Page 57 of Must Be Love - Irresistible Bachelors

“You need validation?”

“Sometimes. Starting Blake Cosmeceuticals was a huge risk. I put a lot of money and time into it. If it didn’t work out, I would’ve been in trouble. I’m lucky it’s been going well.”

“I’m glad it is, too. If it wasn’t, we never would have met.”

AJ raises his glass to me. “To fate bringing us together.”

I lift my glass as well, and we each take a sip.

“What did you mean about some patients sucking?” I ask.

“A lot of people have impossible expectations. Or they come to me thinking I’m a plastic surgeon and get mad when I can’t give them a nose job. I don’t get them as often anymore because I get to pick and choose my patients more now that I’m doing both sides of the business. Being a big shot has a lot of perks.”

“I’m sure it does,” I say, laughing.

“How did you end up in marketing?” AJ asks. “I know you said it’s just a filler until you can be a stay-at-home mom, but how did you pick that as your career?”

“By accident, kind of like you. I majored in history, but I never really was interested in any careers in that field. During my junior year of college, I found out that I was short a gen-ed elective. I’ve always enjoyed being creative, so my advisor gave me a list of classes to choose from that dealt with creative thinking. I chose marketing off that list. Once I took that intro to marketing class, I was hooked. I probably would have switched my major if I hadn’t already taken so many classes for my history major. But I took enough classes to get a minor in marketing so that I could apply for marketing jobs once I graduated.”

“And it worked out?”

“Yeah, I think it did. I don’t dislike my job. I actually like it a lot. I just would rather be at home with kids and dogs all day, you know?”

AJ smiles. “I know what you mean. I would love to have a few dogs running around now, but it wouldn’t be fair to them. I’m not home enough to take care of them.”

“Oh, thank goodness you’re a dog person.”

“I am! We always had dogs growing up.”

“I had one dog. My parents weren’t big on pets. I had to take care of her and pay for her myself, but it was worth it. I had her from sixth grade until after my high school graduation when she passed away. It devastated me. I haven’t had a dog since.”

AJ squeezes my hand. “Losing a pet is terrible. They’re part of the family.”

“Exactly!”

Our food arrives, and we continue to chat easily. The awkwardness from earlier has disappeared. I guess we just needed to warm up in this new setting.

“What do you do for fun?” AJ asks me.

I swallow a bite of my chicken dish. It’s delicious. I might have AJ order my food from now on. He would never steer me wrong.

“I’m an old lady, like I told you last time,” I admit. “I like knitting and crocheting. And I read a lot of books and watch a lot of trashy reality TV.”

AJ laughs. “Hey, you already know I’m a bit of an old man with my hobbies, too. Bowling is not something most people my age are doing.”

“True. We’re like an old couple.”

“We are. Old and a couple.”

“What?”

“I realized earlier that we haven’t made this official,” he says. “So I’m doing that now. We are together. Exclusively. I hope that’s okay with you.”

I smile. “I was going to talk to you about that! I’m very okay with being official and exclusive.”

“Good.”

AJ leans across the table to kiss me, carefully avoiding the candle. I melt into the sweet kiss. This date has been perfect, despite the private room. Maybe even because of the private room.

The waiter comes in with a dessert cart, and we grab macarons to enjoy as we talk more. By the time we’re finished, it’s well after ten, and the restaurant is closing.

AJ pays the bill without letting me contribute.

“Please, let me treat you, Amber. I want to.”

“Okay. Thank you. It was delicious, and I had a great time.”

“I did, too. Of course, I always have a great time with you.”

AJ kisses me again as we get ready to leave. Our subway stations are in opposite directions, so we hug goodbye outside of the restaurant. AJ doesn’t invite me to come home with him, but I’m okay with that. We’re official now. We can have sex whenever we want. Every date doesn’t have to end that way.

The New York City air is cool as I make my way home. My feet are sore in these heels, and my legs are chilly in this dress, but I don’t care. I just had the most amazing night with AJ. It started off weird, but we got over the awkward hump quickly.

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