Page 110 of A Perfect Fit

My heart thunders against my chest. There’s no trace of hesitation in Isabelle’s voice, but part of me is scared I only imagined hearing her say those words.

“Yeah?” I breathe.

“Uh-huh.” Her gaze darts to my lips. “Also, you have lipstick smudged on your mouth.”

“Your lipstick,” I say, swiping my thumb along her bottom lip. “Which I’ll happily have all over my body.”

She laughs again. I think her laugh is the prettiest sound I’ve ever heard.

“Here, let me help.” Isabelle reaches for a tissue from the tissue box on the nightstand. “You almost look like a clown,” she adds with another laugh.

“Well, this clown would like to take you out on a date.”

It’s what I’ve wanted to do for so long.

Isabelle bites her lip. “As in a real date this time?”

“Nothing between us was ever fake, Bella,” I say. “Everything that happened at the reunion, the awards night, your parents’ house, and everything in between … every hour, minute, second we spent together was real. All of it.”

There’s a pause as she takes in my words, and then her eyes shine, her whole face lighting up, and it’s the most beautiful thing.

“It was all real for me, too.”

I cup her face, feeling like I’m on top of the whole damn world. “So, what do you say about a date?”

My heart races as I wait for her reaction. I’ve never been nervous about asking a woman out until now, but Isabelle isn’t just a woman. She’s the woman of my dreams.

“I’d love to go on a date with you, Jackson.”

She said yes.

I’m unable to resist the large grin that spreads across my face. “I hereby give you notice that it’s gonna be the best date of your life.”

“Best date of my life?” Isabelle’s eyes sparkle. “That’s a bold statement. Are you sure?”

I raise a brow. “Is that a challenge?”

She smirks. “Yes.”

“Well, good thing I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.”

I want to plan an amazing date, not to prove anything, but only because she’s the best, and she deserves nothing but the best.

Okay, that, and to show her I can plan a damn amazing date because I want to be the only man who has the privilege of taking her out.

A smile curves Isabelle’s lips. “I can’t wait.”

“Me too.”

She clears her throat. “I, uh, had better fix my lipstick before heading out.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ISABELLE

Man of My Dreams

Rumor has it that first dates are better with flowers …