Page 59 of Mated To My Boss

“Nope.”

I turn around for the hundredth time, trying to make sure my fit is right. “This looks good,” I say, admiring myself and fighting the urge to change into different clothes.

I had seriously considered a suit, and for most of my planning, that was all I had in mind. However, I had to put the brakes on this and remind myself that I'm going out for a simple, albeit fancy, dinner. But this is not a date.

The collar of my black shirt looks a bit crooked, so I quickly fix it and take another look at myself. My dark pants match well with the black shirt.

The short sleeves mean I won't suffer from the heat. I select a watch from my small collection and match it with two silver rings to go on each finger.

“Okay, I need to get a move on.”

I send Madeline a quick text to let her know I'm on my way to pick her up. I get in my car and drive to her place. She appears in the window and waves at me before disappearing back into the apartment.

I wait, leaning casually against the car, watching as the lights in the house go out one by one.

My gaze remains fixed on her door, wondering how often that creep has been coming over to drop off letters. However, as soon as Madeline appears, all my thoughts vanish.

My heart feels like it's trying to break through my ribs and I jump to meet her. I adjust my stance, watching her walk toward me in a gorgeous black dress. We didn't plan this together but somehow, our outfits are perfectly coordinated.

Her plunging neckline doesn't help my concentration at all. Thanks to the absence of straps, her arms move freely. The dress hugs every curve of her body, only flaring out below the knee, where it flows down to her ankles.

Yowza.

My eyes travel up and down her body, trying not to rush toward her and hold her against me. She stops just short of me, looking at me from head to toe.

“You're beautiful,” I growl. The words only register after they've left my mouth.

Madeline looks up and smiles. Her cheeks are so red they look ripe. “You look good too.”In fact, you're the most stunning woman I've ever seen in my life.

I manage to keep the second compliment under wraps. I open the door for her and she enters after giving me a small curtsy.

“Thank you, kind sir.”

We’re quiet for the short ride to the restaurant. I’m afraid I'll confess something I'm not supposed to say if I open my mouth. Madeline looks surprisingly nervous.

Am I imagining that?

We arrive at Charlize, one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city. Like before, I open the door for her, offering her a hand.

In the restaurant lobby, we’re immediately greeted by the host. There's a glint in his eyes when I mention the name of the reservation.

“Right this way,” he says, revealing his British accent. He guides us away from the main dining area, causing a bit of confusion for Madeline.

I try to hold back my smile as we make our way to a private elevator. The ride is short, but the real surprise is waiting when the doors open.

We step out onto a floor with just a handful of tables than those downstairs. Madeline holds my hand as we go to our table. The top is black marble and wood. It feels like a work of art that shouldn't be used for eating, yet here we are.

Menus are waiting for us at the table when we sit down. Our gracious host pours glasses of wine from a bottle Nate selected. “Someone will take your orders in a few moments.”

Madeline beams with excitement. “Are you serious? Look at this place? What is all this?”

I chuckle a bit, really pleased that my plan has succeeded. At least I'm certain she isn’t preoccupied with a million other issues. Today is about immersing ourselves in the experience we're about to share.

The waiter comes to take our orders. It feels like our minds were read an hour ago since the meal arrives almost immediately. We dive into our food, though I sense that something is holding her back from fully enjoying herself.

“Is everything okay?” I inquire as we’re winding down.

“Hmm?” she asks, glancing at me.

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