Hope

Chapter 2 | Dine in or Dine out

Hope POV

THE kiss was short and sweet, but it was enough to leave me breathless. Luc's thumb caressed my lower lip. I found it so sensual that I tried to push his hand away, only to find my hand slightly intertwined with his.

"Should we go inside?" He whispered in my ear. It sent unfamiliar sensations to my entire being. I tried to clear my throat and composed myself. I pulled my hand away, but he won't let it go.

I frowned. "Fine. You can come inside. Give me the house key first." I said to him with a humourless smile.

"Only if you promise to go on a dinner date with me." Oh, here we go!

He kissed me earlier, and now he is asking for a dinner date! He is a little too aggressive for a man who lived in a small town, and forward and yet, he didn't even hug me earlier—what a shame.

I massaged my temple for a bit. "Whatever! I'll have dinner with you only because you're paying, and I am not the type to turn down a hot, free meal." I don't have a choice. I am tired from the drive, and honestly -- I am not useful in the kitchen unless all I have to do is eat.

"Okay." He said with a smug smile. He seemed happy that we are going out for dinner. I am beginning to think he likes me. You know -- genuinely likes me.

I stared at him for a good few seconds, then decided just to go upstairs and freshen up. I feel like my whole being is covered with dirt. Not only that, my face feels oily and -- just yuck. "I am just going to take a quick shower and change, and then we will go. Do you need to wash up or —"He cut me off. I was going to ask if he needed to go home and freshen up too, but I guess his imagination runs wild. I mentally cursed at him.

"Only if I am joining you." He said to me in a teasing tone.

I blushed. "In your dreams, Lopez."

I turned around and left Luc in the living room. He chuckled softly. II grabbed my bag and went upstairs to take a shower. I picked a floral sleeveless, above the knee dress and sandals to match Lucas' current outfit. I also put on light make up. I wouldn't say I like to look pale. I tied my hair in a loose bun and let a few strands naturally fall on the side of my face. When I got down, Lucas was eyeing me with fire in his eyes.

***

Lucas POV

"BEAUTIFUL!" Hope is stunning. And her pictures did not do her justice -- she looks more like her mother than her father.

"Are you okay?" She was smiling as she walked towards me. "You looked like you've seen a ghost. And close your mouth for Pete's sake." She even used her forefinger to push my chin up. "You don't want a fly going in there." She chuckled.

As if woken up from a trance, I gave her my best smile, brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. She blushed. I knew earlier she hasn't been kissed. I am her first kiss. How lucky can I be? We walked towards the door, and she locked it behind her.

"Are we taking my car or yours?" She asked.

"Mine." I haven't taken out women using their car before, and I will not start now. I opened the door for her, and she got in, and when I was about to assist her with the seatbelt, she told me she could manage it on her own, so I let her be. We were silent the whole time we were driving to the restaurant. Hope was busy with her phone, and from time to time, I see her smile. She is probably talking to her friends. I know from the report that she doesn't have a boyfriend yet. But not having a boyfriend doesn't mean you haven't kissed anyone, so I am thrilled that I am her first. In this modern world, we all know you can anyone you fancy, and there's no need to have a label or a commitment, for that matter. The times have changed.

I stopped the car in the parking lot and told her we have arrived.

"We are here. I hope you are hungry." I said to her.

"Starving is the right word." She is so unlike other women I took out on dates before. She proved the word starving when she ordered. She wanted escargots to start with but told me she doesn't share. You know why, escargots? She ordered two servings — and won't even share.

"Can you finish all that? You know most women order salad." She amuses me.

"I am not like most women, and yes, I can finish this." She said while eating it. She is hungry but still eats with poise.

"You know there's still the main course, right?" I reminded her.

"Tsk. Are you already sorry that you asked me out on a date because I eat a lot?"

"No, of course, n—"then she cut me off.

"Then stop looking at me like you've never seen a woman eat before." She rolled her eyes at me.

"Okay, I'm sorry. It's just that it's nice to see a woman eat for a change."

"How many women have you dated anyway that you sound so expert with what they eat?"

"A lot. I lost count. But they have one thing in common, they all eat salad. When the staff served the main course, they only eat the peas and carrots and maybe -- a teeny weeny slice of beef."

I wouldn't say I like talking about other women during a date, but she asked. And she doesn't seem to be upset. I am having a great time conversing with her.

She made a face. "Aren't they hungry? What planet are they from? My friends and I eat like this. It's not good to starve yourself. Food is life." She said. She finished the first set of escargot and halfway on the other one. She eats fast.

"How come you don't gain weight?" Hope eats a lot, but she's petite. I think she's a size four, and she's approximately five feet five inches. Her long hair is tied in a loose bun, perfectly shaped eyebrows, round eyes, pointed nose and full red lips.

"Duh, have you heard the word exercise? I eat a lot, but I make sure I burn it."

"What kind of exercise?"

She took a sip of her Moscato Rosé before answering me. "I run. When I am at Creedan, I run every day with Nikki. Gosh! That girl is fast, though, and I can't keep up. My friends are coming tomorrow. If you are not busy, maybe you can meet them." She smiled at me.

When she finished eating her two appetizers, she also consumed two more glasses of wine. By the time we finished our dinner — rib eye steak, mashed potatoes with green beans and a creme brûlée for dessert, which she all ate, she was slightly drunk. I drove her home and noticed the house was dark. When we left it earlier, it had lights on.

"What the hell happened now?" She noticed it too, huh?