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He didn’t bother “Sorry You sold me on the manicotti”

“Me andmouth Fine”

They each ordered a glass of wine, then Ruby wandered off to attend to the hostess stand while her servers worked the dining room

“Nice ambience,” Ryan said of the soft illulobes on the walls, the votives on the table and the tiny white twinkle lights frae picture

“Yes, I love it here I generally skip lunch when I know I’ And you can’t beat the smell”

“Oh I beg to differ” He scooted his chair closer to hers Leaning toward her, he said in an inti as a su exotic”

“Jasmine,” she told him in a breathy voice that drove him wild

He grinned at her “Okay, I’ floral scents But it’s damn sexy, whatever it is”

She studied him a moment, then asked, “Do you always say what’s on yourback?”

“Pretty much Is that a problem?”

Ginger pressed her lips together as Ruby delivered their wine, offering the one of her servers over When they were alone again, she said, “Absolutely not I like it”

His hand covered hers as it rested on the table “I don’t want to syou not to worry about what she says, yet I understand how you’re affected But when it coht down to it, I just want you to take a chance on us Maybe that’s being selfish, given that I haven’t been here in a long time and I have less to lose”

She seeive this consideration as she sipped her ith her free hand Finally, she set aside her glass and said, “My friends and I have had this discussion round I can do that”

Ryan brought her hand to his lips as he murmured, “Because you want to see what this is too? Whatever it is that’s happening between us?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation, a hopeful look on her face, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes