Read Online To See You by Rachel Blaufeld - Free Book Online

impress me.”
    And there you have it. She didn’t know I was into her, or else didn’t want to admit it to herself. I had failed.
    Just then, we pulled up to Zao’s, and another valet ran to open her door and openly gawked as she exited the car. His eyes ran her full length, pausing at her sexy-as-fuck shoes before making their way back up to her cleavage. Good thing she didn’t seem to notice.
    This time, I didn’t grab her hand. We walked into the restaurant side by side after the overeager valet grabbed the door.
    “Heyyy, welcome to Zao’s. Do you have a reservation?” The hostess was nearly toppling over in her five-inch heels and the sausage skin masquerading as a black dress.
    Fuck. Reservations.
    The place thumped and bumped all around us thanks to the live DJ in the corner, who clearly didn’t know how to adjust the bass.
    “You know what? Bernie Ross from production was supposed to call ahead for me. I’m Layton Griffin . . . I’m one of the sound guys over at MGM.” I acted quickly, thought up something like a dog in heat, desperate to get knocked up. I would never have this chance again.
    “Bernie? Let me look.” She ran her gaze up and down the iPad in front of her, tapping open apps with her finger. “Shell, did someone from Bernie Ross’s place a call?”
    Who knew Bernie was such a bigwig here?
    A woman’s disembodied voice came from the iPad; apparently it doubled as their phone as well. “Who knows? If he’s with Bernie, give him a table by the window.”
    The hostess stared at me for less than a beat before she grabbed a couple of iPads that obviously doubled as menus and said, “This way.”
    Wow, it worked!
    My fingers grazed Charli’s back, urging her to go in front of me, and instantly caught fire. And really, I wasn’t so hard up, but the light touch was magnetic.
    The hostess led us toward a two-top against the window. I scurried ahead to beat her at pulling out a chair for Charli, ignoring the awkwardness of the hostess trying to wedge herself around me as Charli paused and witnessed the whole thing.
    It was better than watching the Return of the Jedi when Charli turned on her iPad. Her features were softly illuminated by the glow, emphasizing her plump and tender lips, as her gaze focused on the backlit menu in front of her.
    “Do you like the raw stuff?” Charli’s question brought me out of my trance.
    “Yeah. I pretty much like everything.”
    And would need a few slices of pizza later . . . my usual sushi routine.
    The server came over and welcomed us with more pomp and circumstance than I thought was usual. The Bernie factor, I assumed.
    We ordered a few rolls and some sashimi. Charli ordered a glass of prosecco; I opted for a Sapporo. Mostly, we made small talk about the movie while we waited for the drinks.
    “Cheers to first class and my lucky seat . . . 2D.” I touched my cold can to her glass.
    “Ha,” she said, taking a sip of her sparkling drink.
    Her blond hair contrasted sharply against the black walls, so shiny under the overhead lights of the restaurant. I wanted to run my fingers through it.
    “So, New York all the time. That must be intense?” I focused on her collarbone and shoulders for a moment. They were perfect, slight, but not too bony. I’d give my left nut to be with a woman like this.
    “It’s home. I’m used to it, been there since right after college. I have a routine, and I work a lot. Although, this place is pretty crazy itself.”
    “It is, but out here everyone’s in the ‘business’ and we all drive around in our cars and show up fashionably late. Well, not me always. I’m a behind-the-scenes guy, and I guess I like fading into the background like that, especially in a town like this, where it’s all so plastic.” There I went again with my tell-all, diarrhea mouth.
    “It does feel a bit fake out here, like everything’s so perfect. But I’m sure New York seems that way to some people.”
    “I had a good time