Rebound Therapy (Rebound #1) Read Free Page A

too forward. The thought makes me smirk a little to myself.
    “That’ll work,” I say. “Now get out so I can get dressed.”
    While I’m finishing up my makeup and hair, the doorbell rings.
    “He’s here!” calls Amy from the living room.
    “I’m coming! Don’t answer the door, Amy!” I call back as I walk out of the bathroom.
    Brian grins at me as I open the door. He uses that grin like a weapon to disarm me. I was starting to feel nervous, but one look at him puts me at ease like I was in the wine bar.
    “I see we have a chaperone,” he says looking past me at Amy curled on the couch.
    “Ignore her. She insisted on dressing me. Apparently I can’t do it myself.”
    “Not to my standards, anyway,” she says as she heads for the door with her keys in her hand. “You two kids have fun.” She gives me a quick hug, looks Brian up and down as he steps through the door to move out of her way, and then she’s gone.
    I can’t blame her for checking him out. His navy blue jacket and white button down shirt accentuate his broad shoulders. He has the top two buttons of his shirt undone, and dark wash jeans that keep his look casual, but put together. His short blonde hair is styled in an intentionally messy look, inviting fingers to run through it. And his blue eyes are checking me out as much as I’m checking him out.
    “Let me grab my bag and we can go,” I say, leaving the door open while I gather my things.
    Brian takes me to a nice restaurant not far from his wine bar. He’s made us a reservation and we get in right away.
    “I hope you don’t mind skipping pre-dinner cocktails,” he says as we sit down. “I’m planning on getting some good wine to go with our food, and I didn’t think either of us needed to get sloshed on the first date.”
    I smile a bit at his words. “I’m good with not getting sloshed.”
    I look around at the restaurant, taking in the elegant décor and dim lighting. It’s a romantic choice. Perfect for trying to impress on a first date. “I’ve never been here before, have you?”
    “Yes,” he says. “I actually know Linda, the owner. We use the same supplier for our wine. I introduced them.”
    “Oh, so you bring all your dates here.”
    He chuckles a bit at that. “Not exactly. I haven’t been on a date in a while.”
    “Yeah, me either.”
    Conversation with Brian is easy and light. We covered most of the usual get to know you stuff when we met last week, so tonight we talk about other things—family, books, movies, things like that.
    It turns out he’s never seen The Princess Bride .
    “What? That movie’s a classic! How can you not have seen it?”
    He shrugs. “I don’t know. I just never did.”
    “I’m not sure we can be friends now. How will you understand my random movie references?”
    “Maybe we can watch it together. That way you can fill me in on what I’ve been missing my whole life.”
    I sigh as though I’m terribly put out by this suggestion. “Fine. I guess we can do that. If you insist.”
    He smiles. “I’m afraid I must insist.”
    The date is going well. Amy texts me partway through the evening to make sure I don’t need rescuing. I excuse myself to the ladies’ room when I feel my phone buzz and text her back assuring her things are going fine.
    “I expect a full report tomorrow!” she says. I just send her back a smiley with its tongue sticking out.
    When I get back, Brian’s ordered dessert for us and a wine to match. He’s paired wines with both the appetizer and entrée as well. I’m not a big wine drinker, but I have to admit that his choices go well with everything we’ve ordered. He’s gotten a flourless chocolate torte and ordered a chocolate cheesecake for me.
    “I hope it’s okay I ordered dessert for you. This wine goes great with rich dark chocolate. If you’d prefer the torte we can trade.”
    “No, this is fine.”
    “I figured chocolate dessert would be a safe bet.”
    “Are you calling me a