Page 38 of My Best Friend's CEO Dad

What? I ask myself the question as I get dressed. What do we really have? How can I explain or justify it?

This is our first date, but somehow, the question seems absurd. Somehow, I know, deep in my bones, that Maci is the one for me.

I lead her into the restaurant, the entire place covered in rose petals. Almost all the tables are moved aside so that the chandelier light glitters down on the one table in the center of the room. Maci’s hand tightens on my arm. She lets out one of those soul-searing breaths.

“Oh, Luke,” she mutters.

I turn to her and almost lose my resolve. After getting dressed, she said, So, where’s this dress? I showed it to her, and she changed. It’s a glittery silver piece like the one she wore at our four-person dinner back at the house before I ran out on her. Her hair is wild from the steaminess, making her look natural and even more beautiful since she’s so naturally perfect.

“Do you like it?” I ask, leading her through the room.

When I pull out her chair, she says, “I love it. I’ve never been on a date like this before. Well, any date, but even if I had, I know this would be the best.”

I touch her side, guiding her into the chair, then turn and walk quickly from the room. “What the…”

But I keep walking. I have to do this. It’s all part of the plan.

CHAPTER 19

MACI

Iknew he was pissed about the whole no-sex thing, but I didn’t think he would just leave me here. The second I’m in the chair, he turns, leaving the room so quickly. My throat gets tight, and tears threaten to pour down my cheeks. I feel a weird, stinging sensation in my eyes.

I bite down, forcing the tears away. I won’t let this reduce me to being dramatic just because he’s decided to ditch, but then he returns, and I let out a delighted laugh. The ricochet of the mood is so extreme. I’m flooded with light when I see him holding a menu in a waiter’s shirt and jacket. He smirks as he walks across the room.

“Anything to drink, miss?” he asks.

I laugh again. “I’ll take an OJ,” I tell him, “but it seems I’ve been stood up.”

His eyes twinkle playfully. I thought he might just be trying to be nice when he said he didn’t just want me for sex. Then he mentioned the connection we share, and I can’t deny that I feel it, too. I can’t deny that it smolders between us. Whatever it is, it’s not just physical, not just lust-filled bubbles bursting on the surface of a private pool.

“The man must be insane,” Lukas says.

Wait, is he doing a British accent?

“I didn’t know all waiters had to be British,” I say.

His lips twitch, but he does his best to maintain character. “I’m not sure I know what you mean, miss.” He bursts out laughing. “Okay, okay,” he goes on in his normal voice. “Maybe that was a bit fair. OJ, yeah? And what do you want to eat?”

He places the menu down.

I laugh again when I read the one item written on it: steak and fries since I’ll be cooking, and I’m not much of a chef.

I grin up at him. Being with him goes beyond an emotional rollercoaster. This is like the whole freaking theme park.

“I’ll take your finest steak, sir.”

He smirks. “I’m sure your date will have the same.”

“Are you really going to cook for me?”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised,” he says. “I want to cook for you.”

“How is it?” he asks while I’m still chewing my first bite of steak.

Despite everything, a smile lights me up. I’m beaming like the most naïve person ever, as though I didn’t just stop us from going all the way because I knew how bad it would ultimately end. I can’t help it. We’re back to forget-everything mode. His plan with the waiter’s outfit worked.

Swallowing, I say, “Delicious, but why do you look so nervous? That’s what I want to know.”

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