Page 70 of The Recovery Coach
“Thank you.You don’t look bad yourself.”
He wore navy slacks and a white button-down with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled to reveal forearms that had no business being as alluring as they were.If Olivia could convince him to do something serious, she’d be snagging herself a ten.
He looped an arm around her shoulders.“Are you ready to go?”
“Ready, Freddy,” Olivia said.Then she cringed, because who says that?She sounded like a middle-aged dad.
When they pulled out of Connor’s driveway, she asked, “Can I know where you’re taking me yet?”
He didn’t tell her until they were pulling into a fancy hotel roundabout and a valet attendant took the keys from Valentine.
He circled his fancy-pants car and opened her door for her, giving her a hand.The angle accentuated his height.She had to crane her neck to meet his eyes.
A tall, elegant hostess greeted them as soon as they stepped inside.
“Do you have a reservation?”she asked.
“Two for Valentine.”
The woman led them to a table near the back of the glamorous, dimly lit restaurant.They sat angled toward a window boasting a view of the sound.
“This is gorgeous!How did you find this place?”Olivia asked when they were alone.
Valentine’s cheeks got pink.
“Don’t laugh, okay?”
Olivia curled her lips between her teeth in an attempt to maintain her composure.Any time someone asked her not to laugh, she couldn’t help but crack up.It had been a problem on many occasions.She nodded.
“This is where Hazy brings his hookups.I don’t date.I didn’t have a good spot of my own.”
She couldn’t contain her mirth, and Valentine giggled with her.She waved a hand in front of her face.“I’m so sorry.You said don’t laugh, and I automatically laugh if someone says not to.”
They pulled themselves together right as the waitress returned.After placing their orders, Valentine folded his hands and placed them on the table.
“I have something to say, and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”
“Jeez, what a way to start a conversation.”
“You’ll like it once we get past the first part.”
Olivia took a sip of her water.“Okay, hit me,” she said.
“I don’t want to date you.”
She examined herself, then her surroundings.“Is this not a date?”
“It is,” he said.“But it’s fake.”
“If you needed help learning to date, you could have asked.You didn’t have to trick me into it,” Olivia said, frowning.Her self-esteem took a massive hit, but she did her best to shake it off.
His cheeks grew impossibly redder, and he rubbed his neck.“That’s not what this is.”
“You better spell out whatever it is you’re thinking, because I am not following.”
“I wanted Hazy to think we’re dating.”
His explanation gave Olivia absolutely zero additional context.“Uh, why?”
