Page 31 of Enchanting the CEO

"Oh, for fuck's sake. This is beyond well done. It's scorched,” he said.

I shoved it into my mouth anyway, not wanting to be rude, but I could barely chew it.

Hoping the veggies would compensate, I ate a spoonful and had to fight my gag reflex. I could only taste soy sauce and honey or sugar, possibly lime. It was a combination I usually loved, but something was terribly off.

I didn't have to say anything, though, because Gabe tasted it and then spit it back out in a napkin. I did the same.

"Right. That was my last attempt at cooking." And then he started laughing.

"Let me just look in the fridge, okay? I'm sure I can whip up something from there."

His laughter subsided. "No. I wanted to treat you to dinner."

"Then let's order something in. You know what's good in the neighborhood? I haven't looked yet."

Gabe straightened and moved slightly toward me. "I'll do one better. Let's go out. I know some great restaurants."

“I'm sure everywhere is booked."

He lifted one corner of his mouth in a smirk. “I’ll get us a table.”

"All right, let's see you try." Boston restaurants were very hard to get into during the tourist season, especially at the last minute.

"What do you like to eat?" he asked me.

"Seafood or mac and cheese. Actually, no. Steak."

"I know just the spot," he exclaimed, then grabbed his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen before putting it to his ear. "Hello. Gabe Whitley here. I’d like a table for two for tonight. Yes, I’ll wait." A few seconds later, he added, “Excellent, thank you.”

After disconnecting the call, he glanced at me. "We've got a table at Rare.”

I stilled in my seat. "Wait, what?" Rare was hands down the most expensive restaurant in the city. As a tour guide—it was literally my job to know about these things. "No, Gabe, you cannot take me to Rare."

"Yes, I can. I'm doing it."

I cleared my throat. "That's very expensive."

"You wanted steak. It's the best steak place I know."

I grinned. "I can recite ten more off the top of my head that are delicious."

He smiled. "But could we get into any of them without reservations?"

"Well, you got us into Rare," I said. My voice was hoarse. "I bet you can get us in anywhere."

He shook his head. "No, that's the thing. I've got a contingency at several restaurants where I eat regularly, one of which is Rare."

I’d never get used to the difference in our tax brackets. Then again, why should I? I was simply renting the attic.

He came closer. "If you think you won't like it, or that you won't be comfortable, I’ll cancel it and we can figure out something else. But if the only reason you don't want to go is—”

“Because it costs an arm and a leg—”

“Because it's more expensive than usual, then leave that to me, all right? I'll take care of everything."

I considered his words. I was curious, and Gabe seemed to want to go there.

"Fine, but we do need to change, right?"

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