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He cocked his head and leaned his arms on the table. “And you’re inviting me to be your date?”
The hot flush on my face spread to my neck and headed south. “Yes. I’m sorry it’s such late notice, but, um, I only met you yesterday.” I gave a nervous laugh.
“And you didn’t find anyone worthy of being your date until you met me. Makes perfect sense. I accept.” He beamed at me.
I blew out my breath in a whoosh. “Great! Thanks. I’m…well, I’m actually looking forward to going now that you’re going with me.” I cut off another piece of steak and stopped with my knife in midair. “Oh, I should warn you, though. I’m the maid of honor, and I’ll have to do wedding stuff like stand at the front. But we’ll get to hang out together afterward at the reception.”
He picked up his water glass. “It’ll be fun. I’ve never been to a wedding before.”
“You’re lucky.” I returned my attention to my steak. I wanted to enjoy it before it got cold.
“Ah. So you’re saying I shouldn’t really make this my new hobby after all. Are you not a fan of happily ever afters?”
There was no way I could tell him what I really felt. This was our first date. All my feelings on the subject were unspeakable and trended along the lines ofI love happily ever afters, I was just hoping to get mine before Lindsay got hers. Or something way too selfish, likeI’ll be a fan of weddings when I get one for myself. OrYes! I love them! Wanna make one together with me right now?Definitely not that one unless I wanted to chase him as he ran away from me screaming. I took a deep breath and set my fork and knife down. “I think happily ever afters are wonderful, and everyone deserves one of their own.”
He nodded and smiled. “Then what’s your objection to weddings?”
I adjusted my napkin and resettled it in my lap. “It’s a high-pressure party. It’s not just the bride and groom. It’s their parents and siblings and friends and all their extended family members. The weight of everyone’s expectations is suffocating.” I rested my forearm on the edge of the table. “It’s just a lot.”
His expression was full of concern. “Sounds stressful.”
“It is. So stressful. But you’ll be pretty removed from it all. You’ll be fine.” He’d be more than fine—with his super hotness, the bridesmaids would be hanging on him like tree ornaments.
“I’ll be great, because I’ll be there with you.” He set down his water glass and covered my hand with his. A warm tingle radiated from his touch and traveled up my arm.
Before I could think of something flirtatious to say back, my phone rang.
“I can probably ignore that,” I said. “Let me just turn it off.” I glanced at the screen. Mom. Worry bubbled in the pit of my stomach. Unlike Lindsay, my mother only called me when it was serious.
“Sorry,” I apologized again. “I need to take this.”
His brow furrowed, and his look of concern intensified. “No problem. Please do.”
I tapped the screen to answer. “Mom? What’s up?”
“Hi, sweetie. Could you please meet me at the hotel as soon as you can?” Her voice was high and tight. She struggled to pull in a deep breath. “Someone has stolen your sister’s wedding dress.”
“Uh—” I started, but found I had nothing to say. My mind was boggled. So many questions. Foremost of which was, did Lindsay steal it herself for the attention? “I’ll be right there.”
I ended the call and gazed down at my only half-eaten filet mignon. I wouldn’t even get to find out if there was dessert.
I stuck my phone back into my purse and faced my date. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
His eyes studied me. “Is everything okay? Anything I could do to help?”
“Someone stole my sister’s wedding dress?” I said it like a question because I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.
“Wow. That’s really…weird.”
“It is.” I shook my head. “Really weird. And it sounds like a made-up excuse to leave, but it’s definitely not.” I placed my napkin on the table and slung my purse over my arm as I got up.
He stood. “Of course not. There are far better excuses that could extricate you from this date faster.”
I laughed. “But I don’t want to be extricated.”
He grinned. “That’s good to hear.” He inched forward and put his hand on my arm with a questioning look.
Stepping close, I gazed up into his eyes and tried to make my lips look inviting.
