Chapter 12 - THE FIRST REAL DATE
Their first official date took place at a small Mexican restaurant.
Dominic arrived early.
Clara arrived five minutes late.
He stood when she approached.
“You don't have to do that,” she said.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
She smiled.
They ordered tacos.
Dominic spilled salsa on his shirt.
Clara laughed until her eyes watered.
He looked offended.
“I used to negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts.”
“And yet the taco defeated you.”
Their second date was miniature golf.
Dominic cheated.
Clara caught him.
Their third was a movie.
He chose an action film.
She complained about every unrealistic fight scene.
He complained about every unrealistic business transaction.
By the fourth date, they had stopped pretending their lives were ordinary.
They talked about Sofia.
About Leo.
About Tommy.
About the people harmed by Dominic's former organization.
Sometimes the conversations were uncomfortable.
Neither avoided them.
One evening, Dominic admitted he feared Clara would always associate him with the worst day of her life.
She looked at him.
“The cathedral wasn't the worst day.”
He waited.
“The worst day was when I realized my brother had lied to me.”
Dominic took a breath.
“And the best?”
Clara considered.
“The day Leo came home.”
He nodded.
Then she added:
“And tonight is pretty good.”
Dominic smiled.
He reached toward her hand.
Stopped.
“May I?”
May you like
Clara threaded her fingers through his.
“Yes.”
