AllFreeNovel
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He bought me a book.
Not just any book. One Kylie said was the hottest one she’s read all year.
I’m going to have words with her tomorrow.
The ride to the restaurant is quiet; the soft drawl of Riley Green singing about finding love drifts through the speakers as Mitch drives through town.
I don’t know what sparked the change in him when I opened his present, but it took everything I had not to fan myself. And when he realized he bought me monster romance? There was no coming down from that. His heated gaze told me just how much he liked it.
I fidget with the hem of my jacket, not sure what to do with our piercing silence. First dates are bound to be awkward, but this is more. It’s not uncomfortable, not entirely. But it’s not peaceful either.
I can’t stop picturing his hooded eyes when I opened the door. His eyes raked over me from head to toe like he wanted to devour me, and I wanted to let him.
Needing a break from the silence, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Thank you again for taking care of my van. Carl says it will only take a couple of days.”
“Do you have any deliveries to do before you get it back?” He doesn’t take his eyes off of the road as he replies.
“I, uh, I don’t know.” I want to smack my head. Between the van breaking down, helping with the wedding, and now our date, I didn’t think to look. “I’ll have to check when I get to the shop in the morning.”
He gives me a sharp nod. “Let me know. I’ll do them for you.”
“Mitch, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Good thing you’re not asking. I’m not leaving you without a vehicle to run your business.”
“But the bar?”
“I work nights this week.”
“When will you sleep?”
“Don’t worry about me, babe.” He gives me a wink that sends a fresh wave of heat through my body.
My shoulders relax at the return of playful Mitch—the one from the wedding. Even with the silence that fills the truck once again, I feel myself relax.
He pulls into a spot at Angelo’s but doesn’t move to put the car in park. I watch as he stares ahead at the building, frozen.
“Is everything okay?” Now I’m worried that he’s changed his mind. I’m fully prepared that he’s going to turn around and take me home, realizing that it’s not me that he wants to date.
I’m aware of how this must look. He’s from the city, outgoing, is used to being around lots of people and thriving in that environment. Then there’s me. I grew up in Logan Creek and haven’t gone much farther than two hours away. I prefer to stay home. I don’t like crowds, and I definitely don’t like noise. We couldn’t be more wrong for each other.
But opposites attract.
I sigh, thinking about the audiobook that embarrassed me. That story is opposites attract. In fact, other than the hero being a billionaire, it’s pretty similar. He’s from the city and has his own company. He’s used to galas, fundraisers, corporate events. She’s a small-town girl that had only ventured out into the city for her friend’s bachelorette party and met the handsome billionaire at the restaurant.
Except this isn’t a romance novel. This is real life.
“This is all wrong,” Mitch says, turning to me. “I’m sorry.”
I close my eyes, feeling the tears well up in them. I nod, clasping my hands in my lap.
“Let me…” he trails off.
“It’s okay, Mitch. I understand. If you could just drop me off at home.”
“What? No!” He turns to me, panic on his face. “I mean, unless that’s what you want, but that’s not what I want.”
“It’s not?”
