The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland

The hostess led us into one and held out her hand. “Our wine menu and specialty drinks are on the table.” She pointed to a tall lantern a few feet from the table. “If you get chilly, just let your server know, and we can turn on the heater. I’ll give you a few minutes and then send someone over to take your drink order.”

“Thank you.”

Max pulled out a chair for me.

“This is so unexpected,” I said. “I had no idea there was an outdoor area when we walked in. It’s so pretty. I’m glad I came.”

“Were you considering not coming?”

I hadn’t meant to let on that I’d had doubts, so I tried to sweep my comment under the table. I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have stood you up.”

He cocked his head. “But you were considering not coming?”

Great. Two minutes into the date, and I’d already stuck my foot in my mouth. “I second-guess everything, weighing the pros and cons. It’s my nature. It’s not you.”

“That sounds pretty exhausting.”

I smiled. “It is. I’m trying to work on it.”

“I’m just the opposite. I tend to go with my gut and don’t always think things through enough.” He winked. “I’m trying to work on it. But now I want to hear your pros and cons. I’m curious to find out what tilted things in my favor.”

The waiter walked over, and we hadn’t even picked up the wine menu yet. I looked at Max. “Are you having something?”

He lifted the menu and held it out to me. “No practice tomorrow. You pick a bottle.”

I perused the menu and settled on a full-bodied red. When the waiter disappeared, Max looked at me expectantly.

“What?”

“You were about to tell me about your pros and cons analysis.”

“You just want to hear all the pros to stroke your ego.”

Max grinned. “That would normally be true. But I’m more curious about the cons when it comes to you. If I don’t know what’s broken, I can’t fix it.”

The waiter came back to deliver our wine. After a taste test, he filled both glasses and left us with dinner menus.

“None of the cons were about you, really. The cons were more about me. I’ve never had a no-strings-attached relationship, and I’m not sure I know how.” I sipped my wine. “You said you’ve had hookups before. How do you keep things simple?”

Max shrugged. “I guess we’re both just upfront about what it is we want.”

“Okay.” I looked into his eyes. “Tell me what you want from me.”

Max lifted his wine and drank. His eyes flickered to my lips. “That might get me smacked.”

I laughed. “It won’t. I promise.”

He leaned in, lowering his voice. “I want to spread you out on my bed wearing nothing but those shoes you have on right now and lick you until you beg.”

I swallowed. “I don’t beg.”

A wicked grin spread across Max’s face. “Then you haven’t been eaten properly.”

I felt my face flush, so I grabbed my wine again. But the sparkle in Max’s eyes told me he knew exactly what he was doing.

I cleared my throat. “So is that it? What you want from me, I mean? Just sex?”

“I like you, Georgia. I enjoy your company.” His eyes roamed my face. “You’re the one who seems to need things defined. So why don’t you tell me what you want?”

I blushed again. “What you said sounded pretty good.”

Max laughed. “What else do you want, Georgia? Because I get the feeling I could scare you away pretty easily and not even know why.”

“I just want to have fun. I guess, feel free? Do things I’ve been putting off and enjoy this summer.”

He nodded. “I’m game for fun. But tell me what kind of things you’ve been putting off.”

“Do you remember the night we met I mentioned I had a list of things I’d been putting off, and dating was at the top of it? That’s why I forced myself to go on my blind date even though I hadn’t really wanted to?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I actually do have a list. It’s not a bucket list with crazy things like jump out of an airplane or anything that exciting. It’s more about making things I’ve been meaning to do a priority over work and cutting back on overanalyzing. For the last four years, I’ve worked seventy to eighty hours a week, and the highlight of my week has been going to a late dinner on Friday night. A few months ago I hired a director of operations, so now I can delegate more and work less. I want to unplug more, be more spontaneous, stay out all night, watch the sunrise, go to an after-hours club, volunteer somewhere, take a staycation here in the city. I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’ve never even been to the Statue of Liberty or walked the Brooklyn Bridge. I also have dye my hair red on that list.” I shrugged. “I love red hair, and I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“A redhead, huh?” Max smiled. “I think you’d look hot.”

I smiled back. “Thanks.”

He ran his finger along the top of his wine glass. “How about we hit your list together?”

“Really? You want to go to the Statue of Liberty with me?”

Max shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”