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"No, it's going to be late."
"I know a good restaurant around here. I can eat dinner there while I wait for you."
I considered this. I liked the convenience of having someone pick me up and drop me off at a whim, but I didn’t want to keep him overtime. "Let’s do the following. Have dinner at the restaurant. Text me when you’re ready. If I’m done, too, you can pick me up. If I have to stay longer, you can go home.” I liked to treat my employees with respect.
"That’s great, boss. Let’s do that." He smiled in the rearview mirror.
I stepped out of the car, immediately thinking I should have brought a coat. It wasn’t very warm for the middle of September.
I took a good look at the building. I had to give it to the coordinators of this thing: they'd chosen a good venue. We'd had company events here, and they’d always run smoothly. Even so, I would have preferred to write a check rather than attend.
I stepped inside, heading straight to the young woman who stood next to the door with a list in her hands.
"Dominic Waldorf," I said.
Her eyes widened. "Welcome, sir. I hope you have a great time tonight. You’re at table seven."
"Thank you."
"May I get you anything?" she asked. "I can ask the servers to take extra care of you tonight... or I can do it myself." Her smile widened. "I’ll give you my number. In case you need anything later.”
This sort of attention had been happening ever since the press published that damn article: “Chicago’s Most Eligible Bachelor Is Single Again.”
"I can find my own way to my table. But thank you.”
Tonight is a mistake. I shouldn't have come here.
Chapter Two
Reese
"Good gracious, girl, you didn't eat anything,” Gran said.
"I'm a bit nervous," I admitted. As promised, I'd stopped by her house the evening of the charity event, not just for food but to get some cuddles from Rose. Gran and her husband, John, were babysitting her this weekend. Rose was sitting in my lap, playing with the belt on my dress. John wasn’t home right now. Pity, as I would have liked to say hello.
"You've been to events like these hundreds of times," Gran exclaimed. "What's there to be nervous about?"
Oh, right. I cleared my throat. "I don't know." I hadn't told a soul that Malcolm was attending as well. Knowing my big mouth, I was about to ruin it any second now. But I was determined to keep myself in check. Even if I asked Gran not to tell the rest of the family, she’d worry, and that wouldn't do. And besides, I'd given myself several pep talks at home about this evening.
Spoiler alert: none of them worked.
I was a basket case.
Rose held up her hands, and I helped her to her feet. She was barefoot, pressing her little feet on my thighs. God, I loved kids. My heart ached every time I held one. She opened her arms wider and leaned forward. She knew what I needed.
Rose put her tiny arms on my shoulders and the side of her face straight over my boobs. Then she straightened up and pushed herself onto her toes even more. I lowered my cheek to her tiny mouth, and she placed a wet kiss there, probably also wiping away three layers of foundation. I immediately grabbed a napkin and tried to get it off her lips.
Gran tsked. "Oh, she made a mess of you."
"It doesn't matter," I said. "I'll just reapply if needed."
"Chop, chop, off you go, or you’ll be late. Unless you want to actually eat?"
I looked at Gran apologetically. She'd made her specialty—apple pie.
Wait a second.
Gran only made apple pie when she wanted to get information out of someone.
