Page 26 of The Undercover Billionaire's Baby

“Let’s go somewhere, then. How about Belden’s?”

My mouth watered at the thought of Belden’s pepper steaks. But my wallet cringed at the thought of their prices. “Too expensive,” I sighed.

“Then, it’s my treat.”

I shook my head. “No, I couldn’t. I’ll make mac and cheese.”

Brad slumped in his seat, miming disappointment. “So, you won’t go with me? Even this once? I guess I’ll never know what the hype’s all about.”

“You could go on your own.”

Brad pretended to shudder. “A table for one, with that place full of couples! How sad would that look, like I can’t get a date?”

I stood undecided, one hand on the fridge. Not having to cook did sound quite tempting. And once the summer crowds hit, we’d never get into Belden’s. If Brad wanted to try it, now was his chance.

“We deserve it,” he said. “We’ve been working our butts off. And, check this out. I just got a gig.” He held up his phone to show me an email. I couldn’t read it from where I was standing, but Brad read it for me, a message from Rex. “He wants me to come by and fix up his deck.”

“About time he got round to that. Have you seen his deck?” I snickered at the thought of it, then smiled. “All right.”

“All right, you’ll come? We’re going to Belden’s?”

“Yeah, but just this once. Because I’m so hungry.”

I was too starved to spend much time primping, but I put on my newest dress, a pale blue flowered number. I’d bought it two years ago for Mom’s big 5-0 party, and hadn’t been anywhere nice enough to wear it since. I put my hair up as well, in a loose twist, curls on either side framing my face. By that time, I could hear Brad getting restless, so I slapped on some mascara and some lip gloss, and hoped I looked smart enough for a night out at Belden’s.

Brad half-turned, smiling, as I entered the kitchen. “I checked their menu online. I think I’ll have… Oh.” His lips parted slightly. His eyes went wide. I glanced over my shoulder, but nothing was back there. It hit me, he had to be staring at me.

“What’s the matter?” I patted my hair. It still felt all right.

“Nothing’s the matter. You just, you look great.” He broke into a broad grin. I felt myself redden. “Your hair,” Brad went on. “It suits you that way.”

Belden’s was close, so we walked to get there. I noticed Brad kept checking me out in the windows, pretending to window-shop, but looking at me. At first, when our eyes met, he looked away. Then he got bold, and he winked in the glass. I whirled, caught him grinning, and I grinned back. My face had gone warm, but my step felt light. Brad cocked a brow at me, and I bit back a giggle. I was never like this, all high and giddy. Hungry, was all. Dizzy with starvation.

“You have a thing,” Brad said.

I blinked. “A thing?”

He reached out and plucked something pink from my hair. His knuckles brushed my cheek and a thrill ran through me.

“What—?”

“Cherry blossom,” he said, and held up a flower. “It looked kind of nice, though. Should I put it back?”

Was he flirting with me? Or was he just teasing? Either way it felt reckless, but also… fun? Like a game we were playing just for tonight. Just while we were out like this, with me in this dress.

“You’re supposed to make a wish,” I said.

“Like with the bell?”

“Only you don’t ring it. You let it go. If it floats away, your wish will come true.”

“And if it falls on the ground?”

I made a pouty face. “No wish for you.”

“In that case…” Brad held the blossom up high in the air. He waited till the breeze picked up, ruffling its petals, then let it go. It sailed into the sky. “That’s two wishes for me now. I’m on a roll.”

“But you cheated.”

---