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“Good.” Connor guides me further inside at the small of my back. “I wanted to take you somewhere special.”

‘Special’ is an understatement.

“Your table’s ready, Mr. Milton.” A server gestures for us to follow.

Connor offers his arm in a gentlemanly gesture I didn’t know he had in him. I hesitantly accept, feeling the firmness of his muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt, and we follow the server through the restaurant.

Is this what it would feel like to be someone’s girlfriend? Connor’s girlfriend? Mary Milton. MM. Has a nice ring to it.

“Here we are.” The server gestures to a table tucked away in a quiet corner of the restaurant.

“Thank you.” Connor nods at the server, who bows and then disappears. “Blue.” He releases my arm and offers me the chair.

“Trying to impress me, are you?” I settle into it.

“Is it working?”

“Maybe.”

Connor’s attention shifts away, and I resist the urge to turn and see what or who has captured his interest.

Ugh. I follow his eyes and spot a beautiful blonde walking toward us. She’s dressed in a black dress, hugging her hourglass figure, with a diamond necklace and earrings to top it off. However, it’s not her appearance that unsettles me, but rather her familiar smile directed at my date.

“Are you expecting someone else to join us?” I ask.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back. She’s an old friend who owns this place, and I want to say hello.”

“Sure. Take your time.”

I watch him walk over to her. Of course. I shouldn’t have gotten ahead of myself. Mary Milton, as if.

The menu. I can already pick something out, right? Foie gras terrine, lobster bisque, steak tartare…

I spy over my shoulder. They’re chatting, though it seems more business-like. Maybe I overreacted.

The server returns. “Are you ready to order?”

“Just a few more minutes, please.” I force a smile.

He nods and slips away.

First Miss Accounting and now her. How am I supposed to keep up with these women?

No. You know what? He’s mine. I kick my chair back and march over to them.

“Oh, hello,” the blonde says brightly. “Connor was just telling me about you.”

“Was he?” I fix my gaze on him.

“Mary, this is Claire. She owns this restaurant.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.” Claire extends a manicured hand.

I shake it. “Likewise.”

“I was just saying you two make a darling couple.”

My cheeks flush. “Oh, we’re not…”

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