The client had requested to meet me before his private party began, so my plan was to stick around long enough to make that introduction. I’d worn a deep purple dress to match the décor. I was looking out the window at the lights below as I awaited the client’s arrival. He would apparently be coming earlier than his lady friend to ensure everything met his needs before he surprised her with this dinner. I hadn’t spoken with him, only to his assistant. Given that this was an intimate party for two, I wondered if maybe he planned to propose tonight or something.
“Ms. Adams?”
A deep voice startled me as I stared out the window. I turned around, and my smile faded into pure shock. A man was dressed to the nines in a fitted tux. He was also the last man I ever imagined I’d see: Chester Saint.
Chet.
What is he doing here?
He cleared his throat as he looked down at my purple dress. “I hope you can stay.”
He looked stunning in that tux. And me? I was just stunned. Looking around in shock, I said, “Stay? All of this…it’s for me? You’re my client?”
“I know this was a dramatic way of getting you to go out with me. But I felt like after the rocky way we met, I owed you a proper night out.”
My hand was still on my chest as I took a few steps toward him, my legs feeling wobbly. “Actually, the way we technically met is probably one of my best memories.”
He smiled. “That’s true. The way we met in that café was actually pretty damn nice. Rocky referred to everything that happened after that day.”
The lights from Times Square flashed through the large window. But there was no amount of outside distraction that could take my eyes off him.
“You could’ve just taken me to Five Guys for burgers, you know,” I said. “That would have been good enough.”
“I figured by having you plan this private dinner, everything would be perfect and exactly to your liking.”
“Here I was thinking that whoever this woman was—she was the luckiest chick on the planet. I never imagined she was…me.”
He smiled, placing his hands in his pockets and looking so incredibly handsome. “Are you okay with this…joining me for dinner?”
That was a no-brainer.
My body filled with excitement as I eagerly nodded. “Yes.”
We were just inches apart when he said, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. After our conversation at the holiday party, continuing to represent Rex just felt wrong. For more reasons than one.”
“Is it wrong that I was relieved that he fired you?”
His mouth curved into a smile. “Let’s just say I might have set myself up for it.” He winked.
I knew it. He wanted to be fired.
“Did your firm give you trouble about it?”
“No. In fact, I quit the firm that same day. I’m starting my own practice and honestly couldn’t be happier.”
What?
It thrilled me to hear that. I would’ve hated for him to have hurt his career because of what happened with my loser ex.
“Chet, that’s amazing. Truly. A fresh start.”
He paused before he said, “I want that with you, too—a fresh start. I’d really like to take up where we left off that day in the café.”
Shivers ran down my spine. There was nothing more I’d wanted. “I’d like that.”
He looked down at my dress, then back up at me. “You look like a dream. So beautiful.”
“So do you.” Nervously giggling, I shook my head. “I mean, handsome.”