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As we get closer, I study her profile.
Bianca is beautiful. She’s shorter than me. Her body is curvier. Her brown hair reaches past her shoulder. Her blue eyes are as bright as the sky on a sunny afternoon.
Today, she’s wearing a black skirt and a light blue blouse. The black heels on her feet are higher than mine.
Just as we near her, she glances in our direction.
Her face lights up instantly.
“Maren!” she says my name with enough excitement to turn the head of everyone in the line. “It’s you.”
I rush to her, drawing my arms around her. “It’s so good to see you.”
As her hand pats the middle of my back, she lowers her voice to barely more than a whisper. “How are you?”
“Good,” I reassure her. “I’m really good.”
Still holding tightly to me, she whispers, “Are you on a date with your fake boyfriend?”
That sets me back a step. With a slight shake of my head, I smile. “It’s a working dinner.”
She jerks a thumb over her shoulder toward a man in jeans and a white button-down shirt. “It’s a blind date for me. Kieran is his name.”
I raise a hand to wave to the bearded blond-haired man.
“Hello.” Keats moves to stand next to us. “I’m Keats Morgan. You must be someone important to Maren.”
Offering her hand to him, Bianca tilts her head. “I’m Bianca. Maren is important to me too. Very important.”
Keats smiles. He understands the message woven into her words. Bianca is as protective of me as I am of her.
He takes her hand and shakes it. “I’m her boss.”
Bianca’s blind date wanders over. “Hey, all. I’m Kieran Ratchford. Should we get a table for four?”
Bianca shoots him a look. “No.”
Kieran’s brow furrows. “Why not?”
I know the answer to that. Bianca wants me to have time alone with my boss. I see that in the way she’s smiling at me.
“I changed my mind. I’m craving sushi,” she says as she gazes up at Kieran. “That works for you, right?”
He grins, and with a wink, answers without an ounce of hesitation. “Whatever you want.”Chapter 27KeatsIt’s been a productive night so far. I’ve gotten a glimpse into Maren’s personal life. I heard about Arietta, her roommate, and I had the pleasure of meeting Bianca. I didn’t get an explanation for who she is to Maren, but I can tell the relationship is close.
Maren scrunches her nose as she looks at the paper menu that was placed in her hand once we were seated at a table in the corner.
Only one menu was offered. Maren grabbed ahold of it. I have no issue with a woman who knows what she wants, including what pizza she thinks the two of us should be dining on tonight.
“Number fourteen is a mystery pizza.” She taps her finger to her chin. “Are you allergic to anything other than Dudley?”
I laugh. “Other dogs and cats.”
Her face brightens with a smile. “I think we should trust Arietta and go with the number fourteen. The food smells delicious, so it can’t be a bad choice, right?”
I nod, even though I have no fucking idea what I’m agreeing to. I’m struck by how beautiful she looks with the small candle on the table between us illuminating her face.
I’ve met plenty of attractive women in my life, but Maren is different. She has a glow about her. Maybe it’s from inner peace or pure happiness. Hell, I can’t tell what it is, but I like it.
She orders the pizza and two bottles of domestic beer when the server revisits us to collect the menu.
“You like beer, don’t you?” She smiles. “Did you want something else?”
A kiss. Fuck, I want to kiss her.
“I’m easy.” I lean back on the wooden chair. “I eat whatever I can get my hands on.”
Even in this dimly lit space, I can see that she’s blushing.
I’d eat her all day and night if given a chance. My dick agrees. I shift on my seat to try and calm the bastard down.
I shouldn’t be rocking a hard-on during our business dinner .
Maren picks at a fake arrangement of flowers in a tall vase sitting on the edge of the table. I pushed it aside as soon as I sat down so I could have a clear line of sight. I want to soak in the view all night. I could stare at her for hours.
“What did you want to talk about?” she quizzes.
Marriage, kids, where she likes to vacation.
I swipe a hand over my forehead. I need to fucking stop. Being this infatuated with my assistant is a red flag.
The server returns with two bottles of beer and a basket filled with breadsticks.
I snatch one to keep my mouth busy. This is the first time I’m worried that my desire will outrun my brain and I’ll blurt out something I shouldn’t.
