Page 66 of Can’t Say No

I roll my eyes. “An absolute delight.”

True to his word, the paparazzi my dad called in are lining the street when Connor and I pull up. They look ridiculous here in Ridgecrest, vultures circling our quaint Main Street.

“You look stunning,” Connor says with so much sincerity I think my heart might burst. It feels wrong, the raw, real adoration shining off of him juxtaposed with the cameras primed and ready to create whatever false narrative my team paid them to conjure up.

I look back at him. “No S.A.T. words tonight?”

“Nope,” Connor says, shaking his head, a boyish grin spread wide. “That little top of yours has me all tongue tied.”

Caroline helped me finally settle on black jeans with a silk handkerchief style halter top. Paired with gold hoop earring and a messy updo, it’s the perfect mix of casual and glam.

“Ready to go put on a show?” Connor says it playfully, but I can still hear the ache in his voice. Try as we might to bring it fully into reality, this relationship of ours can’t seem to find solid ground.

I flip the visor mirror down to give my lips one last swipe of gloss. “Always ready.”

Connor rounds the hood in two long strides and opens my door. I let him take my hand and lead me past the circling sharks. They eat it up. Connor plays his part well, pausing at the restaurant’s door to land a sweet kiss on my cheek, placing his wide hand at the small of my back, and halfheartedly shooing away the paps like a devoted boyfriend ought to do.

It’s front page material for sure.

Gustoso has the kind of small town elegant charm that you can’t help but love. Free of pretension, the decorations match the menu in their understated quality. Dim lights, crisp white tablecloths, heavy southern accents at every turn… might not hold a candle to a Michelin Star restaurant in L.A., but it’s the cream of the crop here in Ridgecrest.

“After you,” Connor says, gesturing for me to slide into the booth ahead of him. Our table is tucked away and I know Connor called ahead to make that happen. His intentionality makes my heart skip a beat.

It’s a funny thing, to be cared for in this gentle, tender way. Every tryst I’ve had has either been for optics only or a mutually beneficial rendezvous. Even with my puppet master picking this place and sending paparazzi, Connor’s steady smile and level head in the face of this ridiculous farce feel like a comfort I’ve never known.

“You okay?” Connor says, cutting through my thoughts. “You got real quiet.” He glances across the table to the empty booth. “Want me to switch to the other side?”

I beam up at him and bask for a moment Connor’s glow. His kind, caring heart, the gentle way he can read my mind. The mischievous gleam in his eye that makes my pulse race. His charisma is all consuming, and I’m happily drowning.

“No. I was actually thinking how no one’s ever sat beside me like this before.”

Connor cocks his head to the side, confusion written all over his handsome face. “Sat like this how?”

I knock my shoulder into his, connecting our bodies. “Side by side in the booth with me.” I worry my lip, suddenly growing self conscious about the admission. “It’s silly, but I’m not used to the feeling of someone actually wanting to be with me. Seen with me, yes. But to just be with me… that’s a first.”

Connor leans in, his warm breath tickling my ear. “Lanie baby, I want all the firsts you’ll give me.”

How many times can a man make your heart stop before you die? Because Connor Majors is testing that limit.

Our waitress rounds the corner to our table and I’m met with a familiar face.

“Ohmygosh! Miss James! They said someone important was coming in tonight, they didn’t say it was you!”

Abby’s blonde curls bounce in time with her whole body as she rocks on the balls of her feet.

Connor clears his throat dramatically, drawing a giggle from our student.

She waves him off. “Yeah, yeah, happy to see you too, Mr. Majors.” She cuts her eyes around the room and lowers her voice. “So glad y’all got seated with me. Some of these other girls don’t know how to act around celebrities.”

Now it’s my turn for a fit of giggles. “We are very grateful to have you serve us, Abby. Care to tell us what the specials are tonight?”

Abby straightens with a professional smile and prattles off the menu. As the evening passes, Abby takes it on herself to be our body guard of sorts, keeping nosy patrons and staff away from our table. Connor keeps the conversation afloat easily and comfortably. His warm laugh nestles deep in my chest, and I forget for a moment how tenuous this whole thing is.

I let myself pretend it’s real, that we could do this for the rest of our lives. It’s a beautiful fantasy.

“Hey,” Connor says, his hand falling to my thigh. “You wanna get out of here?” Mischief dances in his eyes, and my pulse quickens at the promise in his voice.

I smile back at him. “More than anything.”