Sweetness by S Gonzalez Page B

also means very little makeup is warranted tonight.
“Wanda, I’m leaving. I will be home later,” I yell
from the kitchen as I put only the necessities in my clutch
from my purse. “and hopefully I won’t be alone.”
“Ut, oh. You better warn me with a text so I am
not sprawled out in the living room eating ice cream in
my PJ’s, killing your mojo,” she tells me entering the
kitchen. After an approval nod she adds, “You look nice,
Emm. I am sure Mr. Rock and Roll will approve of the
demure you.”
“I don’t want him to approve. I want him to rip
this damn dress off and…”
“Whooo…slow down. I think that is more for
tomorrow night’s attire. Judging from where he is taking
you tonight he is trying to impress you. Let him.”
“Something tells me I will be impressed once I get
his clothes off.”
“Chill out, super slut. When was the last time you
got laid for Christ sake? You sound like a horny teenage
boy…or Max.” We both laugh and my nerves ease some.
I may talk a good game but on the inside I am a bubbling
mess. I have never gone out on a date with a guy I liked
this much.
“Wish me luck, mama.” I grab my clutch and keys
then make my way to the elevator. As I descend my
nerves grow stronger by each passing second.
    When I arrive at the park I scour the area for some
resemblance of the man I am meeting. It is exactly 7 on
the dot, but I don’t see him anywhere. I chalk it up to him
running late, although I am really thinking he stood me
up. Perhaps payback for my disappearing act all those
years ago.
    As I pace inside the entrance, I watch families
enjoying the park. I am startled when I feel a hand on my
waist and I see a yellow rose coming out from behind
me. I don’t have to turn around to know it is Dominic.
He kisses my hair and my body gravitates to his like a
magnetic force; his front to my back. When I turn around
I am shocked by the difference in him. His sexy rock star
persona is replaced by a man who looks like the boy next
door. He kisses my cheek gently, causing a million
butterflies to stampede in my belly.
“Hi,” I say in a low voice.
    “Hi. You looked nervous. Did you think I wasn’t
going to show?”
“A little,” I say meekly.
“Oh, Sweetness, not a chance. I have been over
there watching you.” He points to a row of benches
opposite the park entrance. “I have been here for the past
5 minutes trying to get up the courage to walk over here.
You look beautiful, Emma.”
“You don’t look bad yourself.” I tell him while
devouring every inch of him with my eyes. Dominic,
wearing a pair of black slacks, black oxfords, and a white
neatly pressed slim cut shirt with the top button opened,
is just as yummy as the hot as a rock star he portrays on
stage. Knowing that under that shirt is a hot, tattooed,
sexy, hard body makes very dirty thoughts pop into my
mind.
“Shall we?” He is laying it on thick by extending
his arm so we we’re entwined together. He is very much
the gentleman already. Not that he hasn’t always been
very nice to me, but gentleman by day and dirty talker
with a guitar by night, suits him nicely.
    We’re immediately seated when we arrive at the
restaurant. He releases my hand to pull out my chair and
I immediately miss the physical contact. As we peruse
the menu we can’t keep our eyes off each other. By the
time the waiter comes over to take our order, I couldn’t
tell you one thing I read on the menu.
    “Madam, what can I get for you this evening?”
The waiter asks in a weird French, New York fusion
accent.
    “I’ll have whatever he is having.” I close the menu
and hand it to the waiter while smirking at the man
seated across from me. That move earns me a wink that
makes me grateful I wore panties tonight.
    Dominic orders the Heirloom Tomato Salad as a
starter. Sautéed, Wild Striped Bass with Confit Tomatoes,
Kalamata Olives, & Crisp Spinach as an entrée.
    Sounds good to