Page 100 of The Fake Dating Plan

Me:Ask nicely. She doesn’t bite.

I heard Ax say, “She told me to—”

“Are those flowers!” Laura laughed.

I rushed over to the door before he was embarrassed any further. His face relaxed over with relief when he saw me.

“Hi,” he said. He was wearing a shirt and jeans, both of which clung nicely to his figure. And sure enough, he was holding a bouquet of exotic flowers. He probably got them from the greenhouse. “Your roommate won’t let me in.”

Laura turned to face me and raised her eyebrows when she saw my attire. “What is happening?”

I didn’t have time to explain everything or even know-how. I had told her that Ax had reversed his cancellation. That’s all she knew.

“I will tell you when I get back.” I went over to Ax. “Hi,” I said to him, “Sorry I’m running a little late. Please come in.”

“It’s fine. These are yours, by the way.” He handed me the bouquet. It smelled as beautiful as it looked. His gaze caressed me before saying in a husky tone, “You look fantastic.”

“Not overdressed or underdressed? You didn’t tell me where we are going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Right.”

A cloud of insecurity came over him. He frowned. “You like chocolate, right?”

“Where are you taking my friend?” Laura looked ready to defend my honor.

“I’ll be fine Laura. If anything happens to me. You’ve seen his face.”

Laura scoffed at my remark. I waved her goodbye and left the apartment with Ax. When I got into his car, I said, “Yes.”

“What?”

“I like chocolate.”

He let out a discreet sigh. He did see that I noticed and I thought it was cute. “Only the best though,” I continued, “And I hope this, not some ploy to lure me with candy only to kidnap me.”

“You know, I’ve had multiple chances to do so, and haven’t I returned you safe and sound?”

“So far.”

He shook his head and signaled to the driver to start the engine. A few minutes later we were in the lower east side at a small, but cute little shop with a blackboard on top that read “the chocolate lab” written in gold calligraphy. It looked at odds with the other shops beside it and looked like it was transplanted from Switzerland right into the heart of New York.

The place seemed closed, but when we went in, a tall woman with a soft face and streaks of white in her blond hair was waiting for us. She wore a black chef’s uniform that hung on her frame. Around her were black wooden tables with trays of truffle chocolate on one side and slabs of all shades of brown on the other. “Mr. Reid,” she said, extending her hand to Ax.

“Please call me Ax.” He took my hand and drew me to his side. “Rhea, meet Emilia, my girlfriend. Em, this is Rhea, a chocolatier and owner of this fine establishment.”

After the introductions were done she led us to the kitchen and handed us two aprons. I glanced at Ax. ‘Where have you taken me?’ I thought. He chuckled at the confusion on my face. He did his apron as I waited for him to give me an explanation. He didn’t. Instead, he took the fabric from my hands, put it on me, and stepped closer to tie it around my back. His intoxicating cologne filled my nostrils, igniting all of my senses. A compulsion to lean into him came over me and I might have done it. I didn’t remember where we were. I stepped back, a little too abruptly I might add, when he was done tying the straps.

“Thank you, but it wasn’t necessary,” I said to him.

“You have to forgive me for taking every opportunity I can get to be close to you.” I ignored the double entendre and in his innuendo-laden words and turned my attention to the only other person in the room. Rhea was taking out utensils and adding them to an array of tools, bowls, and kitchen items that were neatly organized on a large stainless-steel table. I took in the kitchen fully for the first time. It was a sterile cool room lit with fluorescent light. There were sinks on one side of the large table and stoves and ovens on the other side.

When she was done she waved us to come over. Ax made the first step, I followed him. She pointed to a spot opposite her and we both stood there. “Have you ever made chocolate before?” She asked both of us, but her eyes were on me.

I shook my head.

“There’s a first time for everything.”

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