Page 27 of Loving the CEO

Why didn't I put on makeup?I didn't have time to do it now. But I also didn't want to go out with Leo looking like something the cat dragged in.

Decisions, decisions.

Not wanting to make him wait after he’d cut his workout short for me, I walked downstairs. He'd already opened the door.

“Sorry I look a bit like a zombie.”

He frowned. “What do you mean? Are you tired and want to sleep? We can order in.”

“No, I mean, look at my face.”

Leo zeroed in on me. “I don't understand.”

“It was a figure of speech. I just look like shit because I slept badly.”

“Tory, let's get something straight. You could never—never-look like shit. You're fucking beautiful.”

My breath caught. Leo had complimented me a lot over the years, but he'd never straight up told me I was beautiful.

“You don't need makeup,” he continued. “You don't need anything, okay? You're just beautiful.”

I was too stunned to say anything other than “Thanks.”

“Now, let’s head to High Street Place. You’ll love it.”

As we got in his dark green Lexus, I googled the food hall.

“Oh, yum. So many things look good. How can I decide what to eat?”

“We don't have to decide. That's the beauty of a food hall.” He flashed me a cheeky smile.

“Leo Whitley, you want to talk me into a food festival.”

“Obviously. Why do you think I would even suggest going to a hall otherwise?”

I started to laugh. “I don't have the metabolism of a twenty-year-old anymore.”

Leo growled. “Do we need to start that conversation again about how beautiful you are? Your body is amazing. Those curves you have...”

I froze. When had Leo checked me out? Not that I didn't do that with him, but the thought that he’d done the same never crossed my mind.

I looked at him intently, but he didn't even glance my way. In fact, I was pretty sure he was avoiding my gaze. I needed a sassy reply now to cut the tension.

Come on, brain. Come up with something.

"Okay, food festival it is," I declared lamely.

“That's my girl.”

And suddenly, I wished that were true.

Chapter Seven

Tory

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We arrived at the food hall fifteen minutes later.

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