Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
She had no idea where she was going, but had another jaw-dropping moment as the car pulled up to the valet for Elysian Heights. An attendant opened her door and helped her out, and she walked into the exclusive restaurant, which was surprisingly… not busy and fairly quiet for a Saturday evening, except for the faint sound of classical music playing in the background.
Frowning in confusion, she stepped up to the woman standing behind the hostess stand, who smiled at her.
“I assume you’re here for Chase Gossard?” she asked, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Lauren nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“He’s waiting for you in the dining area. Right this way.”
She followed the woman to a set of double mahogany doors, which she opened, revealing a room with just one table in the middle, and Chase standing beside it in a tailored suit, the entire restaurant empty of any other guests.
She gaped in shock, wondering how in the world Chase had managed such a feat, and how he’d known about her secret desire to eat at Elysian Heights.
“Enjoy your evening, Ms. Connelly,” the woman said pleasantly, then closed the doors behind her as she retreated, leaving Lauren alone with Chase.
* * *
Chase couldn’t recall ever being so nervous as he watched Lauren slowly approach him, her eyes wide as she took in the interior of the quiet restaurant, her gaze slowly landing on him. He walked toward her, too, meeting her halfway.
She smiled, and that was all he needed to see to know that everything was going to be okay. She looked so radiant in the pink dress that conformed to her curves, her eyes sparkling with awe and a flush on her beautiful face. She was such a breath of fresh air when he’d been suffocating for far too long, and she made him want to be a better man, just for her.
And dear God, he just wanted to drop to his knees in front of her and beg her to forgive him for being such a dumbass the previous weekend. But he already knew there was no need for that. This woman knew all the parts of him, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and she’d already accepted him, flaws and all. It had just taken him a little longer to figure his shit out.
Last weekend, he’d honestly believed he was being noble, that in letting her go, he was protecting her from the emotionally damaged man he believed himself to be. His talk with Billie had been a defining moment, where he’d realized that ending things with Lauren had been all about his own self-preservation, wrapped up in false heroism. He hadn’t been saving her from him. All he’d been doing was denying himself the chance to know and experience the kind of love she gave so freely, no strings attached.
Reaching her, he took Lauren’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm as he escorted her back to the table. He held out Lauren’s chair and waited until she was seated before joining her in the seat across from her.
She looked around in confusion, taking in the elegant décor before her gaze came back to his. “I, uh, don’t understand.”
He tipped his head and smiled at her. “What are you having a hard time comprehending?”
“This is quite the grand gesture,” she teased him, easing any last lingering traces of anxiety he might have been feeling. “But… I mean… how?”
“How did I know you wanted to dine at Elysian Heights?” he asked, trying to guess what she was asking. “Your gramps mentioned it.”
She shook her head, causing the soft waves in her hair to brush along her shoulders. “No, I mean, it’s a Saturday night and we’re the only ones here, at a restaurant that books out months in advance.”
Oh, yeah, that. He smirked and shrugged. “I might have pulled a few strings to make it happen. The owner is a client.” Not to mention, he’d paid a pretty penny to have the existing reservations rescheduled, and the dining room all to themselves for the next two hours.
“And the dress…” she said softly. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I’m glad I did,” he replied without hesitation. “You look… breathtaking.”
A pink blush swept across her cheeks. “All this… it’s too much.”
He disagreed. “You’re worth every fucking penny, sweetheart. I realized that spoiling you makes me happy, so you might as well get used to it.”
Before she could respond, they were interrupted by the only waiter in the dining area as he came to their table with the bottle of wine Chase had ordered earlier, and poured them each a glass. Oliver introduced himself, then gave them an overview of what to expect for their five-course tasting menu, which was being prepared by celebrity chef Rand Turro, himself.
The meal started immediately, and wanting Lauren to enjoy the complete Elysian Heights experience, he deliberately kept their conversation light. The last thing he wanted to do was to ruin the atmosphere with a serious discussion, though he knew it was going to happen before the night was over. There were things he wanted to say to her, things she needed to hear.