42- Taking notes

“Did that bother you?”
“No, but it kept me from taking notes,” she said sorrowfully. “I tried to write
everything down after I left, but I couldn’t remember every ingredient the way I
could have if I’d done it on the spot. It took me months of experimenting to be
able to nail down some of the subtler spices.”
“So what you’re telling me isthat I am about to help you steal some chef’s
recipes,” Mr. Lee said.
“I’m not going to steal them,” she protested even though he looked more
amused than appalled by the notion. “I’ll enhance them.”
“An interesting distinction.” He glanced up at the waitress, then gestured
toward Hazel. “Talk to her. She knows what we’re both having.”
After she’d placed their order, Hazel regarded him with a grin. “I like a man
who’s not afraid to let a woman take charge.”
“And I like a woman with confidence,” he said. “It’s nice to see yours
coming back. It’s also good to see you thinking about the future. I’m glad we
came here.”
“So am I,” Hazel said, her gaze locked with his.
“Are we having our first official date, Hazel Petrillo?” he asked solemnly.
Her pulse fluttered at the suggestion. “I don’t know, are we?”
“It certainly seemsthat way to me.”
“Dating could be complicated,” she said with real regret. “Maybe we
shouldn’t even think about it until…well, until everything is settled.”
“You’re probably right,” he agreed. “But that’s not what I want.”
“Neither do I,” she admitted in a whisper.
In fact, right this second with her heartbeat skittering crazily, she wanted
very much to be on a first date with this man. She wanted to get to know what
made him tick, wanted to feel hislips on hers again, wanted to feel his skin heat
beneath her touch. It had been a very long time since she had wanted any of that,
even longer since she had needed it the way she did right this minute. In fact, the
way she was feeling was more appropriate to a fifth date, maybe even a tenth.
As if he sensed her turmoil, perhaps even shared it, he reached across the
table and clasped her hand in his. There was strength and warmth in his touch.
Asthe pad of histhumb grazed her palm, there was even more—a teasing hint of
smoldering sensuality. Hazel swallowed hard. Her gaze lifted, met his.
“Suddenly I’m not very hungry,” she said, watching closely for his reaction
to the unspoken implications of that.
“Neither am I,” he said without hesitation, his gaze unwavering. “Do you
want me to cancel the order?”
She shook her head, then chuckled at his obvious disappointment. It gave her
courage. “Get it to go.”
Ten minutes later they had three carry-out orders of salad and a warm loaf of
sourdough bread. Even though she felt almost giddy, Hazel managed to get to
the car without bursting into laughter at the waitress’s knowing expression.
“She knew,” she said, collapsing in the front seat with the stack of take-out
boxes. “She knew exactly what had happened, that we wanted each other more
than food.”
“She did not,” Mr. Lee insisted.
“Oh, yes, she did,” Hazel argued. “She actually gave me a thumbs-up
signalas we left.”
Mr. Lee seemed vaguely startled. “Oh, really? Now what do you suppose
shemeant by that?”
“I hope you’re teasing,” Hazel said.
He reached over and skimmed a finger along her cheek. “Why isthat?”
“Because otherwise I am about to make a huge fool of myself,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I am about to suggest that we take all this food to a hotel room,” she said.
When Mr. Lee remained silent, she swallowed hard. “Well, have I made a fool of
myself?”
“No,” he said, his voice suddenly husky. Though he’d been about to start the
car, he dropped his hand away from the key and faced her. “But I want you to
think about this. Is it really what you want? You don’t strike me as the kind of
woman to engage in casual flings.”
She laughed at that. “If only you knew.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that I have never engaged in flings of any kind, casual or
otherwise.”
His eyes widened. “You’re not…?”
“You can say the word,” she teased. “And, no, I’m not a virgin, though my
experience is almost as limited. It’s just that it’s been years since I’ve had the
time or the inclination to get involved with anyone. I try my best to forget about
the last time I did.”
“Why now?” he asked. “Why me? As you pointed out earlier, thisisn’t
exactly an uncomplicated situation.”
“No,” she agreed.
“Isthat part of the attraction? Because it’s a little dangerous?”
She considered the question, then shook her head. “No. If anything, that
would make me run the other way.”
He regarded her ruefully. “I notice you’re not exactly gushing with a
hundred reasons why you’ve chosen me to break your self-imposed celibacy.”
“Is that what you want? Do you want me to stroke your ego?”
“No, if there’s any stroking to be done, I can think of other partsI’d prefer to
have you touching.”
Heat gathered low in her belly as his words sank in. “Then what isthis
hesitation about?” she asked.
He took her hand in his, turned it over and kissed her palm. “As much as I
would like to take you to a hotel room and spend the rest of the afternoon letting
you seduce me, I’m not going to do it,” he said with obvious regret.
Embarrassment flooded through her. When she would have jerked her hand
away, he held it more tightly.
“One of these days you and I are going to end up in bed together,” he
assured her emphatically. “Make no mistake about that. But when we do, it will
be for the right reasons. It won’t be because you’re looking for a temporary
escape from your problems.”
“That’s a lousy thing to say,” she told him heatedly, but then the truth hit her.
That was exactly what she’d been looking for. She’d wanted a distraction,
something to make her feel alive, and a quick romp with an extraordinarily virile
man would have accomplished that.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. There was nothing condemning in his
expression. If anything, he looked asif he completely understood her actions.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Don’t be. Having a beautiful woman find me desirable, whatever the
reason, is never a bad thing. I’m just holding out until it’s perfect.”
“That day might never come,” she said.
“It will,” he replied with total confidence. “Sooner than you think.” He
gestured toward the boxesshe was clutching with a white-knuckled grip. “Let’s
go find some idyllic spot and have a picnic.”
“You’re not afraid to be alone with me?” she teased.
“No way,” he assured her.
“I could get carried away.”
He laughed at the suggestion. “Now, that issomething to look forward to.”