p when you're not ready. And

fe's words over and over in my head-"Would you like to go on a date?"-and the next, I was standin

ried on almost everything I owned. Clothes were scattered across my bed, hanging off the back of my chair, and some ev

an into at a mall. Not just

and next to him, who belonged in his wor

or tonight. The fabric clung to me in all the right places, not too revealing, but bold enough to make

er that kissed my cheekbones. My hair was soft and flowing, styled in a

e mirror and whispered to my

me into silence th

ndeliers, marble floors, and towering glass windows that gave a panoramic v

rned out his fami

he hostess greeted. "Mr.

urse

ftly lit by golden candlelight. Conversations buzzed aroun

vate corner near the balcony, elegantly decora

cked by slowly, dragging me deeper into my own nerves. I w

n, he a

the restaurant like

s tall, lean frame, his crisp white shirt peeking through beneath a silk black tie. His thick hair was brushed back e

purpose, eyes

mooth voice echoing just a li

hard not to let my voice betra

ook st

ourself," I replied, my

ents, they laid out the most extravagant spread I had ever seen-lobster tails in garlic butter,

without him sayi

then back at him. "Do y

when I'm trying t

n, playful

amused. "I take it I

ling. "The nigh

told him about my mother's obsession with baking, how the smell of banana bread always reminded m

of vulnerability from him-

g the wine in his glass. "Losing her.

earching. "But lately, I've

k what he m

anyone I've eve

rink. "How would you even know? You'r

You might be right. But you

silence. Not awkward,

ething that caug

ays, I'm drowning. Between board meetings, sharehold

ain-another cra

g to reconcile the man I'd imagined

'd been

e to Damian Wolfe t

carry all of it alo

as if trying to

ousse and wine-I offered to call a ca

ast us, glowing reflections dancing across the windshield

ng, he parked and stepped

moment, suspended i

id. "For the nigh

be thank

then leaned i

strong but careful, like he

nking, I leaned in...

ed me-gently

lips close to my ear. "But don't be surpr

issed my

. Te

shoulders for a heartbeat l

chest tight with a mix of wa

aned against it, and exhaled like

My cheeks were flushed.

had I

at-what was happ