Page 87 of My Rules

Raspberry cheesecake

Caramel ganache

Hummingbird cake

Tiramisu

“Oh my god.” I begin to salivate at the choices. “This place is so cool.”

“A personal favorite.”

I glance up at him. “How many times have you been here?”

“A lot.”

“Is this where you bring your dates at the end of the night to seal the deal?”

He gives me a slow, sexy smile but doesn’t answer.

“So that’s a yes?”

“That’s a”—he gestures to the menu—“make a choice.”

The waiter arrives with our drinks. They are in huge glass steins and have froth on the top, and the coffee is layered in colors in the glass. “Oh wow,” I gush. “Thank you.”

“Would you like some dessert tonight?” the waiter asks.

“Um ...” I quickly peruse the choices. “There’s just so much to choose from. I’ll have the white chocolate cheesecake, please.”

Blake smiles as he watches me.

“And for you, sir?”

“I’ll have the chocolate fondue and strawberries for two.”

The waiter smiles. “Excellent choice, sir.” He disappears out the back.

“I still can’t believe tonight happened.” I sip my hot drink. “Oh, yum, this is delicious.”

“Told you.” He sips his too. “I don’t trust that Herman.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you think it’s odd that he said Don’t you believe me?”

“What do you mean?” I blow on my drink to try and cool it down.

“Think about it. If you’re telling someone a story about where you work, the last thing you would ask is if they believe you. It wouldn’t even cross your mind to say that unless you were lying about it.”

I frown as I think back. “Come to think of it, that is odd.”

“I think he makes up the ex-army story to get chicks.”

“Surely not?” I scoff. “Nobody would outright lie about a job.”

He raises an eyebrow as his eyes hold mine.

My heart sinks. “I’m so gullible, aren’t I?”

---