Page 14 of The Don’s Virgin Obsession

Teeth routine.

I pulled on a pair of gray sweat shorts. No draws. Shirtless. Clean.

Ready.

But not invested.

I walked toward my room, already knowing how the rest of the night was going to play out.

Sade

“I tried something safe… and felt nothing.”

Dinner didn’t fall apart after Vaughn walked away. It just never got back to where it started.

Marcus kept trying to carry the conversation, asking the right questions, keeping his tone even, but something had already shifted. Not because of him. Because of the interruption and how it sat with me after.

I picked the card up once more while he was talking, holding it between two fingers. I didn’t turn it over at first. Just looked at the front, reading his name silently, letting it sit for a second before I flipped it.

Vaughn St. Clair. Urban Real Estate Developer.

I set it back down beside the rose and picked up my glass.

Marcus followed my movement. “You sure you don’t know him?”

“I don’t,” I said, and left it there.

He nodded, but I could tell he didn’t fully believe it.

The rest of dinner moved forward.

When the bill came, Marcus reached for it anyway.

The server stopped him. “It’s already taken care of.”

Marcus paused, then let out a small breath through his nose. “I know that already.”

He still pulled his wallet out, though. Slid a few bills into the folder and handed it back.

“For the service,” he said.

We stood a few minutes later, and I didn’t look around the room. I didn’t search for him. I didn’t acknowledge the table he was still sitting at. I picked up my purse, stepped away from the booth, and left everything exactly where it was.

Outside, Marcus walked me to my car.

“I’d like to see you again.”

I turned to him.

“You’re a good man,” I said, keeping my tone honest. “But I don’t think we’re a match.”

He held my gaze for a second, then nodded.

“I respect that.”

I got in my car and pulled off.

By the time I got home, I was already taking my heels off at the door.