with them."
He patted her hand. His was so warm and big, his calluses a little scratchy. "I like exotic. Don't get much deli food in Texas."
They made chit-chat about the weather and the people they knew in common—Liv and Trey. Their food arrived, and other than a few appreciative noises, silence descended, but it was a comfortable silence.
Pushing his plate away, Ace smiled at her and she couldn't help but smile back. She smiled a lot around him, she realized, when he wasn't spanking her, that is.
“That was some fine food. I see what you mean about bagels, the ones we have in Texas aren’t like this, they’re bigger and fluffier, less tasty and chewy. I like this whitefish quite a bit too. Not so sure ‘bout that Cel-Ray Tonic though, I can’t say as I’ve ever had carbonated celery juice before. Didn’t know celery had juice, for all that.”
"It’s an acquired taste, I guess. Are you going to be in Jersey long?" It sounded like an invitation to another date, and Gabby wanted to take it back as soon as she said it.
"A few days," he told her. "There are a number of details about the factory that need lookin' into."
So much could happen in a few days, but when it was over, he'd go back to Texas and she'd still be in New Jersey. In many ways, that was optimal, if one was going to have a lover. He wouldn't hang around to demand time she could ill-afford to give, and they couldn't make any foolish commitments because they'd only have a brief time together.
And besides, he was, by far, the sexiest man she'd ever met. Male models didn't hold a candle to him either in looks or personality. If she could keep a cool head about it, she could have her cake and eat it too. And how she'd like to eat him all up.
"Have you ever been to New York?"
"Yeah, a few years ago. A girl—a friend of mine wanted to see some plays and so we came to Manhattan for the theatre and the sights."
So, she couldn't entice him with sightseeing. "Did you go to Coney Island?"
"With rides and such? I can't say I'm much for that kinda thin'."
"Oh come on, Ace. There's a boardwalk and hot dogs and lots of people-watching."
He appeared to think about it, but shook his head. "I have a better idea."
"Oh?"
"Come out to supper with me tomorrow night."
"That's your idea?"
He nodded. "I heard about a rooftop restaurant and bar in someplace called Hoboken."
"Hoboken?"
"Yeah, that’s it. Hoboken. A restaurant called Fanciful. Have you been there?"
Fanciful was perhaps the most expensive restaurant in New Jersey, and reservations were made months in advance. "Uh, Ace. I don't think that's—"
He patted her hand. "No worries, li'l girl."
Well, they could always find an Outback Steakhouse if the evening fell apart. She smiled. "Okay."
"Now, best we get y'all back home. It's gettin' late and you said you have to work tomorrow. I know models start mighty early."
"We only start early if we're on location, but as it happens we are doing an outdoor shoot in Central Park tomorrow. I have to catch the train at about 7:00 a.m." She loved the way he smiled, and his new—well, new to her—moustache was so appealing. She wanted to feel it brush her lips. Gabby knew she was staring, but she couldn't help it.
He took her hand and gently pulled her out of the booth, until they stood together. "Did you drive yourself?"
She shook her head.
"In that case, I have the pleasure of takin' you home. I got the cab driver's card. I'll call him."
Ace looked like a rancher, with his bolo tie and cowboy hat, but he was surprisingly city-savvy. Gabby was impressed. She went to the ladies room, and when she got back, Ace was waiting at the front door for her. "Your carriage awaits, m'lady," he said with a big grin.
A giggle burbled up. She sketched a shallow curtsey. "Thank you, kind sir."
He laughed, and waved her toward the waiting cab.
It took about ten minutes to get to her apartment house, a modest brick building with white trim and a spindly tree in
He patted her hand. His was so warm and big, his calluses a little scratchy. "I like exotic. Don't get much deli food in Texas."
They made chit-chat about the weather and the people they knew in common—Liv and Trey. Their food arrived, and other than a few appreciative noises, silence descended, but it was a comfortable silence.
Pushing his plate away, Ace smiled at her and she couldn't help but smile back. She smiled a lot around him, she realized, when he wasn't spanking her, that is.
“That was some fine food. I see what you mean about bagels, the ones we have in Texas aren’t like this, they’re bigger and fluffier, less tasty and chewy. I like this whitefish quite a bit too. Not so sure ‘bout that Cel-Ray Tonic though, I can’t say as I’ve ever had carbonated celery juice before. Didn’t know celery had juice, for all that.”
"It’s an acquired taste, I guess. Are you going to be in Jersey long?" It sounded like an invitation to another date, and Gabby wanted to take it back as soon as she said it.
"A few days," he told her. "There are a number of details about the factory that need lookin' into."
So much could happen in a few days, but when it was over, he'd go back to Texas and she'd still be in New Jersey. In many ways, that was optimal, if one was going to have a lover. He wouldn't hang around to demand time she could ill-afford to give, and they couldn't make any foolish commitments because they'd only have a brief time together.
And besides, he was, by far, the sexiest man she'd ever met. Male models didn't hold a candle to him either in looks or personality. If she could keep a cool head about it, she could have her cake and eat it too. And how she'd like to eat him all up.
"Have you ever been to New York?"
"Yeah, a few years ago. A girl—a friend of mine wanted to see some plays and so we came to Manhattan for the theatre and the sights."
So, she couldn't entice him with sightseeing. "Did you go to Coney Island?"
"With rides and such? I can't say I'm much for that kinda thin'."
"Oh come on, Ace. There's a boardwalk and hot dogs and lots of people-watching."
He appeared to think about it, but shook his head. "I have a better idea."
"Oh?"
"Come out to supper with me tomorrow night."
"That's your idea?"
He nodded. "I heard about a rooftop restaurant and bar in someplace called Hoboken."
"Hoboken?"
"Yeah, that’s it. Hoboken. A restaurant called Fanciful. Have you been there?"
Fanciful was perhaps the most expensive restaurant in New Jersey, and reservations were made months in advance. "Uh, Ace. I don't think that's—"
He patted her hand. "No worries, li'l girl."
Well, they could always find an Outback Steakhouse if the evening fell apart. She smiled. "Okay."
"Now, best we get y'all back home. It's gettin' late and you said you have to work tomorrow. I know models start mighty early."
"We only start early if we're on location, but as it happens we are doing an outdoor shoot in Central Park tomorrow. I have to catch the train at about 7:00 a.m." She loved the way he smiled, and his new—well, new to her—moustache was so appealing. She wanted to feel it brush her lips. Gabby knew she was staring, but she couldn't help it.
He took her hand and gently pulled her out of the booth, until they stood together. "Did you drive yourself?"
She shook her head.
"In that case, I have the pleasure of takin' you home. I got the cab driver's card. I'll call him."
Ace looked like a rancher, with his bolo tie and cowboy hat, but he was surprisingly city-savvy. Gabby was impressed. She went to the ladies room, and when she got back, Ace was waiting at the front door for her. "Your carriage awaits, m'lady," he said with a big grin.
A giggle burbled up. She sketched a shallow curtsey. "Thank you, kind sir."
He laughed, and waved her toward the waiting cab.
It took about ten minutes to get to her apartment house, a modest brick building with white trim and a spindly tree in
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