The waiter approached, and I asked if I could have some water. He nodded politely and returned shortly to set a glass down in front of me. As I took a sip to cool my parched throat, I noticed Josh and Hannah entering the restaurant. They smiled at me, and Hannah offered a little wave before pointing across the room. “We’ll be over there. Just have fun,” she mouthed.
I nodded to let her know I understood.
Josh pointed to his ear. Oh shoot, my mic. I hadn’t wanted to turn it on too early. I was afraid they’d show up while I was using the bathroom. That would have been embarrassing. I nodded again and reached down to switch the microphone on. It had been a bit more of a challenge clipping it to the dress I was wearing, but it finally worked when I attached it where the strap met the dress.
Menus were already on the table, waiting. I picked one up, more for something to keep my hands busy than anything. The front cover once again featured the vineyard design, with the trailing vines wrapping to form the name of the restaurant in a deeper green.
“You look absolutely beautiful.”
I dropped the menu I’d been holding. I hadn’t even heard him approach.
“Chance, I’m s-sorry I didn’t see you come in,” I stammered. “Thank you.” I stared. I’d seen him in a suit jacket before, at the auction, but that was when I was too busy being stupid and angry to really appreciate how good-looking he was. His jacket was dark gray, and he wore it over an open-collared fitted black dress shirt and black jeans. The jacket accentuated his broad shoulders, and the shirt drew my eyes to his flat stomach. He looked really, really good.
I dragged my eyes away from his abs and back up to his face. He didn’t seem to notice the fact that I was practically salivating, and it had nothing to do with the smells coming from the kitchen. “You look really nice, too,” I said.
He pulled something out from behind his back, a single red rose. “For you,” he said simply. He reached out to hand it to me.
I melted. Make believe or not, I treasured his thoughtfulness. I accepted the flower and leaned in to smell its sweet scent. “Thank you, this is so nice. You didn’t need to do that.” I couldn’t stop the huge smile from spreading across my face.
“You deserve even more,” he said. He pulled his chair out and sat down. “I meant what I said. You look, wow. Just wow.” The truth in his eyes made my heart speed up. It told me that he honestly meant every word he’d said. Like they weren’t just for show.
I bit my lip, trying to keep the goofy grin I could feel from taking over my entire face.
We ordered our food soon after, and it was as wonderful as expected. I had lobster ravioli, and Chance went with their house specialty of spaghetti with meatballs.
“How’s your ankle feeling?”
I wiped sauce from my mouth before answering. “A lot better, thanks.” I smiled, touched he thought to ask. “But really, I have to thank you for that.”
“What do you mean?”
“That sprained ankle got me out of a week of most of the chores at my house.” I grinned.
Chance laughed. “Well, glad I could help facilitate your chore-vacation.”
“My hero,” I teased before taking another bite. “This is so good, want to try some?”
He pointed to his plate. “Are you kidding, I have enough here to feed two people myself.” His plate was overloaded with pasta. “Want some of mine?”
I shook my head. It would have felt too Lady and the Tramp for me. I could just imagine Hannah snapping a picture of us sharing a giant noodle.
“I’m good, thanks, though. Hey, how’s your new job going?”
“Really well. Though I think some of the residents like you more than me. They’ve been asking when I’m going to bring you back for another visit.”
I smiled, remembering how much I’d enjoyed our time together there. Especially dancing close to Chance. “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”
“It’s a date,” Chance said softly, holding my gaze with his own.
Somehow, the way he said it, I almost believed he meant it. That he wanted it to be a real date, not just for show.
We talked and laughed throughout the remainder of the meal. It was perfect. When we finished our dinners, I didn’t have any room for dessert, but Chance decided to order a slice of chocolate cheesecake. After he’d tried a bite, he insisted it would be a crime if I didn’t have a taste, too. He scooped up a small piece on his fork and leaned across the table. He didn’t break eye contact as he moved the fork into my mouth and I closed my lips around it, and as he slid it out after.
I moaned. “Sooo good.”
He smiled, a slow, sexy-as-sin smile.
“More?”
“You have some first.”
He ate another mouthful, then leaned in, closer this time, to feed me another bite. Somehow the knowledge that the utensil had been on his tongue was more delicious than the dessert I was eating. As he licked some chocolate off the edge of the fork, still watching me, I got the feeling he was thinking the same thing.
Heat pooled in my stomach. I swallowed, watching him watch me.
He set the fork down and reached across the table, taking my hand. His thumb traced lazy patterns on my wrist. It felt like I was going to ignite from his touch; he was electric.
We didn’t speak, we just gazed at each other.
“Would you just freaking kiss her already?” The hissed whisper came from across the room.
Omigod.
Talk about a slap-in-the-face reminder of what was really going on.
The muscles in Chance’s jaw tightened, just for a second, then his expression was back to what it had been before we’d been interrupted by our self-appointed stage crew.
I swallowed. I’d agreed to romance. I hadn’t thought it through to realize they’d probably think that included some kissing on camera.
The worst part? I wanted Chance to kiss me, desperately. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t kiss him, regardless of how much they expected it. But I only had three weeks left with him, and I’d decided I was going to take advantage of it and enjoy our time together. So, I prayed that he would be okay with kissing me, too.
I looked up at him. His eyes stared into mine for several long, long seconds. Then he placed his hands on the table in front of him and slowly leaned in. My eyes widened, and I licked my lips reflexively as he got closer.
When he was inches away, so close that I felt his warm breath, he paused. I blinked, watching him.
“Sarah,” he whispered.
“Yes?” It came out as more of a squeak.
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
Omigod. Omigod. Omigod.
“Okay,” I squeaked again. I tried to think if there had been garlic in my sauce, and worried if I’d look stupid kissing if they took a picture.
And then his lips touched mine, and I stopped thinking about anything at all but the feel of his mouth.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chance
You’re a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night
And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might ~ REO Speedwagon
I’d kissed Sarah.
I’d kissed Sarah. Finally. And the reality of kissing Sarah shot any fantasies I may have had about it out of the park. I stared across the table. She looked as stunned as I felt, her eyes widening as she blinked rapidly several times. Neither of us said a word for a minute.
I wanted to talk to her, really talk to her, without knowing at least one other person was listening in. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Her eyebrows furrowed, and I realized too late how that must have sounded. Crap. I shook my head. I picked up my fork and traced the shape of an arrow pointing in the direction of our camera crew in the leftover chocolate sauce on the dessert plate. I pointed down and tilted the plate a little so she’d see it.
Her face lit up, and she grinned. “Sure, that sounds great.”
She stood up, and all thought left my mi
nd. Sarah in flannel and braids was adorable. Sarah in a little black dress with legs that went on forever was a knockout.
I whistled low. “Girl, you’re gonna kill me.”
She laughed, but I could tell she was pleased.
I stood as well and placed my hand on the small of her back. I mostly wanted an excuse to touch her. “You wore a coat over that, didn’t you? It’s got to be freezing out by now.”
She nodded. “It’s in the coatroom.”
“We have to wait for the check, let me go get it for you. Did they give you a ticket or something?”
She nodded again and handed me a small slip of paper.
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” I grinned and took one more look at her before turning away reluctantly.
I hurried to the coatroom. Just as I was handed Sarah’s long black coat from the guy behind the counter, Hannah poked me in the shoulder, hard.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked.
“What do you mean? I’m getting Sarah’s coat.”
“No. I mean, what do you think you’re doing ending the date early. Do you really think we’re that stupid?” She looked pissed. “We’re finally starting to get something we can use, and the two of you decide to just take off?”
I faced her head-on. “Look, we went out to dinner on the date. Dinner’s over, so we’re leaving. There’s nothing in your little set of rules that says you get to follow us home.”
Her eyes narrowed. I was technically right, and she knew it.
Her eyes brightened. “No, but you did agree that if you drove to or from a date together, Josh goes with you.” She smirked. “So if you were planning to give Sarah a ride home, looks like you’ll have one more person in the car with you.”
Dammit. Since Sarah and I had driven here separately, I’d been planning to ask her if she wanted to go for a ride and talk. And I guess technically if we weren’t going home yet, that meant we were still on our date, so they did have every right to go along with us.
I wanted to scream.
Hannah had me, and she knew it. I wanted to spend some real time with Sarah, but not like this, not with an audience.
“Fine,” I bit out. “Looks like we’re each going home.” Hannah raised an eyebrow. “On our own,” I clarified. “The date’s over.”
“Well, you better go tell your girlfriend that. She’s waiting for you.”
I spun away from her before I said something I’d regret. When I walked back into the dining area, Sarah jumped up, eyes bright. She looked confused when she saw Hannah following close behind me.
I had to figure out how to say this so that Josh and Hannah wouldn’t know there was more going on.
I took Sarah by the arm and pulled her a few steps away, out of earshot of Hannah. Like it mattered with live mics stuck on both of us.
“Hey, I was thinking…since we both drove our own cars here, maybe it’s better if we just call it a night now.” I glared at Hannah before looking back at Sarah. I felt sick seeing the hurt in her eyes.
“Oh, okay,” she said.
“It’s just…” Dammit. How to tell her I just didn’t want the two of them going with us without giving that away to them?
“No, no. You don’t have to explain. I get it.” She shook her head, her face now an unreadable mask.
“You sure? It’s okay?”
“Yep, it’s totally fine. It’s getting late anyway.” She glanced over at Hannah, then back at me. “Well, thank you for a lovely evening.” She turned and walked away.
I looked at the table. The rose still sat next to her plate.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sarah
Should’ve known you was trouble from the first kiss
You had your eyes wide open, why were they open ~ Bruno Mars
I yelled at myself the entire drive home. Megan had let me borrow her car for the big night out, and now it seemed like a wasted favor.
What exactly had I been thinking, letting my heart get involved? I knew better. I told myself I wouldn’t give in to the tears. I reached out and turned the radio on, loud. I had to flip through about five stations before finding one where the song wasn’t about love, or being with someone you love, or having your heart broken by someone you love.
My phone rang just as I walked in the front door. Even before I pulled it out of my bag, I had a good guess who it might be, and I was right. Chance. But I didn’t want to talk to him, I couldn’t talk to him. I couldn’t handle hearing excuses or reasoning or whatever he was calling to say.
I pulled off the stupid black dress and tossed it in a ball in the corner of my room. I’d never be able to wear it again anyway. I threw on a robe, grabbed some comfy pajamas, and headed to my bathroom to take a shower. Maybe I’d be able to scrub away the memory of his kiss and how it made me feel.
Thirty minutes later, scrubbed until my skin was almost raw, the memory of his kiss still burned in my brain. No amount of hot water was going to take it away. And if I was honest with myself, I didn’t really want it to. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I realized what a mess I’d gotten myself into.
I wished I had the courage to just throw my cards out on the table and tell him how I felt and see what happened, but I didn’t. Not after I’d made it clear how I wasn’t even the one who bid on him, not after all of our talks about not wanting more, and especially not after hearing what he’d said the other day in the newspaper office.
“I don’t think that anyone really expects us to just fall in love from the auction for this story. That’s not really what it was meant to be.”
His words rang over and over in my ears. Even tonight, when he’d kissed me, although it had meant the world to me, it just wasn’t the same for Chance. He’d been following Josh’s directions. For a minute it’d looked like maybe there was a glimmer of hope, of something more, but then he’d dashed that hope by telling me he wanted to just go home.
Even knowing all of that didn’t change how I felt. It didn’t change that I knew I was falling in love with him and there was nothing I could do about it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chance
I want your love
Let’s break the walls between us ~ Aerosmith
The date for Sarah had taken some planning, and I really hoped she liked it.
We hadn’t really talked since dinner at the Italian restaurant. She’d answered the texts I’d sent about our upcoming date, but her responses seemed cool, not the usual, bubbly Sarah. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I couldn’t wait to see her today, to see where things stood with us. I’d decided to throw caution to the wind and try to let her see how I really felt.
I pulled up in front of her house. Before I could get out of my truck to knock on her door, she came out. I tried to read her expression. While she didn’t look angry or upset, something just seemed…off, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. I jumped out to head around to open her car door.
“I’ve got it, don’t worry about it.” She smiled and waved me off. Once again I was struck by how something was missing from her smile.
“Sarah, can we talk about what happened the other night at the restaurant?”
She didn’t look at me. She just played with the cuff of her jacket. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Sarah—”
“Chance, please, just drop it. It’s fine.” She finally looked me in the eye. “Seriously, everything’s cool.”
Regardless of her words, I didn’t really believe her. But I dropped it. Now probably wasn’t the time to talk about it, anyway, with Josh sitting in the back seat.
The ride was quieter than usual. We’d talk every now and then, but it seemed forced. I finally turned on some music to try to cover the awkwardness as we drove for a little over an hour. I noticed that for once, she didn’t do her normal twenty questions to try to get me to tell her where we were going. At one point, she turned around and chatted with Josh, something she never did on our date
rides.
Something was definitely up.
I slowed the truck and pulled into a parking space. An old, historic library towered over us, its stone walls weathered from time and the elements. We all climbed out, met Elle in the lot, and walked inside. The library had three stories, with a staircase that wrapped around leading upstairs on either side of the main lower room.
“Wow,” Sarah breathed.
I smiled. It really was impressive. I’d gone here once on a field trip in elementary school, and when I tried to imagine a special place to bring Sarah that she’d love…this place had immediately sprung to mind.
I reached for her hand to lead her up the stairs. She glanced at me but took my hand. We walked up the winding, iron staircase.
“This is beautiful,” she whispered. “I’ve never seen a library this big.”
I was so glad she liked it. The happiness and awe on her face made all the planning totally worth it. And we hadn’t even gotten to my surprise yet.
“This floor is mostly research books,” I explained. “Scholarly journals and all that kind of stuff.” We wandered around. Rows and rows of tall shelves of books surrounded us. Faded carpet muffled our footsteps.
We passed through a row of shelves, and the room opened to study tables. They were mostly empty, but here and there someone sat hunched over a book, usually with a stack of others off to the side. Each table had a reading lamp, this old kind with a rounded glass dome.
Something about being in such a quiet setting, with Sarah, felt almost sacred.
We tiptoed through the section with the tables, not wanting to disturb anyone’s work. The far wall showed two doors, one marked Private, the other marked Rare Books. I squeezed her hand and led her to the door on the right.
She cocked her head and whispered, “What are we doing?”
“You’ll see.” I grinned. “Close your eyes.”
The Boyfriend Bid (The Girlfriend Request) Page 13