Season 1, Episode 8: A Little Dessert
1266 Words
SATURDAY
After their entrees arrived, Natalie began to relax a little more around Finn. They engaged in comfortable conversation, and she was surprised how much she was beginning to enjoy his company. He was a charming and interesting man, well-traveled and educated, and he entertained her with interesting stories from his personal and professional life. It was like a glimpse into the lifestyle of a billionaire bachelor, and she couldn’t help but find herself wishing to be a part of it somehow.
“Another round of wine for the table,” Finn said to the waiter.
“I’m still trying to finish my third glass!” Natalie giggled, taking another swig of her Sauvignon Blanc.
“Do they have you working on Sundays now, too?” he asked, his eyes widening in surprise. “I must speak to Mr. Chou about how he’s working my staff like dogs!”
“No, I’m off tomorrow,” Natalie grinned. “It’s my only day off before the Grand Opening.”
“Great,” Finn replied. “Then you’ve earned that fourth glass of wine!”
“You’re a terrible influence,” she said, shaking her head as she took another sip.
“Excuse me?” he asked, pretending to be offended. “I’m the terrible influence? I seem to remember that you were the one to approach me at the club and ask me to leave with you. I was just minding my own business before you came along.”
“Whatever,” she laughed, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Like you weren’t staring at me or anything.”
“So, you don’t want me to call you tomorrow and bother you on your day off?” he asked with a glint of mischief in his deep, brown eyes. “What if I need dinner recommendations again?”
“I’m always available for my clients, Mr. Belvedere,” she answered. “However, I would really appreciate it if you let me sleep in on my day off. Especially since I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Finn didn’t respond, but rather he studied her with an amused expression over the rim of his wine glass.
The waiter appeared at their side, offering a dessert menu to the both of them. Before Natalie could protest, Finn was already ordering.
“We’ll share the mille-feuille and the chocolate tart,” he said, handing the menu back to the waiter without even glancing at it.
“But I can’t eat another bite!”
“Honestly, I don’t indulge in sweets, but I’m trying to find ways to keep this night from ending too soon.”
“I thought that we were just friends?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
Sure, she had been engaging in some harmless flirting with him all evening. And if she was being honest, she didn’t want the night to end either, but she needed to make sure that the line she’d drawn still stood.
“Am I not allowed to want to spend more time with my friends?”
“Fine,” she sighed, taking another sip of her wine.
When their dessert arrived, Finn sat back and watched Natalie try the two desserts. Flaky sheets of crisp, airy dough sat between layers of smooth, vanilla custard on the mille-feuille, but Natalie was more drawn to the rich and sinfully delicious chocolate tart.
She glanced up at Finn, who was watching her eat with a bemused expression on his face.
“You act like you’re never going to eat again!” he chuckled.
“Honestly, I haven’t been to a grocery store since I got here,” she laughed, setting down her fork. “I’m usually too busy, so I just eat at the hotel or on the run. I practically lived at The Vesper in Vegas, and now I just live at The Vesper Macau.”
“I’m glad to hear we’re keeping you well-fed,” he grinned.
“Please, you have to try a bite of this chocolate tart!” she exclaimed, pushing the dish across the table.
“No, please, I wouldn’t want to take food away from a starving woman!”
“Come on,” she insisted, stabbing her fork into the dessert and holding out a bite for him. “It’s kind of creepy that you’re watching me stuff my face. Besides, it’s your hotel that’s paying for this meal, so eat up.”
Reluctantly, he leaned forward, opening his mouth to let her slide the fork inside. As his lips closed around the fork, his gaze locked onto Natalie’s, and the racing of her heart began to flutter once again. She couldn’t tear her eyes away as he sat back, swallowing the dessert and wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
“You know,” he said, his voice lowering an octave, “they say that chocolate is an aphrodisiac.”
Natalie gulped as nervousness gripped her body, and as their eyes continued to stare at one another, she thought she might be crushed under such an intense gaze.
“I have heard that, yes,” she nodded slowly.
“I’m going to be in town for two weeks,” he said suddenly, leaning forward once again to place his elbows on the table. He folded his hands beneath his chin, resting his head there as he gazed at Natalie. “I’m here to ensure a smooth opening before heading on to my next project in Palm Springs. However, I would really enjoy the pleasure of your company while I’m here.”
“And when you say, ‘the pleasure of my company,’ you mean…?”
“I mean, I want you in my bed again,” he said as lust flashed across his expression. “We can keep things casual until I leave. Think of it as friends with benefits, since you’re so insistent on being friends.”
“Finn,” she sighed, lowering her gaze toward her lap. “We can’t.”
“Why not?” he asked, and she could feel his intense gaze penetrating her skull. “Last night was absolutely incredible, Natalie. I know you felt the same way. I don’t want that to be a one-night stand.”
“You don’t understand,” she said, her voice quiet. “No one at work can find out I’m sleeping with the owner of the company.”
“No one will find out,” he said seriously. “You have my word on that. I’m very discreet.”
“I’m sure you are,” she huffed in annoyance.
“I’ll tell you what, Natalie,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Let’s grab a hotel room and see where the night takes us. What do you say?”
She glanced back up to meet his gaze, and she saw nothing but sincerity and a boyish excitement in his expression. It would be a lie if she said she didn’t feel attracted to him. Even though he promised no one would find out, what if they slipped up somehow? Could she risk losing her job in a foreign country over the promise of great s*x?
Although…they only needed to keep it a secret for two weeks, and then he’d be gone. What could go wrong in such a short amount of time?
Natalie raised her arm to catch the waiter’s attention, pulling out her hotel credit card.
“Dinner’s on me,” she winked, sliding the card to the corner of the table. “Let’s get that hotel room.”
- Writer
