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I shake my head. “Not exactly. She kind of doesn’t know we have a date tomorrow,” I wink, sliding out my chair.
I’ve done this so many times I don’t wait to get a story straight. Approaching an unsuspecting woman and sweeping her off her feet comes as naturally to me as breathing. She was simple, a waitress, just the thought of being noticed should excite her. And once she knows I remember her from the newsstand it will convince her to say yes.
Standing intentionally in her eye line I make sure she sees me as she walks back through the push doors into the kitchen. I smile and she smiles politely back, and then I wait.
Suave is a club that’s never really full–billionaires love their privacy–but I hang back until enough people have left before I make my move. The last thing I want is for little miss red to get spooked.
“I’m sorry I ruined your morning the other day,” I say, touching her upper arm to catch her attention as she’s on her way back from another table.
My hand stays there, on her arm, and she doesn’t move it. She just stands there and smiles at me, a slight frown creasing her perfectly sculpted brows. Then her expression softens suddenly.
“Oh, of course. I remember now.” Her recognition turns awkward.
I’m not the kind of guy a woman forgets, not even after a short conversation. So her initial reaction throws me a bit. Still, I’m a pro at this and recover quickly.
“Let me make it up to you,” I offer. “I’m Ethan, and I’d like to take you to dinner. I promise not to say anything about the greatest hoax in the history of mankind,” I joke, turning up the charm.
She finally shifts so my hand falls away from her arm. “You mean marriage?” she asks, giving me a half-smile.
I can’t help but chuckle softly. “Yes, that.”
She dips her head, a light blush coloring her cheeks. “Well, at least you’re honest. And you’re entitled to your opinion.”
The woman begins walking to the staff cloakroom, totally dismissing my dinner request. I move quicky to fall in step beside her, our hands brushing against each other every few steps. My every move is intentional, I’m building familiarity. Planting the seeds for love from the very beginning. Nothing will be a coincidence where she’s concerned.
“I didn’t catch your name.” I try to sound conversational.
She glances at me and then looks straight ahead again, sliding her jacket from the rack. “Cassidy. And you really don’t have to bother with dinner. I’m fine.”
She doesn’t look directly at me, maybe she’s afraid I’ll catch something in her blue eyes.
“Oh, I know I don’t have to. I want to,” I say, taking her hand and stopping her. “I’ll make it the best dinner you’ve ever had.”
She turns to look up at me, her lashes fluttering over her eyes. She isn’t the kind of woman I usually go for. She isn’t wearing any make up, none that I can see anyway. If anything, Cassidy has the air of a beautiful woman who has no idea just how beautiful she is.
She bites her bottom lip lightly, a nervous move that unintentionally warms my blood and makes me forget my mission for a second.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she smiles. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
She doesn’t even give me a chance to convince her.
I watch her walk for a while, her petite frame cutting across the floor and leaving for the night. I’m so perplexed by the cold reception that I’m unable to move from my spot, staring at the door that’s just swung closed behind her.
There’s something about Cassidy that doesn’t fit the formula. She’s something else entirely, something interesting and thrilling.
“This is far from over, Cassidy,” I murmur, and make my way out into the night.
I don’t even notice Edward’s driver pulling up next to me until my friend sticks his head out of the window, grinning like a fool.
“Looks like there’s a flaw in that formula of yours, Casanova,” he laughs. “Has anyone ever said no to you before, or was this a first?”
He had seen the whole thing and was making sure to get his money’s worth of gloating.
“It’s not over just yet, Ed,” I smile weakly, my ego bruised.
This just gets him going again and his laughter rings through the quiet street. “I thought you were the expert at manufacturing love, Ethan.”
I dig my hands into my pockets and glare at him. “There’s nothing wrong with the formula, okay? It’s science and the science stands. I just have to try a different angle, that’s all.”
