Page 87 of Say It Isn't So

This was our first real date and I didn’t want to taint it with talk of her father.

Just the sheer idea of Angelo sent a visceral reaction through my body. It was safe to say that no matter how much time passed, he’d always terrify me. I was man enough to admit it. It was all in his eyes—those dark eyes told a story of power like none other.

Instead, I was going to focus on the beautiful, magnificent woman here with me. It wasn’t that hard, though, because everything about her drew me in.

Bianca’s soft brown hair that was always styled differently.

Bianca’s pink lips and the way they turned up when I spoke.

Bianca’s curvy hips.

Bianca’s blue dress.

What was under that blue dress. . . .

I shook my head and reigned in my thoughts. Okay, that was better, but not exactly helpful since it seemed it was easy to regress into a teenage boy with raging hormones when I was around her and focusing onthosethings. But I didn’t want that for tonight. Tonight I wanted us to have a nice date, something she’d enjoy, something she might see in one of those movies she loved.

We stepped off the elevator and walked to the door of the restaurant.

It felt good to see the smile on her face and know I’d put it there.

* * *

Bianca

“Look at where we are.” Even I heard the amazement in my voice. It was childlike, like this was new to me, which it was, and I couldn’t deny how lucky I was to be here.

We were seated at a private table for two with a window view overlooking the city and River Seine, and nothing (I mean, nothing) could compare.

When I looked across the table at Knox, I found his eyes on me. “If you stare at me the whole night, you’re going to miss this incredible view.”

His gaze was intent on mine, and it was like he could see right through me. Normally that would scare me, but for some reason, with him, I never wanted him to look away. No amount of time would be long enough to look into his eyes and see the appreciation he had for me. No man had ever looked at me the way he did.

Finally, he responded, “I’m not missing anything. The view I have is undeniably more incredible.”

“Oh, Knox,” I gushed, my cheeks heating with his sweet words. If he didn’t stop, I would have to start fanning myself. Or. . . . “You know, if you don’t stop talking like that, I might want to skip dinner and go straight to dessert.”

He shook his head, placing a hand on the table and extending it to reach for mine. Holding hands now, he replied, “As much as I want to do that with you, this isn’t about that. I did this to show you how special you are to me. How special you are, period. I want to enjoy tonight with you, to talk and laugh and have all the little moments we missed out on over the years. If I could go back and do it all again, I would. I missed you more than even I knew and I want this time around to be different.”

I could hear the sincerity in his voice and it was nice to hear, but I didn’t want him to get caught up in trying to right the past. “Everything happens for a reason,” I reminded him.

He shook his head and admitted, “I’m just gladthishappened.”

“Me, too,” I said, letting my gaze fall to where his thumb was caressing the inside of my hand. It was sad, but no man had ever given me this much attention. Okay, so they’d given meattention, but not like this. Not like Knox did. This man fed my soul.

I wasn’t an overly emotional person, but if I was, there would’ve been a puddle of tears on the floor over the way he looked at me. “Why are you still single?” I questioned, more curious than anything how a man like him wasn’t snatched up by now.

He laughed, still holding my hand. “How long have you been waiting to ask me that one?”

I shrugged and wrinkled my nose. “Does it matter?”But if you must know, since London.

“No, I guess not. To be honest, there’s not one particular reason. I just haven’t really prioritized dating. Not the way it should be prioritized at least. Growing up the way I did, and after Rina left, I wanted to make sure I got my life together and had a good, stable job.” He cringed and tried to backpedal. “I’m sorry, it’s just that—”

“It’s just that she’s part of your past and that had an impact on what came after.” I nodded, trying to make sure he knew it was okay. “I get it,” I assured him, smiling.

He squeezed my hand and gave me a weak smile. “No more mention of she-who-shall-not-be-named.” Then he looked at me pointedly and added, “And he-who-shall-not-be-named.”

I laughed, knowing that second one was about my dad. “You got it. Although, it seems a little hard, considering he is my dad and she’s, well, your ex who I don’t think is going away anytime soon. But I have faith we can do it, at least for tonight.”

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