Page 51 of The Billionaire Mismatch

“I don’t like the unpredictable,” he says.

“Why?”

“Because there’s no control,” he answers.

“That’s not always a bad thing,” I tell him. “The universe is full of big, wild, untamable things. Spontaneity and going with the flow release us from the pressure of responsibility for those things.”

“I don’t like feeling like I have no control,” he reiterates, and I just study him with a soft smile.

“That’s unfortunate,” I say. “It must be exhausting.”

Something in his face softens for all of a split second.But then our food comes and his face returns to its normal, guarded state.

“Alright,” he nods with a mouth full of black bean burger. “You were right. This is…so good.”

“Right?” I ask. “Vegetarian food is so underrated.”

“It has so much flavor,” he says, snagging a truffle fry and popping it in his mouth before dusting off his hands. I smile at the sight, taking another bite myself.

“Listen,” I say. “I’m not a vegetarian. But I do love vegetarian food. And this place is all over Instagram. I’m so excited I finally got to come here.”

Luca nods and grabs his drink, his blue eyes landing on me.

“Uh oh,” I say. “What’s that look?”

“It’s not a look,” he says casually. “I’m just…having a good time, that’s all.”

“Really?” I ask with a smile. “You’re having a good time. Even though we weren’t able to go to whatever fancy-shmancy, reservations-only place you had on the calendar? And even though the burger is made of beans, and we are over an hour from home, and it’s going to rain?”

“Even though we weren’t able to go to Roma and Vine,” he says and my mouth pops open. Roma and Vine is a very high-end Italian place, but that’s beside the point. “And even though there are beans in the burger, and it’s going to rain. Wait. It’s going to rain?” he asks, pulling out his phone.

“Yes,” I say. “I’m afraid so.”

“But my phone says clear skies,” he shakes his head. “What makes you think it’s going to rain?”

The sky cracks with light before a boom shakes the windows, and rain begins to fall. I point at the sky while still looking at Luca.

“Perfect,” he says. “We should probably get going before it gets bad.”

“Too late,” the waitress says. “It’s already bad. You’re not planning on driving in it, are you? I wouldn’t drive in it. Especially not in that fancy car you have out front.”

“How do you know which car is mine?” he asks.

“Easy. I profiled you,” she says flatly as she sets the check on the table. “But seriously. I wouldn’t go anywhere. Storms like this flood the roads pretty badly.”

After she walks away, we just look at each other.

“I guess we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon,” I say.

“I mean, I don’t know about not going anywhere…maybe just not home,” he says as he takes care of the check.

My heart speeds up in my chest. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well,” he says, setting the pen down and picking up his drink again. “There’s a hotel down the road. And it sounds like we’re stuck.”

“Sounds like it,” I say.

“Don’t worry. We can get a room with two beds,” he says, and it takes a moment for the smile to reach my lips. It’s a thoughtful move for sure…but I’m not entirely sure I wanted him to be so thoughtful.