Page 7 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

Jane was already here. That didn’t leave me time to compose myself. I wasn’t typically anxious about things, but dating…Holy fuck.Maybe I should have practiced a few icebreakers or something. That thought made me snort inwardly. I really needed to relax. This wasn’t adatedate. It was just an introduction… in an insanely expensive and romantic restaurant…

I blew out a breath as I wove around tables behind the host. I should have picked another place to meet. Jane might read too much into this romantic atmosphere. My heart raced with each step I took. There was no turning back now.

We approached a table where a woman sat with her back turned. She had wavy, dark blonde hair that hung to her upper back. The rigid set of her shoulders and the way she drummed her fingers on the table said she was probably nervous. However, I wasn’t sure if that was Jane, because two tables ahead was another raven-haired woman sitting alone. My gaze swung between the two women, anticipation curling in my gut as I wondered which one was my blind date.

My attention kept straying back to the blonde as if a part of me hoped that was the mysterious Jane. The host stopped at the table with the blonde and said, “Here you are, sir. Enjoy your evening.”

Satisfaction surged through me, which was strange because I couldn’t possibly be attracted to the back of a woman… Could I? “Thank you.” I took a deep breath as I stepped around him. “Jane?”

She looked up, and my breath caught in my throat. Her face matched the warmth and charm her messages had conveyed. She was stunning. Her eyes were a captivating light brown. The only thing I could think of comparing them to was liquidsunshine. A radiant smile stretched her full lips and lit up her face.

“Michael?” She stood up and offered a hand.

“In the flesh.” My hand engulfed her tiny one. She was on the petite side, but her coral pink dress hugged some delicious curves, and somehow her personality made her bigger. Her megawatt smile and twinkling eyes told me she hadn’t pretended to be vibrant and funny in her messages.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” Her voice was soft and so soothing it put me at ease.

As I shook her hand, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from her face. I wasn’t the superficial type who put too much on looks, but her beauty was mesmerizing. Jane was like a balance of striking and enchanting… if that was even ‌enough to describe her.

Snapping out of my stupor, I said, “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

We sat, and I continued to study her. While I was now as attracted to her physically as I was to her personality, something was off. Jane seemed younger than the thirty-something she’d said she was.

She must have noticed my confused frown because her smile faltered and became uncertain.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

My eyes continued to rove over her face. Plenty of people looked younger than their actual age. Maybe Jane had amazing genes…

“Sure. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

Her uneasy air seemed to lift. “Not at all. Only about ten minutes. I wasn’t late for once…” Her nervous giggle floated around us and then she winced. “Not that I’m habitually late or irresponsible…” Her teeth sank into her lip as she regarded me with what looked like apprehension.

A little laugh escaped me. “I see I’m not the only one who’s nervous.”

“You’renervous?” Her eyes widened. “You hide it well.”

I shrugged. My face tended to not convey what I felt. It was a skill I’d perfected in childhood. “Please, relax.” I had relaxed significantly because, as it turned out, Jane wasn’t an alien or psycho in disguise. Or at least I didn’t think she was. I liked what I saw. So far, so good, but I couldn’t shake how young she looked.

Jane glanced around. “This is a nice place. I’ve never been here before.”

“I come here often. The food is great.”

“Often, huh? It seems pricey.” At that, her teeth punished her lower lip again and her cheeks flushed crimson. “I mean…”

I watched her with mild amusement. I thought I’d be the overly anxious one, considering I’d been out of the dating game for years. “Don’t worry about it.”

She sighed. “I’m so sorry. I’m a nervous mess. I haven't gone on a blind date before, and I was a little afraid…”

“That I’d turn out to be a troll or some kind of creep?” I finished with a wry smile. “It’s fine. This is my first blind date, too. I had the same fear. And really, don’t worry about dinner.” I’d never invite someone to this restaurant that cost an arm and a leg for just a bread roll and not foot the bill.

Her laugh was light and musical and somehow erased more of the tension. Her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, thank you. Well, Michael, I hope I haven’t disappointed you.”

I gave her a once over. “I’m most definitely not disappointed.”

Her lips parted, drawing my attention to them, and her blush intensified. “I’m not disappointed either,” she said.

I stared at Jane for a moment, taking pleasure in the fact that there seemed to be a mutual attraction. A waitress approached, and Jane and I kicked off our evening with drinks.

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