Page 10 of Love Me Boldly

“I’m already regretting agreeing to this.”

Yet I opened the door and climbed out, and Graham reached me at the front of the Jimmy. He then led me to the door, opened it like a true gentleman, and when he gave his name to the hostess, her smile was soft and welcoming.

“Right this way. Your table is ready.”

She guided us toward the left, away from the open bar area. On the far left side of the entire restaurant sat an enormous bouquet of pale pink roses and baby’s breath, the bouquet so large it’d be impossible to see the person on the other side and entirely out of place with the worn wood tables, flickering faux candles as centerpieces, and tables already prepped with silverware wrapped with fabric napkins. A light jazzy instrumental music filtered through unseen speakers, and the dining area was lit by chandeliers hanging from the ceilings with warm, candle-looking light bulbs.

It was elegant. Woodsy. Romantic and warm.

And my heart dropped to the soles of my boots when the hostess stopped at that very table with the massive bouquet of flowers.

“Is this table acceptable for you, Mr. Marchese?”

Mr. Marchese? Who was this guy?

“Absolutely. And thank you so much for the help.”

She left, and while I’d heard the conversation, it was muffled behind the rushing roar ofwhatever the heck this wasgoing through my mind.

I found the strength to lift my head and meet Graham’s gaze.

His hand rested on my lower back, and he gently guided me toward the booth’s seat.

“What is this?”

Stunned didn’t begin to describe my emotions. Or lack of them.

I woodenly collapsed into the booth and stared at the flowers. Graham must have been moved into the seat across from me because the flowers were pushed to the side, giving me a relatively decent view of him through the falling wisps of baby’s breath.

“Whatisthis?” I repeated.

Graham leaned forward, elbows on the table, and clasped his hands. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Holly.”

My mouth dropped open, and I sucked in a lungful of air. “What?” I managed to ask, but it came out on a wheeze, then a cough.

Humor fled Graham’s face as concern replaced it. He stood, reaching across the table for me, but I threw myself back in my seat and shook him off with a hand.

“Don’t.” I coughed and then kept coughing while I forced my body to start working again. Forced my breaths to slow down. “I…what…?”

For once, Graham didn’t look so sure of himself. He glanced at the flowers and pushed out his lips before looking at me again.

“It’s Valentine’s Day. I thought you’d like them.”

I gaped at him and then truly looked at him, and my shoulders fell. I didn’t have the heart to ask him what he was thinking or question him again.

He looked almost crushed that I hadn’t fallen over myself to thank him. “They’re beautiful,” I admitted. “I’m not used to such nice things. And I didn’t realize it was Valentine’s Day.”

With his head tilted to the side, that curly lock of hair flopped into his eye, and slowly, his lips spread into a grin. “Then I’m glad I could give that to you, and trust me, I was hoping you hadn’t realized what today was. Figured that would have sent you running.”

“If I did, would you have known where I was running to?”

He chuckled then and shook his head. “Probably not.”

“So there are some things that you don’t know about me.”

He leaned back in his chair and flashed that cocksure grin. “Hopefully not for long.”

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