Page 60 of The Billionaire Love Match

EIGHTEEN

Casey felt her heartleaping like a filly in her chest when the black suburban pulled up to a restaurant, Marco’s Ristorante. Only Mike got out with her and took up post by the front doors. She stood on tip toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek before she went inside.

“Thanks again,” she said.

“Thank Colt. He sent me,” he said. But she thought she could see the trace of a smile on his face.

She was torn, wanting a moment to compose herself and not wanting to waste a moment of the three hours without cameras.

She flung open the door and practically ran in, then came to an abrupt stop.

The place was empty. Totally, blessedly empty.

“Colt?”

The kitchen doors swung open then and he came out, talking to a man in a white chef’s coat and funny looking shoes. Colt glanced up and saw her. They stared at each other for about two long seconds. Casey didn’t know what he was thinking, but she needed a moment to pinch herself to remember this was real.

Colt said something to the chef and then ran full-speed towards her. Laughing, she ran too, meeting him halfway.

He gathered her up in his arms, holding her so tight. She buried her face in his chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart under her cheek.

She sighed. “Finally.”

She needed a moment to compose herself and draw back up the tears. She didn’t want to start their first real date crying. Thankfully he didn’t seem inclined to loosen his grip.

“You smell fantastic, Boots,” he said. “What is that?”

“Shampoo?” she said and they both laughed.

He pulled back to look at her, still holding her arms. She didn’t want to break contact with him tonight. Not for a moment.

“Are you okay?” His face suddenly clouded with concern. “I almost forgot what this date cost you. You shouldn’t have done that. I was so worried.”

“I wanted to be here. It was worth it.” She shuddered. “But let’s not talk Lucas. Yes, I’m okay. More than okay thanks to Mike. He really is a big, beautiful building of a man.”

“Hey, now,” he said. “What am I, chopped liver? You’re already mentioning other guys on our first date and it hasn’t been five minutes. Isn’t that breaking a rule?”

“Now you know how I feel.”

He grimaced. “Touché.”

She lifted a hand to his face and touched his jaw, tracing the strong line of it down to his chin. “I’m sorry. Let’s avoid show talk as much as we can.”

“Deal.”

“I want to know everything. Everything. Your favorite ice cream flavor, your first memory, what you want to be when you grow up, where you grocery shop, what kind of movies you like, and your ideal day. Not necessarily in that order.”

He laughed. “We’ve got time, but maybe not that much. We’ll see what we can do.”

The man in the chef’s coat cleared his throat. Colt put his hand on the small of her back and gestured toward him. “Oh—sorry, Marco. Casey, this is Marco Giordano. This is his restaurant.”

Marco took both of Casey’s hands in his, shook them enthusiastically and then kissed the back of her hand. “Piacere! Sei bella.”

Casey looked to Colt, who smiled and said, “Yes, she is beautiful.”

“Come, come,” Marco said. “Anywhere you like. The restaurant is yours.”

“Thank you for opening for us,” Casey said. “This is...amazing.”

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