Now you would never know

I looked back and forth in between her, and then Julian. "I wish you a very nice day," Julian said dismissively to Nadia. Nadia pouted her lips and walked away in a straight line.

As if nothing had happened, Julian started talking again. "Since you are so determent to want to come on your own transport, then I think it might be the smartest thing to meet in Calvery," he said with some disappointment in his voice.

"All right then," Julian continued talking and sighed. His thick brows were knitted together. "You get to decide what we're going to do during the day. Furthermore, after dinner you'll tell me wether or not you will give me your commitment for six months," he argued calmly, as if closing a business deal.

His offer wasn't exactly to my liking. I too could play that game.

"Well, I decide that we are going to have a walk during the day, and I will tell you at the end of the walk, whether I want to eat with you," I countered while imitating his businesslike attitude.

Julian looked disapproving. He clearly disagreed. "A compromise," he suggested. Oh dear.. Here we go again.

"You let me know at the end of the day, rather than after our walk," he said holding my gaze in amusement. He clearly enjoyed this bickering of ours, "If... I can take you out to dinner," he said amending my offer. "If… I can decide where we're going to take a walk," Julian added with a mischievous smile.

I bit my lip.

"In Calverie," I checked just to be sure. "In Calverie," he chuckled.

"Fine," I agreed.

Julian's phone suddenly rang and he stared at his screen with pursed lips. "I have to take that, cherry," he sighed.

"Yes," was the only thing he said when he picked up. "Mhh... The..." he mumbled. "70 million Dollars? No, I don't agree," Julian said to the person on the other end of the line. "No, just say that he has to come up with a different offer, because otherwise the merger will not go through," he said in an authoritarian tone. He looked very cloudy and serious. "Mhh.." is the last thing he uttered and then hang up.

His face brightened when his eyes met mine, and I couldn't help but smile as well. "My free hour has run out," he said blowing out sharply. He seemed reluctant to leave. Julian pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes a little, like he was thinking really hard on something.

I looked at my phone and it was indeed punctually an hour later. "I'll go and pay," he offered, sliding his hands across back, in a gentle gesture, as he walked inside. An odd sensation ran through me. I normally hated to be touched, but his touch, made me imagine what it would be like to be in his arms.

I shook my head at the weird thought. I got up and put my bag around my shoulder, and then I felt an arm around my waist. I held my breath and slightly turned around. He was pretty tall, I realized when I had to throw my neck completely back to look up at him.

"You're smaller than I thought you were," he admitted quirky.

"I'm am," I said somewhat uncertain. That is a fact. I looked at him, like a bee attracted to honey. I suppressed the urge to press myself against him. He smelled really, really delicious.

"Keep breathing cherry," he said in a caring tone, holding my gaze. He rubbed his hand over the small of my back, in an intimate gesture.

I took a breath, and squeezed my eyes shut. I slowly opened one eye and he grinned crookedly at me. "This is weird," I thought out loud and looked at my feet.

"Mhh... " he mumbled and released me. Julian sighed deeply. With the tip of his index finger he raised my chin to look up at him again. "Where is your bike. I'll walk with you," he whispered. "I have to catch a flight in a bit," he said as reluctantly as I suddenly felt.

I shook my head slightly and then I got myself together again. "My bike was parked in the garage under the large square in the city," I told him and started walking. Julian followed me and placed his hand on my lower back while we walked together. And I.... I didn't stop him. Maybe I should have.

When we arrived at my bike, I started to unlock it. "Emilie," he said huskily. And I... was almost sure, he was going to ask for a farewell kiss. The air felt thick and he looked at me wantingly.

His lips looked inviting as hell.

Before he started to speak, he cleared his throat. The mist of lust that damped my head vanished. "I really have to go now, can I call you tonight?" he asksed me. And for the first time, I heard some uncertainty in his voice. That wasn't what I thought he was going to say. I swallowed.

I now fully turned to him and answered; "for a moment I thought you were going to ask something else," I laughed and rolled my eyes. "And would you have said yes?" he dared me, trapping me with his gaze while he took a step closer. You see, I was right. That wasn't his original question.

I closed my eyes briefly and looked at him. "Maybe, but now you would never know," I grinned and put my hand on his white blouse. His arm slipped around my waist again. This felt good. He felt good and I realized that I was crossing a line here. Right now. A line which I normally didn't cross during my dates. And according to him, this wasn't even a date. I was so fucked.

I looked at him. When I threatened to melt from his warm eyes again, I distanced myself. "I'll talk to you tonight," I quickly said. I grabbed my bike and walked away from him.

My heart was pounding in my throat the whole way back home.

This was by far the most strange date I had ever had.