The Bachelor's Little Bonus (Proposals & Promises 3)

“Trust me. With him, I think the old-fashioned approach will work better than coming on like gangbusters. He’s a little older than I am and I get the vibe that he likes to be the pursuer. So that’s the new preamble to my Husband List. Let the guy be the hunter and stake his claim.”

“You have a new preamble to the list?” Ronnie asked flatly.

Zoe lifted her chin. “Yes.”

For as far back as Zoe could remember she’d had a list of deal-breaker qualities she wanted in a boyfriend. Over the years the Boyfriend List had morphed into the Husband List. It included things such as must love animals; must make me laugh; must be passionate about his work but must not let work come before me.

“Girl, you are no wallflower. You’ve never had any qualms about making the first move. I would so not sit at home and wait around for a man who can’t seem to catch a clue.”

“Who says I’m sitting around at home?”

“Didn’t you just say you’re waiting for Prince Charming to make the first move?”

“Just because I’m holding out for Prince Charming to ask me out doesn’t mean I’m sitting around.”

“All I’m saying is even Cinderella had to put herself out there to get what she wanted.”

Zoe smiled and sat a little straighter. “I do feel like Cinderella. Only in reverse. Because I’m the one searching for the perfect fit. I’m the new-millennium Cinderella.”

Yeah. She liked that.

Ronnie took a long sip of her sweet tea and then set it down and gave Zoe one of her looks.

“In my book, the new-millennium Cinderella doesn’t even need a prince. She’s her own woman and all she wants is a fun night out and a great outfit.”

The two girlfriends laughed. But Zoe found nothing funny about the way Joaquin looked right past her unless she spoke first. When she spoke, he was always charming and amiable. So at least he didn’t hate her. But there had to be a way to get through to him. Because these dead ends made her feel as though she was losing her mojo. She wasn’t about to toss in the towel without a good try. Well, a try that involved getting him to make the first move.

The server refilled their iced tea and set a mountain of red-velvet cake and ice cream between them. The dessert was so big it could’ve easily fed four hungry adults. But in anticipation of a treat, Zoe had kept lunch light, ordering a salad with grilled chicken. She fully intended to do her fair share of damage to the Pig’s signature dessert.

“Is there anything else I can get for you girls?” the server asked.

Yes, please. One surefire plan for how to get the guy?

“We’re fine, thanks,” said Zoe.

The server smiled. “Just holler if you need me.”

She left them and went to a table across the way where a man was flagging her down.

Zoe settled back into the red-checked cushion that lined the booth’s stark, hard wood.

“Okay, we are not leaving this restaurant until we come up with a foolproof plan to get Joaquin Mendoza to ask me out.”

Veronica sighed and propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her left hand and forking up a healthy bite of the cake with her other hand. “Why are you asking me? This is so not my department, Zoe. You’ve always been the one who gets the guys.”

“You’re only as good as your last victory,” Zoe said. “Joaquin is always working, rarely looks up from his computer.”

“Isn’t that why your dad hired him?”

Yes, but...wait a minute...

“I think you’re on to something, Ronnie.”

“I am? Okay

.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of this myself.”