Now I was going on a date with a man who was the complete opposite of a hippy. What could I possibly have in common with a hot businessman? I wasn’t even involved in the business end of the yoga studio. What was I going to talk about, different yoga poses, and why he should consider holistic medicine? Guys like him were all about their careers.
As I checked my phone one last time, I heard three knocks at the door, which brought me out of my funk.
“Well, there’s no turning back now.”
After giving myself a glance in the mirror, I walked over and opened the door. When Gavin saw me, the expression on his face was priceless, and it even melted my heart a little bit. It was as though he had never seen a woman in a dress before.
I grabbed my purse as he continued to gawk at me. “I’d recognize that stare from anywhere. You better not hit any cars, Gavin.”
“Speaking of cars, we have some discussing to do.”
“Gavin, it’s just —“
He pressed an index finger to my lips as we walked to his car, which was parked directly behind my new one.
“So, you don’t like Lamborghinis?”
I bent down to look at the logo near the hood. “Ah, so that’s what it says. Look, I cannot thank you enough for this…well, very expensive car, but I…I can’t accept it, Gavin. Think about it. I don’t even have a garage to put it in. It will get damaged sitting out here in the parking lot that doesn’t even have a cover from the sun.”
Gavin opened my door, and I slid inside. “I promised you a new car, and I’m a man of my word. Let’s take it for a spin.”
“No, it’s not fair to you, Gavin. Besides, you were right about it just being a little scratch. It’s hardly noticeable. So please call the dealership and have them come pick it up before something happens to it. And besides, I’ll never learn to drive a car like—”
He put my hand to his mouth and kissed it, causing me to look in his direction. “I refuse to take it back. Therefore it’s yours.”
“This is an Italian sports car, Gavin. At least I’m assuming that’s what a Lamborghini is. Let’s just forget the whole thing ever happened, alright? We can still be friends if that’s okay with you.”
Gavin shook his head no at me. “You were kind enough not to call the police, and that would have made me late to the meeting.” He cranked the engine and it growled to life. “So you see. I owe you.” Then Gavin glanced over at me and winked, chuckling. “Just think that if you hadn’t accepted my offer, maybe I would have been fired from the company, and we would have gotten off to a rocky start.”
“Oh please, like the Truman’s would ever fire you. I saw the way they were talking with you at the party. You’re practically a family member. Besides, where are we going?” My voice was drowned out when he rolled down the windows, and the Lamborghini roared down Main Street.
Moments later, we arrived at an Italian restaurant on the other side of town, where I knew Jake had taken Julianna on several occasions. Annie said that when they began dating, it was at that restaurant that Jake had started to develop strong feelings for Julianna. So, I decided to drop the ‘car thing’ for now and enjoy the evening.
All I could think about as we walked inside was how the decor created such a romantic mood. This was definitely the kind of restaurant you take someone you’re dating.
It wasn’t the place you brought your one-night stand after a romp in the sack.
We sat at a table in the back where violin music was playing, and other couples were dining. After placing our order, I decided to go against my better judgment and be the one to initiate the conversation.
Besides, I had always been a better listener.
And you sincerely want to learn more about Gavin. Stop trying to fool yourself.
“So Gavin, I get the feeling that you’re not from River Valley or even California.”
“Well, you are intuitive as well as beautiful. I’m originally from Massachusetts. I grew up there with my family until I was fifteen, graduated high school early, and then went off to college.”
As I browsed over the menu, it occurred to me that his upbringing could be the reason he was sometimes awkward. I couldn’t imagine going away to school at such a young age.
Still, that was quite an accomplishment. “You graduated at fifteen years old? That’s amazing. Congratulations! No wonder you work for the Truman’s.”
“Thank you. It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve worked endless hours without a day off just to get ahead, especially at first. As far as high school goes, sometimes I regret not having a normal high school experience. You know, proms, blind dates, teenage parties, that special first kiss, and all that stuff. So, if I seem a bit nervous or awkward at times, please forgive me. I’m just a normal guy that was rushed to grow up and do something with my God given brain.”
I appreciated his honesty. “Point well taken. So, how did you get through high school so quickly? I mean, obviously, it was due to your intelligence. But lots of people are smart and don’t graduate so young.”
“It was a combination of having the counselors at school, realizing I was gifted and them encouraging my parents to put me in special programs so I could excel. At first, my father was afraid. You know, afraid I was turning into a nerd and would be bullied. So he tried to get me into sports, but my mind always gravitated towards numbers. I’ve never been someone who needed that rush of adrenaline.”
“Neither have I. I think it’s how some people are wired. They get addicted to that rush, and they keep seeking to find it again. I call them risk takers. Although, I do have some memories of getting into trouble as a kid that gave me an adrenaline rush.”
