Falling

18 | Dinner Date (part one) (Dante's POV)

 I liked the way she looked in my front seat. Finally getting the opportunity to drive with her in the passenger is a weird rush of pride. I like being in control of the situation completely and I didn't miss how she thought I didn't even know how to drive.

Vixen.

I liked the way she looked in my car. Her body language gave away a lot about her and I couldn't help but notice it. After the encounter earlier I was on edge, but now all I see is her. When we stop at a red light I glance to my right, seeing her press her legs together like she's bothered.
I like it. I could get used to the view of it all, but I shut down those thoughts very quickly.

It's comforting to know I am not alone in this madness. That I'm not alone in feeling the attraction between us. It's a cruel thing to envision alone and I'm taking her with me. I ask her where she wants to eat when the light turns green but she doesn't respond.

"Amelia," I ask again.

This time I glance over at her and notice that she's staring at my hand on the gear. I smirk. Women and their fantasies of men's hands. I'm not sure why that is but if she'll keep looking at me like that then I'll flex my hand like a hand model any day.

I pick Italian since she doesn't have a preference and it's my favorite cuisine. I go to the restaurant I'm on good terms with and one I know she'll like. I don't know why I want to please her but I do. I'm a fucking control freak.

I also don't know how I'm expected to sit across from her all night, looking deliciously fuckable while I'm remaining completely composure.

I take the opportunity once we pull outside the bustling restaurant to help her from the car. She looks up at me in surprise when she sees me there and I smirk. Slowly but eventually she places her much smaller hand on my own and I'm helping her up. I drop my hand to her lower back, rubbing my finger along her spine slowly.

She freezes momentarily before regaining her composure.

I'm going to make her crack.

"Mr. Brown! To what do we owe the honor?" I recognize the burly man as the head director of the place and ask him for a table. He rushes us both along the length of the restaurant down in the secluded back, just where I like it. When he leaves us alone I turn to Amelia, pulling out her chair like the proper gentleman she knows I'm not.

"After you, Miss Rhodes."

She smiles in return with a shake of her head, causing her brown wavy hair to bounce over her shoulders. I follow the movement like a fly to a nearby light source before stepping around her. She gasps in surprise when I move her chair in, lifting her closer. The gasp sends heat down my spine and inappropriate thoughts infiltrate my head.

Which they often do in her presence.

"Does it ever get old? All the attention?" She asks, picking up the menu at the same time.

I think about her words as I fold my dress shirt up and push back my sleeves. I fold the white napkin to prepare for the meal and follow her lead by reading the menu even though I already know what I'm going to get.

"Not really, it's been a part of my life for a long time now. The only thing that gets old is the negative connotation that surrounds me." I answer truthfully, hoping she drops it there and doesn't pray. I'm enjoying the night, I don't want my patience to wear thin. For her, I want to try.

"Are your parents in business?" And there's the pry.

Anything to do with my parents I've done enough digging to keep it all away right now. I don't want to think about them, or my mother especially. I don't particularly like our relationship and don't want to spill it across the table with someone who already hates me.