Chapter 91

The driver slid into the car, and within minutes, we were driving through the city streets, headed toward downtown Nashville. I looked out the window, watching the lights pass by.
"Were you busy at work after I left?" Curt asked, breaking the silence and capturing my attention.
I nodded. "I had a few more clients, but it wasn't bad." I thought for a moment, and then asked. "Why did you come to Nashville?"
He squeezed my hand. "I would say that it was on business, but honestly, it was to see you."
I smiled. "My, you are direct, aren't you?"
He shrugged, smiling. "I guess that's what makes me good in business."
I chuckled. "I guess so among other things."
He laughed. "Now, how do you know that?"
I laughed. "Oh, no! I just put my foot in my mouth again. I meant with the ladies."
He raised an eyebrow.
I shook my head as I smiled. "Oh, never mind. You know what I mean, or at least I hope you do."
He laughed, enjoying my discomfort a bit too much.
A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of the restaurant.
"Prima?" I asked. "How did you ever get reservations?"
He shrugged. "I have connections."
"My, my! You are one to impress, aren't you?"
He laughed. "I guess that's another thing that makes me good in business."
I nodded. Maybe I had misread his signals. Maybe this was all business with him. I pushed the thought aside, forcing myself not to think of it. This was the first date that I'd been on in a long time and I was going to enjoy it.
The driver opened my door, but Curt was there, holding his hand out for me. I took it and slid out of the limo. Then, he tucked my hand in his arm and led me toward the door. "You look exquisite, my dear," he whispered into my hair, causing my heart to flutter as we approached the door. He walked up to the ma?tre d. "Reservations for Curt Davis."
"Good evening, Mr. Davis," the ma?tre d replied. "Right this way." Then, he escorted us through the restaurant past tables with white linen tablecloths and white flowers setting in beautiful bouquets in the center. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, sending sparkles throughout the room. We walked to a secluded table, away from the other guests. "Will this suffice?"
Curt raised an eyebrow, asking me.
"It's perfect," I replied, and slid into the black leather chair that Curt held for me. Then, he took a seat on the other side.
"Champagne, sir?" the ma?tre d asked.
"Dom Perignon?" he asked me over his menu.
I nodded, and the ma?tre d replied, "Very good, sir. I shall have that to you shortly."
Curt looked at me over his menu. "Have you ever been here before?"
I nodded. "Yes, but I don't come here often, although it's one of my favorite restaurants."
He smiled, pleased with himself.
I looked over the menu when the ma?tre d came back with two glasses and a bottle of Dom Perignon in an ice bucket on a stand that he set near Curt. He poured the sparkling liquid into the glasses and the bubbles rose to the top. He bowed, and then asked, "What would you like tonight?"
Curt's eyebrows pulled together as he studied the menu. "We'll start off with the Hudson Valley Foe Gras, and then we'll have two of your butter roasted barracuda."
"Actually," I interrupted, "I'd like the filet mignon instead."
Curt grinned and nodded, and then handed his menu to the ma?tre d.
"How would you like that cooked, miss?" the ma?tre d asked.
"Medium," I replied as I handed my menu to him. "Thank you."
The ma?tre d smiled. "My pleasure, my lady." Then, he turned to Curt. "I will have this to your table shortly."
Curt nodded once and the man hurried off. "I'm sorry," Curt said. "I guess I should have asked you what you wanted first."
I cocked my head. "No worries," I said, taking a sip of my champagne. I'd never let a man make decisions for me before and I wasn't about to start now, even with such a small thing as ordering my food.
"You aren't used to being taken care of, are you?" Curt asked.
"Well, you are direct," I replied as I swirled the liquid in my glass, watching the bubbles rise to the top.
He placed a hand on top of mine, claiming my attention.
I set down the glass and looked in to his eyes. "Not in a very long time."
He nodded. "What happened?"
I let out a deep breath. I had no intention of telling him about Logan, but, somehow, I knew I could trust him. "Ten years ago, I was engaged."
He nodded, listening intently. "To the man you lost."
I nodded.
"Oh. I'm so sorry," he said as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "Is that why you were upset the night we met?"
I pulled my hand back and then looked at the champagne glass. "No. You'll think I'm crazy if I tell you."
He reached across the table and took my hand into his, forcing me to look in to his eyes. "I'd never think that."
I let out a deep breath.
"Who knows?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "It might help to talk about it."
I nodded. "I thought I saw him that night."
He nodded. "I see."
"Now, you think I'm crazy."
He laughed. "No crazier than anyone else in the world." His eyebrows pulled together, putting on his business face. "Well, do you think that it's possible that it was him?"
I shook my head. "No. It couldn't have been. If it was, then why would he lead me to believe that he was dead over all these years? It just doesn't make sense."
He shrugged. "Maybe he had his reasons." Then, he looked into my eyes. "Maybe he was protecting you."
I shook my head. "Well, let's not talk about it tonight."
"Just one more thing."
I bit my lower lip, waiting for his question. "Okay."
He took my hand. "Have you dated since he passed away?" he asked, his voice merely a whisper.
I froze for a moment, and then shook my head. "No. You're the first man that I've gone on a date with in years. Business lunches don't count."
He laughed. "They never do." Then, he raised his glass and held it out to me. "Here's to you. May you find happiness in your life, today and always."
I smiled as I held my glass up to his and they clanked together, making a loud sound. I took a sip and then set it back down. "What about you?"
He smiled. "What about me?"
I bit my lower lip, hating myself for asking, but I had to know. "Are you married?"
He almost choked on his wine. Then, he set down his glass and dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. "If I was, I wouldn't be here right now."
One corner of my lips curled into a smile. "But I thought this was just business."
He looked across the table at me, directly into my eyes. "If my interest in you was strictly business, then I would have met with you over lunch. Also, I would have flown you to New York to meet with me."
I nodded, impressed.
He looked at his wine glass and then back at me, his face sober. "Is your interest in me strictly business?"
I folded my arms onto the table. "I'm not sure yet, but I don't think so."
A broad smile spread across his face. "Well, that's good enough for me." He picked up his glass and we clanked them together again. "To new beginnings," he said as he took a long sip of his champagne.
And as I sipped my champagne, I hoped that it wasn't a lie.