“Like what?” he said in a lazy drawl.
Oh, God…where to go with that one? Because the truth was that she’d stayed awake thinking of him. “I’m out of work,” she blurted.
All at once, his voice shifted back to its normal bass and he dropped his hand. “What happened?”
Way to ruin a moment, Lizzie.
She cleared her throat. “Well, the health clinic in Roxbury where I work is losing state funding so they have to reduce staff. We’re just a small community center and we don’t—they… don’t have enough resources to afford my position anymore.”
His brows came together. “This because of the new budget?”
“Yes. Tax dollars are tight and I can understand that. But the state has to support facilities like ours. I mean…theirs.” She exhaled in a rush. “It’s a social imperative.”
As they moved forward again, she realized there was one more couple and then they’d be in the door and at a table.
She looked through the restaurant’s window at the people who were eating inside and murmured, “I’m going to miss working at the clinic so much. The patients are wonderful and I’ve really gotten to know the community. But I’m going to volunteer there or at least try to.”
“How long do you have until you’re out?”
“Next Friday. But I’m sure I’ll find more work. Nurses are always needed in Boston. Besides, I still have my moonlighting. I’ll be fine.” When there was a silence, she glanced over at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“As if you’re measuring me.”
Sean’s lids dropped and a slow, very masculine smile appeared on his face. “Well, you’re kind of measurable, Lizzie Bond.”
Whoa.
Flustered, she said, “It’s hot out here.”
“Yeah, it is.”
And didn’t that drawl of his just make it hotter?
Abruptly, he laughed. “You are a blusher.”
“Not usually.”
“Well, then I appreciate your making the effort on my behalf. It suits you.”
Oh…hell. She had to smile at him. Just couldn’t resist looking up into those deep-set hazel eyes and grinning like a fool.
The door to Bastianelli’s opened and a little man with a mustache and a big belly motioned them in with a broad smile. As they stepped into the restaurant, Sean put his hand on the small of her back and she found herself inching closer to his body.
And not because the place was crowded.
As they made their way to the table, Sean leaned down to her ear, the spicy scent of his cologne enveloping her like a caress. “You’ve surprised me.”
“I have?” God, even though they were in a public place, she suddenly felt as though they were all alone. And she liked it.
His chest brushed up against her shoulder blades. “I didn’t know I liked women who blushed. Also didn’t know I liked Ivory soap so much.”
“How did you know I used…”
Her words dried up as his fingertip ran down the nape of her neck. “I can smell it on you.”
Okay, so now hot didn’t cover it. She was inside of a volcano.
The maître d’ stopped by a little table in the corner that had a red candle burning and two place settings on it. “For you! Mange bene!”
As she and Sean sat down, she fumbled with her napkin, aware that she was blushing a little. And that he was looking.
“So how do you feel about red?” he asked, flipping open the wine list.
“Perfect.” She was getting to know the color ever so much better with him around.
“Do you want to pick?”
“No, thanks.” She took a look at her menu and didn’t see a thing. Surely she wasn’t reading into things with him. He’d caressed her neck, for heaven’s sake. “I’ll trust your choice.”
“Lizzie?” When she glanced up, he smiled and said softly, “Just wanted to see the blush. That’s all.”
As her cheeks flamed even further, the waiter came over with some fantastic fresh bread and a plate of olive oil. After the specials were recited, Sean ordered a bottle of wine and they made their selections.
When they were alone, he offered the basket of bread to her. “You know…really, this candlelight suits you.”
It was right then that Lizzie knew for sure…she was on a date.
***
Chapter Five
An hour and a half later, Sean smiled to himself as he put his espresso back down on its little saucer. He couldn’t remember when he’d had a more enjoyable dinner with a woman. He and Lizzie had talked about books and movies and food and music.
And they didn’t agree on anything. Which was the fun part.
“I can’t believe you don’t like any of the Impressionists,” Lizzie said, shaking her head over her cannoli.
“Oh, please.” He smiled more widely. “Rorschach tests and finger painting do more for me.”
“So what kind of art do you like?”
He forked up a little more of his crème caramel. “Medieval. Definitely medieval.”
“Really?”
He laughed. “Why so surprised?”
“It’s not what I expected.”
“And what exactly would you expect? Edward Hopper? No, wait, LeRoy Neiman?”
She sipped some of her cappuccino. “Well, I, ah…I’m just surprised you care about art at all. Or know so much about it.” She rushed to qualify. “Not that I think you’re uncultured or anything. It’s just…”
He leaned back in his chair, feeling a little awkward for the first time. “Just that considering where I come from, men aren’t usually into that stuff?”
She winced. “That sounds bad doesn’t it? I don’t mean to offend you or generalize.”
“Nah, it’s okay. Beautiful things should be valued, so I like art. No big deal.”
The awkward feeling persisted. Thing was, he liked that she thought he was just another Joe from Southie, that she seemed to have no clue who he was. He’d been Sean O’Banyon, Big Shot Wall Street Money Man, for so long, it felt liberating to leave that identity behind.
And just be himself.
Except he was leaving a hell of a lot out and that didn’t sit well.
She took another bite of the cannoli and wiped her mouth. “You know a lot more about literature than I would have thought, too.”
“Always been a big reader.”
She smiled and he loved the curve of her cheeks in the candlelight. “So tell me, what do you do? I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
The waiter showed up at Sean’s elbow. “Another espresso? More cappuccino?”
“Not for me, thanks. Lizzie? No? Okay, the check would be great.”
The waiter left and Sean folded his napkin and put it on the table. God, how to answer her. This had been the best date he’d been on in…forever. All it had been was two people getting to know each other and he didn’t want to ruin it.
Especially because he didn’t know for a fact that she hadn’t been using his father for money.
Except, damn it, Lizzie just did not seem like that kind of woman.
Sean cursed in his head. Yeah, well, neither had the one who had taken him for such a ride way back when.
“My work?” He shrugged…and recalled the conversation he’d had with his team before he and Lizzie had gone out. Nothing but interest-rate analysis and speculation on whether the Fed was going to raise the rates in the next quarter. Dry. Very dry. “You know what, it’s not that interesting, I’m afraid.”
“Are you in construction?”
His brows shot up. “What makes you think that?”