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CHAPTER1
Valentine
The Cardi is stunning. One of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever visited, I’m sure. It’s also intimidating as heck. You come here if you have money, and I don’t. I barely make ends meet in a good month, which is why I was crazy to agree to this. If my date doesn’t pay for my meal, I won’t have heat for the next two months.
“Welcome to the Cardi; do you have a reservation?” The attractive host smiles at me with no judgment in her stare at my rip-off designer dress, and it helps relax me a little bit.
“I’m meeting someone.”Whose name I don’t even know.He’s the stepbrother of my best friend, so, weirdly, I don’t know his name, and I’m still trying to figure out how I was convinced to come.
“Oh, do you have their name?” She taps away on her tablet screen before looking up at me for an answer.
“It’s a blind date. I was sort of forced into this by my friend.” I dig my nails into my palms to stop talking. I ramble when I’m nervous, and right now, I’m about to jump out of my skin.
“That’s so fun!”I’m glad one of us is enthusiastic about it.“Let’s try and narrow this down. What time is your reservation for?”
Glancing at my watch, I wince. “Seven.” I’m ten minutes late. How was I such an idiot that I didn’t even get his name? They don’t even share surnames, and she refused to tell me.
“Perfect, I have one table for two for that time, and the gentleman has already arrived.”Great.“Would you like me to pop over there first and inquire if he’s waiting on a mystery date?” I nearly sag in relief.
“Would that be too much trouble?” I don’t want to put her out; as a waitress myself, I know just how hard her job can be.
“Not at all. What’syourname? So if it is him, I can ask if he at least knows yours?” She’s far smarter than I am tonight.
“Valentine Joy.” Her giggle puts me at ease when normally, that type of response would annoy me.
“What a perfect name for tonight. Have a seat right there, and I’ll be back in a moment.” Grateful to get off my feet, I sit on one of the waiting chairs and watch as she wanders off into the mix of people.
It gives me a moment to gather my wits and reflect on why I’m here when I don’t want to be. I’m lonely, sure, but Callie says I’m desperate. I don’t feel that way, but she insists that her mysterious stepbrother is the perfect man for me.
I grew up with six sisters, and as the near-middle child at twenty, I often feel like I’m living in limbo. I long for a family of my own. Husband, kids, dog, white picket fence, I want it all. I’ve always been a dreamer, and lately, it’s like I’m just floating through life.
That’s probably why Callie set me up.
I’ve joked about my internal clock ticking away, but I’m still so young. I know I have time to build the future I want, but I’ve never been a particularly patient woman.
It’s been ten years since my parents died, but I remember the way they loved each other so deeply that it hurt to watch. At one time, it grossed me out, and I would always roll my eyes at them, but over the last couple of years, I’ve realized that I’d kill to have just one more day watching them dance in the kitchen or sneak kisses in the living room.
After they suffocated in a freak avalanche in the Swiss Alps, along with an entire hotel of people—it was an anniversary gift to each other—life hasn’t been the same for any of us. I’m closer to my two younger sisters, Summer and Bunny, because when we were placed in foster care, the three of us were lucky enough to remain together until we each aged out. Now we share a two-bedroom apartment in a fairly nice area of Pensacola, and Summer just landed a job at a nightclub.
My sisters are happy.
I fake it.
I want to be—I have so many things to be grateful for—but I’m just…not.
“Valentine!” The host is back. “Fantastic news. It is him, and he’s waiting for you.” Her hand fans her face as I stand. “He is quite good-looking, too, if not a little grumpy.”
“Grumpy?” I swallow around a lump in my throat.
“Moody?” She shrugs and walks away.
I guess I should follow along or be left behind.
Grumpy? Moody?Great.
CHAPTER2
Roman
