< Second Chance for the Mafia Prince
Lunch Date Part II
“I’ve upset you.”
The quiet comment from Ernst as she took a sip of the milkshake that Alice put in front of her made her shrug. “No. It’s never pleasant when someone points out something which makes me reflective of my behavior.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“You didn’t, Ernst. You have been nothing but honest with me from the get–go and I appreciate that. I’m not good with introspection. I’ve been in this state of a feeling of superiority for the last couple of weeks. This sense of I was right and he was wrong and now I can live my life by making him realize I don’t need him has been in me from the minute he showed up. He made a comment about the cameras in my house and agents of the FBI watching me in vulnerable moments in my home and I made a crude comment to him. I liked the way it made him hurt.”
“You want him to hurt the way you were hurt.”
“He lied to me, Ernst. He lied to me about us being married. He did a whole fucking civil ceremony, and it was a lie. I thought he was my husband, and it wrecked me to find out the truth.” She clenched the napkin in her fingers, “so yeah, I want him to hurt 1066
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quiet unassuming way but I never would have gone there because I was always terrified I was going to need to run at some point.”
“You think I’m attractive?”
“Yes.” She met his gaze directly. “I didn’t ask you out because you were the last resort, Ernst. You and I have some things in common. We have children the same age. We both tend to stick to ourselves and our family. We’re more homebodies than extraverted. I’ve never opened myself up to the possibility of a relationship because I was scared of being found. When I decided to live for me and not out of fear, you were the first person I thought of.”
He smiled, “I’m flattered.”
“Are you angry with me?” she asked.
“Not in the least. As I said, I’m happy to build a friendship with you and see how things go. We may build something very special.”
“Does it bother you that Gulliver is rumored to be a mafia type?”
“No. I faced them before. I can do it again.”
She adjusted, “for the record, he promised me that you and Dagwin are always safe, regardless of whether or not you and5144
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be it.”
Alice came back and set their plates on the table. “There you go. Two specials of the day.”
“Thanks Alice.” Ernst nodded at her. “So, what are you plans for
the rest of the afternoon?”
She looked up excitedly, “I’m going to look at the house on South that’s for sale. It’s been on the market for a year now.”
“The market has been pretty slow locally for a while so you might be able to get a good deal on it.” he nodded. “Is this part of the reason your mom is cranky?”
“No. I’m looking because she is cranky.” She frowned as she picked up a fry from her plate, “I’m convinced it’s guilt and menopause, but what do I know.”
“Is it the only house you’re looking at?”
“I’ve been eyeballing it since it went on the market. I don’t know what I’ll do if I go inside and find it looks awful. I’ve looked at it online. I was really bummed a few months ago when there was an offer on it, but I guess the offer fell through.”
He nodded, “yeah, actually it was one of the techs at the hospital where I work. She was bummed. She couldn’t get the mortgage. she’d originally been preapproved but then she thought it was 44
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mortgage approval.”
“That sucks.”
“Do you have enough for a down payment?”
She crunched the fry after dipping it in her gravy, “Gulliver is buying it.” At his raised eyebrows she shrugged, “he said he owes me seven years of child support and since he’s a billionaire the house will be a blip in the total amount he owes me.”
“That’s fair. Child support would be very cool,” he laughed. “I make damn good money, but when I say I would love to have a second income supplementing the needs for my son, I’m not kidding. However, I also like the fact I don’t need to share my son, give him up on weekends or deal with a drug lord as a stepparent so you know, balance.” He gave her a cheeky grin.
“My parents always helped me with finances,” she said quietly. “I never really struggled with the income part for Kaylee. I haven’t paid rent or a mortgage since we moved here. I mean, I pay mortgage now on the shop building, but I was able to save a lot of money from my jewelry design business to get off the ground.”
“Again, they agreed to come with you. Nobody forced them.”
“I know.”
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“Yes. Darwin is with my mother in Burlington doing some shopping for the afternoon. I have nothing I would rather do today than spend it with you, even to tour houses.”
“I would like that Ernst.”
“Good.” He reached across the table and squeezed her hand again, “I do want to be friends with you, January and if it grows into something more, then that’s incredible. Please don’t stop asking me out. It makes me happy to be with you.”
She blushed and squeezed his fingers too. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Also, when I go to bed tonight, I’m going to have the best dreams about you saying you think I’m attractive.”
She giggled at his words and considered this might not be a conventional date, but it was really nice to spend time with a new friend who might grow into something more.
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