Page 14 of What Started In Deception

“Maybe we can figure out how you can start trusting me a little.”

She said nothing as they opened the door to loud pop music playing through ceiling speakers and dozens of patrons seated at full tables.

A harried blonde glanced up from her chart at the hostess stand. “A table for two?”

He nodded, sending her a friendly smile. “That would be great.”

“Right this way,” their hostess said, bringing them to a corner booth where it was a bit quieter, which was perfect. “Chelsea will be right with you.”

“Thanks,” he said as he sat down and picked up the menu, scanning his options as Lydia settled in across from him. “So, what’s good here?”

She shrugged. “I don’t come here very often. Sometimes my friends and I share a plate of nachos.”

He set the menu down. “Nachos it is then.”

Their waitress came over—another blonde, most likely in her early thirties. “Hello, folks. What can I bring you two tonight?”

“I’ll have a water,” Lydia said with a small smile, clearly still uncomfortable.

“If you could make that two waters. And we’ll take a plate of your nachos grande for the table, please.”

“Sure thing,” the woman said as she collected their menus and walked off.

He met Lydia’s gaze again, sending her a small smile.

She barely smiled back.

He rested his forearms on the table and laced his fingers, hoping that they could move beyond the constant tension radiating between them. “So, should we start with small talk or get right to it?”

She jerked her shoulders. “I guess I don’t understand how this is going to work.”

Apparently, they were going to get right to it. “We need to create a solid cover if we’re going to pull this off. That’s our first step.”

“No one’s going to buy that you and I are in a relationship. Certainly not my family.”

“They will if we sell it.”

She shook her head. “Will’s wife is one of my best friends. Mac and I tell each other pretty much everything. She would know if I was dating someone seriously.”

He shrugged. “So, you didn’t want to mention anything until you knew we were the real deal.”

The waitress came back with their waters.

“Thanks,” they said at the same time.

Lydia pulled her glass closer, taking a sip. “So, how long have we been secretly dating?”

He puffed up his cheeks, then blew out a long breath. “I don’t know. Five or six months.”

Her eyes grew wide. “I haven’t told anyone that I’ve been dating you for six months?”

He winced. “I know. It’s not ideal. But our relationship would have to be serious enough that you would want to bring me to the compound with you. It takes time to build something solid like that.”

She sighed quietly as she stared at her water.

He studied the various emotions playing over her gorgeous face—the worry and skepticism. He could read her like a book, which was great for him but bad for their situation. Her family would know her even better. “We don’t have a lot of time to pull this off, so we need to spend time together. A lot of time. We need to get to know each other. The way that a couple would.”

Her eyes met his.