Page 60 of Here & Now

“No thanks. I’m good.”

“I’m good too,” Zane said pointedly. Jason looked like he’d taken the hint and quickly walked away.

“Mmm, delicious,” she said after her first bite of pancake.

Her expression was almost rapturous, and he longed for her to look at him that way. As they ate, he kept the conversation light, not wanting to scare her away again.

After a while, a waitress arrived and set down the bill. “Jason is busy right now, but can I get you anything else?”

Bree shook her head.

“We’re all set.” Zane opened his wallet, took out some bills, and handed them to the waitress.

“How much do I owe you?” Bree said after the waitress walked away.

“Nothing. I invited you to breakfast, so I’m paying.”

“I’ll pay next time,” she said firmly.

She had no idea how happy he was that there’d be a “next time.” They stood, and he glanced down at Jason’s business card next to her empty coffee mug.

“Got everything?” he said.

She followed the direction of his gaze but left the card there. “Yes, let’s go.”

His happiness still intact, he followed her out of the restaurant.