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The thought of eating alone doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ve never been the type to sit in a restaurant by myself to eat or have drinks. I prefer the solitude of my home.
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine—”
I’m cut off when he says, “Please, stay. I feel bad that I invited you out to dinner and had to cancel. It’ll make me feel better knowing you still had a good meal.”
I look around the restaurant and only spot a few occupied tables. It’s silly to have this feeling of being looked at sitting at my table, alone, so I push the uncomfortable feeling aside.
“Okay. Thank you, Eric. I’m so sorry you couldn’t make it.”
“I am, too. Can I have a rain check?”
The guilt I feel from the relief of not having dinner with him and the hopeful sound of his voice is the only reason I agree.
“I’d love to.” I bite my lip at the lie, knowing I’ll come up with an excuse to not go next time.
“Great. Sit and enjoy your meal. I’ll see you tomorrow, Poppy.”
I thank him one more time before we hang up. Just as I set my phone on the table, the waitress comes back with a menu in hand.
“Would you like a menu?” She smiles kindly at me.
“Yes, please.”
She leaves, giving me a few minutes to look it over. I scan it, still feeling awkward. I lift my head to look around the room, once again feeling silly when I find no one watching me. I shift in my chair, just as my phone alert goes off. I can’t help but smile when I see it’s from Sterling.
Sterling: How was your day, Beautiful?
I love it when he calls me that, because it makes me feel beautiful.
Me: Uneventful. How was yours?
I set my phone down and glance back at the menu as I wait for his reply.
Sterling: Business meetings all day. What are you doing right now?
I peek around the restaurant again, wondering if I should tell him the truth. I hate liars, and I don’t want to become one, so I decide on the truth.
Me: I’m sitting in a restaurant, getting ready to eat.
His reply is almost instant, but before I can look, the waitress comes back. She takes my order and saunters off in her black flats.
Sterling: Why are you sitting in a restaurant alone?
I bring my head up and look around the room again. There’s no way he can know I’m alone unless he’s watching, and the thought alone sends pleasure through my treacherous body. What in the hell is wrong with me?
Me: Are you watching me again?
I wait anxiously for a reply, stupidly excited at the thought.
My phone pings again in my hands, just as someone calls my name.
“Poppy?”
Feeling frustrated at being interrupted, I tear my gaze away from my phone and look up into a pair of piercing green eyes.
Caught off guard by the man standing in front of me, I do the only thing I can do at the moment—sit there and stare like an idiot. Mr. Knight’s suit jacket is missing and the sleeves of his black dress shirt are rolled up to his elbows, making his tattoos stand out. His hair has that rough and tumble look, and there’s a light layer of dark scruff on his face. I just saw him not even forty-five minutes ago, but the sight of him makes me breathless nonetheless. There’s something about the man that always sends tingles all over my body.
He clears his throat, reminding me that I’ve been staring at him for the last several seconds. I blink and drop my gaze to the phone that’s in my lap, embarrassed.
