Page 36 of How to Lose a Pack in 10 Dates

“Figure it out, Romeo.”

Then he’s gone, leaving me frozen in place, smiling like an idiot and with the weirdest sensation that I’ve just been handed a loaded grenade wrapped in a bow.

Still; I shake it off, grab my wallet, and head out the door. After all, Wes might be cagey as hell, but when it comes to protecting people, he’s never let me down before. Notonce.

*

Aimee Saunders walks into the restaurant wearing a light blue dress with heels that make her legs look like a conspiracy. Her dark hair has been curled in that effortlessI-don’t-care-but-you-shouldway that probably took an hour to achieve, and my breath catches as her dark eyes roam over the tables.

She spots me and waves, and I stand so fast I nearly knock over a passing waiter.

“Hi!” she beams as I pull out her chair. “Sorry I’m late. I passed a woman on the street who was trying to carry an entire IKEA bookshelf without a bag, and I had to help.”

I blink. “Like… flat-packed?”

“Nope. Fully assembled. Getting off the bus.”

“Jesus.”

“I know. I respect the chaos.”

I grin, settling into my seat. “You look amazing.”

“You’re just saying that because I’m wearing mascara.”

“Correct,” I say solemnly. “I am but a man, and mascara is witchcraft.”

She snorts. “You clean up well. You look… dashing.”

“Thanks. I was going for ‘approachable dominance.’ Did it work?”

She pretends to consider it. “You look like a personal trainer who quotes inspirational TikToks.”

“So Jace, then?”

She laughs—reallylaughs—and I grin along with her. I like that sound. Alot.

I pick up the menu and glance at it, then nudge hers with my elbow. “You’re not allergic to shellfish, right? Or... ambiance?”

“I’m allergic to bad chat,” she says sweetly. “So tread carefully.”

“Noted.” I flip the menu over. “Have you ever been to that little place downtown—the one that does truffle-infused gouda and novelty-shaped cheeses? I figured we could check it out sometime—if you’re into hedgehog-shaped dairy products.”

Her menu doesn’t move, but her eyes do.

They narrow. Slowly.

I swallow. “What?”

“Say that again,” she says lightly.

“The... cheese place?”

“Mmhmm.” Her eyes flick lazily from the menu. “What about it?”

“It’s… cool?” I try, smiling a little too wide. “You said you liked cheese, right?”

Her head tilts. “I did?”

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