Page 31 of More For Me

“What the hell do you have to be sorry for?”

She waves her hands around the overly romantic display. “They did this on purpose.”

I have to bite back a laugh. “You think?”

She nods, clearly distressed. “I’m pretty sure they’re trying to set us up.”

I gesture at the table, where rose petals are arranged in the shape of a heart. “What on earth would make you think that?”

She lets out a half-laugh, half-sob and covers her face. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Hey.” I peel her hands away. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“But this is my fault!”

“Of course it’s not. This was your idiot cousins.”

She scowls. “I bet my sisters are behind it. They’ve been hinting about us dating lately.”

“They have?”

She nods, hands forming fists at her sides. She’s so freaking cute right now I can’t stand it. “My sisters totally put them up to this. They’re devious little monsters.”

I laugh, taking one of her hands and forcing her fingers to relax. “Lele, I’m not mad.”

“You’re not?”

I stare down into her blue eyes, mind spinning. Maybe I should just tell her. Maybe I should finally admit it. Tell her that I could never be mad about spending an evening in her company, no matter what the circumstances. That I’ve wanted to get her into a romantic restaurant for years. That I would put up with any amount of scheming from her cousins if it means I get to be with her.

But something stops me. Some fear lodges in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, let alone spill my innermost secrets.

It’s too soon,I think.She’s not ready.

So instead I force a smile and jerk a thumb over my shoulder at the violinist, who’s in the middle of something classical and romantic-sounding. “I could do without the music, and maybe the rose petals, but other than that, what’s there to complain about? We’re in a good restaurant with an extensive wine list and your cousin’s credit card. Sounds like a good night to me.”

She smiles weakly, but I can see the relief in her eyes. “You’re sure you don’t want to just leave?”

“Not a chance.” I point at the seat. “Sit down, Lele. Let’s buy some expensive fucking champagne and eat our weight in sushi rolls.”

Her smile grows. “Sounds like a plan.”