3. A date with Larry

Gemma

Okay, I really need to put a bell on his office door. I know it's not doable, but still, it'll be nice knowing that my boss won't be able to spook me with his sudden appearance. Hell, what if I was bringing his coffee and it spills all over the desk, over some import docu...

"Gemma,"

"Yes?" Okay, another thing, the man sure likes to interrupt my thoughts. I am still thinking and now...

"Come sit and have lunch with me."

This will be my first time having lunch with him in the privacy of his office. The last time I had lunch with him was at one of the company's luncheons where he needed my attendance. But that was all business, while now...I am not sure what this is. 

"What are we doing?"

"Lunch, silly, it's lunchtime so we eat lunch. Why do you want to have dinner with me too?" The man gives me his sexy smirk and I almost melt in front of him. Thankfully, I get to sit down though it was across him because I was not confident enough to be by his side. But now I am regretting my position since I have to really be careful with how I sit. And surely enough Larry seems to be amusing that I was fidgeting on my chair.

"D-dinner?" Okay, I need to stop stuttering, it's getting hell-annoying even for me.

"Yeah, dinner, I am available for tonight, my treat of course. I am the man between us."

His cocky last words would put me off if I was hearing it from other guys but I know Larry. And for the twelve months and thirteen days that I've come to know him, Larry is no misogynist. 

"You want to have dinner with me, why?"

"Oh come on Gemma, is it obvious? I like you...we kissed, wait...do you have a boyfriend already?"

"No," I laugh awkwardly. Okay...I shouldn't do that. It's not cute. I need to be more confident around him. Just because he's a very good kisser doesn't mean that I'll get all nervous around him. 

"Wow, pretty, smart, and available, and you're asking me why?"

Okay, he's not answering my question, he's just making me blush more and more. In my whole life, I don't think I've blushed this much since yesterday. I decided to busy myself with our lunch and flimsily avoid his question. 

"So, I'll take that as a yes, I'll pick you up at six. Dress semi-casual, or sexy, I have no qualms with you being sexy. On another thought, I am encouraging you to be sexy, but then again seeing you in your office attire is plenty sexy for me." 

Another smirk. I almost choke on my chicken salad.

"Is that all you're eating, salad for lunch? while you're getting me this large portion of ham and cheese panini."

"I...uh, this is chicken salad. It has eggs." I reply lamely. When someone starts questioning my menu I usually get defensive and I'm really trying not to with Larry. 

The man looks at me funny, but then he let it go. Now I am starting to worry about our dinner. I do want to have dinner with him. I don't do dinner, unless with Ella or our family. This is why I don't date. I've never felt comfortable with myself. I watch what I eat. Though it has been over a decade I know that I still have issues with my weight.

I look at Larry and busy myself with chewing and listening to him talk about his morning meetings. Then he talks about his brother Tyler. Then back to the tech staff that should be giving me their report.

"Just forward me their stuff the moment it's on your desk. I have a good feeling about Samuel. Oh, and can you confirm with him our tee time for tomorrow?" He says finishing off on the last bite of his panini. It still amazes me how he can chomp down his food while talking and still look properly hot.

"Of course," I close the lid on my unfinished salad and the man raises an eyebrow at me. "Um, I had a big breakfast...and a snack while you're in your meetings."

The man shrugs and I hated myself for lying to him. Cause this is what I do. I lied whenever I get questioned about my eating. Yes, I have a disorder and I'm well aware that it'll take me forever to feel secure about my body image.

When it was time to go home, Larry reminded me about dinner. The man insisted that he pick me up from my place. I want to cancel our dinner, but then...I've been crushing on him for over a year.

*****

Wow...

I feel heat warming up my chest, going straight up to my cheeks. It was hard to not stare at Larry in his expensive casual date attire of well-fitted black jeans and matching black shirt untucked, showing his perfect veiny forearms and a leather watch that is probably the price of my car.

"Wow..." As if he heard my inner thoughts, Larry blurts out his word and I grip the door knob just a tad bit tighter making sure I'm not going to embarrass myself by propping my weight to the door.

This new thing between us is not sitting well with me. This is not the first time we go out, not the first time he sees me outside of my work attire. Though now, Larry looks at me like he just sees me for the first time. I still remember months ago when I was out setting a date for Ella because of pure boredom. That day Larry saw us, noticing me, he pulled me aside and drove us back thankfully Ella decided to cut her date short and it was actually good that she was making Brice, the now love of her life, curious just because their date ended quicker than he liked. 

I have to remind myself that this is what I want. The year-long crush I have for my boss is finally getting acknowledged. I should be happy. Ugh...if only I could get my nerves under control.

The drive to the restaurant was full of pleasantries and I was not surprised to find that he had reserved the best spot at the rooftop restaurant of the Markov hotel. This is one of his favorite dining spots where he likes to entertain his clients and also girlfriends. Yes, I know... I've had the pleasure of making reservations for him in the past. 

"Good evening. Mr. Richardson, we have your reservation. Please follow me," The voluptuous hostess ushers us, she smiles politely at me and I mimic her instantly while Larry looks like he couldn't be bothered with smiling back at her, instead, the man put his hand on the small of my back. I almost jumped at his sudden touch. Okay, I have to admit I haven't been on dates after the app dates experience with Ella. Since then I have kept myself busy with my job, then there's my demanding parents. Oh...also the little slip with my eating disorder when Ella's stalker decided to put a bloody box in front of our apartment. 

"Gemma, are you sure you don't want to try their dessert?"

Ah...this is also why I don't date. I hate how I need to watch what I eat, and still feel like I'm forcing myself to swallow all these unneeded sweets, carbs, and then within seconds I'd feel my palm sweat and my nerves are all over the place. My brain won't stop thinking that I need to skip breakfast tomorrow and get the fruit salad instead of my usual chicken salad without dressings.

"Not tonight." I smile sweetly, realizing that I need to give him a smart answer which I know I just did. 

"Hmm...not tonight, that means you'll open for another dinner with me?" He looks at me smugly and I shake my head and give him a simple maybe. 

"It's not a no, I'll take it." He gives me his handsome smile and my heart flutters with feelings that should be buried six feet under. Larry Richardson is too handsome, too rich, too confident, too smart for my own good. I should not even entertain his little interest in me, no matter how long I crush on the guy. 

When he dropped me off at my apartment, he insisted on walking me back to my door. He kissed me then sort of hung around in front of my door, and I finally invited him in for a drink. Hey, I guess it's my way of thanking him for the ride back and dinner, right?

"I still can't believe you decided to stay here. I thought you'd move with the last incident."

The incident he talked about was surely the bloody box, and how Percy, one of Ella's twin brothers had come to my rescue then it was one of those strange coincidences where I was on the phone with Larry and he was near my vicinity and decided that he was going to take me to safety. By that he meant shoving his PA into the beautiful suite of the Markov hotel and told me to relax and use all their amenities. Alone. The man insisted that I stay there until my apartment was cleared by whoever was handling security for Ella and Brice back then. 

"The apartment is paid for until next year, I've been thinking of getting a roommate since Ella is gone. I just haven't gotten to it." I shrug and get bottled water for both of us. He takes one, unscrews the cap, and takes a good gulp while I watch with the greatest interest as his throat moves with each gulp. When he finishes I realize that I was staring and I fumble with the cap before quickly chugging on the water. Luckily I didn't humiliate myself. 

"So, I think I should go." 

"Okay," 

"Okay?"

"Yeah, you just said that you wanted to go." I raise a brow, honestly didn't know the etiquette of having your date over after a dinner date.

Larry laughed, then put his bottled water on the counter before putting his arm around my body and tugging me close and his lips were on mine within moments. He doesn't have to tell me to give in because I did when I open my mouth and kiss him back. What I didn't expect was for him pulling back and telling me to get some rest. 

"It's late. I'll see you tomorrow after my golf time with Samuel Chong."

"Oh, of course, you have an early tee time tomorrow." I nod and walk him to the front door. 

He gives me another kiss before he walks towards the elevator and I close the door behind him. The man was gone but I was still smiling like a fool when an hour later I was talking to six of my new succulent babies while I finished off my bottled water. My head was hard on thinking about the name of all six of them. 

Though when I lie in bed just before midnight, I stopped thinking about naming my new babies as my mind wanders to my hot sexy, most sought eligible bachelor in town now that all his brothers are happily married.