.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll admit we’ve been struggling a bit with the script. I think because I was still picturing her in the movie. And even though we knew we wanted a kick-ass heroine, I was having a hard time imagining your mom doing any of those things. You're right. She did just stand around and scream. Now that I’m envisioning someone else in the role, I can see it more clearly.”
“That’s good, right?”
“You want this as bad as I do, don’t you?”
I smile. “Yeah, I think I do, so you better get finished.”
He leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. It’s the kind of kiss your dad might give you, except he holds his lips there way longer than a dad would. It’s sweet, sexy, and sort of confusing.
He pulls back, studies my face, and shakes his head. “Hmmmm. Well, we can’t have that.”
“Can’t have what?”
“I’ve gotten good at reading your face.” He softly touches my other cheek. “This side is jealous.”
He chuckles at himself then gives my other cheek a matching slow kiss.
“Um, so, thanks for dinner, Vincent.” I get inside my car quickly. Mostly because I almost asked him if my lips looked jealous too. I can’t help it. Part of me wonders what it would be like to kiss a man.
“We’re doing this again soon,” he says as he shuts my car door.
Mom meets me in the entryway. “Were you actually on a date? With a man?”
“No.” I roll my eyes.
“So who were you with?”
“His name is Vincent Sharpe.”
Mom squints her eyes. "I know that name."
“You should. He’s been in on the financing for a couple of your movies. He's also Viviane Sharpe’s grandson. You heard she passed away, didn’t you?”