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I sat back in my chair, crossing my arms. “You know…” I touched my hair. “There are going to be whispers, rumors, so much gossip.” I could already imagine the conversations at the salon and the country club. “In case you missed it, I didn’t see anyone applauding the fact that we’re fated mates.” I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was blaming anyone. “I mean, I get it.”
He cocked his head. “Really? Because I don’t.”
The words caused a ripple of goosebumps on my skin, but if he couldn’t see what we would be in for, it was my duty to tell him. So, I plowed on. “I understand that image is important to the upper class, and I don’t want to make you look bad, Ty. But people aren’t going to be… kind.”
He stared at me for a moment, considering my words, and I braced myself for him to tell me it would be better if we didn’t start a relationship. I was surprised by how much it hurt to think of and how much his rejection was about to hurt me.
Instead, he stared into my eyes and said just what I needed to hear. “Liza, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I don’t know enough about you to judge whether or not we fit, but I don’t question fate. And, if you’ll allow me, I’d like the chance to get to know you. Maybe we can discover whatever it is that fate saw that made her decide we were to be fated.”
I sucked in a short, shallow breath because his words were as much a surprise as any others I’d ever heard. As grateful as I was for his understanding and acceptance of our situation, a small part of me was still hesitant. There was always a chance that once he got to know the real me, he would be disappointed.
Hell, I didn’t even know the real me.
“Thank you, Ty.” I smiled with relief. His intentions certainly seemed genuine. “I’m also curious to know what fate saw between the two of us.”
He leaned back in his chair and grinned. “Good. So, what do you say? Will you go on a date with me?”
I returned his smile and reluctantly agreed. “Sure, why not.”
We exchanged numbers, and I watched him walk to his car. I didn’t know if this was the right thing. Didn’t know if we would get along or have things in common. All I could do now was hope I’d made the right decision.
Chapter 8
Ty
“Where the hell are you?” Bryce yelled from the base of the staircase.
“I’m up here.” I’d spent most of the day in my office, searching online for the perfects spot to take Liza on our first date.
At first, I pictured us sitting at a corner table in a restaurant, having a nice conversation over drinks. Then I remembered she was worried about people watching us. A restaurant was out of the question. Too public. Too many eyes and ears.
I considered bringing her to our house and having Chef cook dinner for us, but there was no way she’d feel comfortable here. Not with my parents who would no doubt be lurking around every corner like damn creepers.
After hours of coming up with nothing, I’d sunk to the lowest point, possibly of my entire life, and invited Bryce over to assist me.
His heavy footfalls meant he was taking the stairs two at a time. He poked his head into my office with an expectant look on his face.
“All right. I’m here. I hope you know I’m missing a party to help you with whatever is so important you demanded I come right over.”
I glanced at my watch, then eyed Bryce. He wasn’t above embellishing for the sake of embellishment. Although, this time it was likely to guilt me into owing him a favor. “A party on a weekday afternoon?”
“Sorry.” He waved a hand in dismissal as he plopped down in a leather wingback chair. “Let me clarify. It’s a party in my pants.”
“For fuck’s sake.” I rolled my eyes and threw a pencil at his head. “Can you be serious for one minute?”
He dodged the pencil and chuckled. “Doubtful.” He sobered when he saw me scowling. “For you, I’ll give it my best shot, though. What’s up?”
Sighing, I leaned back in my seat. “It’s Liza. I asked her out on a date.” It sounded like I’d never been on a date before. I was the epitome of pitiful.
Bryce whistled. “Well, it’s about time. What did she say?”
I didn’t know why I was nervous to tell him, but my voice trembled. “She said yes.” I’d been out with my fair share of women, and probably some extras who weren’t my share, but none of them had been my mate. No woman had ever been so important.
Bryce rested his foot on his knee and tapped his fingers on his thigh. “So, what’s the problem?”
“I’ve been looking for the perfect place to take her all day but nothing seems quite right.” Obviously, nothing was right if I’d resorted to asking for his help. I didn’t want to tell him about the lavender, but I didn’t really have a choice. He needed to know it all before he suggested something like the botanical garden or more flowers. “Also, I might’ve sent her into a horrific allergic reaction with the flowers I surprised her with earlier today.”
“Oh, shit.” Bryce burst into a fit of laughter. After a couple seconds, he glanced up at me, held his hand in the air like he was a traffic cop telling me to stop. “Let me get this straight. So far, you’ve insulted her job, then you showed up with a bunch of flowers she’s allergic to? Remind me again why this girl agreed to go on a date with a pathetic loser like you?”
