Her Boyfriend's Father

He wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. “I sure did. It’s just you and me, gorgeous. Tonight, the place belongs to us.”

I look at Grant, and I no longer see Reed’s “father”; I see a man who I’m very quickly falling in love with. I see a man who I desperately wish I’d met before Reed, a man who is clearly superior in every single way.

There’s a warmth in the center of my chest that’s been there since we met and has continued to steadily grow with every second we’ve spent together. It’s still growing now, threatening to overwhelm me, and when it does, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Grant Whitney. What an incredible man.

All I can do is shake my head in wonderous disbelief, then take his hand as the host greets us and leads us to our table.

I’m in a daze as we’re waited upon. I barely can understand the menu it’s so fancy and have to follow Grant and our waiter’s recommendations on what to order. We get glazed prawns with walnuts, which is so insanely good I almost explode. Then we share steak and lobster and finish off with a mixed berry tart for dessert. By the time the menu comes, I’m so giddy with happiness that I can barely speak. I’m basically just staring across the table at Grant with a huge, silly smile on my face.

“I’m full,” I say.

“Enjoy your meal?”

“Yes.” I nod, feeling giddy. Grant pulls his chair closer and runs a hand up my dress under the table.

“You don’t know how badly I want to take you home tonight, but…”

“But you’re a big-time attorney and you have work in the morning,” I reply. “I know. You know, I’m a big-time barista, and I also have work in the morning.”

“Oh, is that right?” Grant chuckles. “I’ll have to come down there one day during one of your shifts and fill up the tip jar.”

His fingers move up past my knee, causing my tummy to do a somersault. I close my legs and frown. “No more of that, mister. You’re going to get me all hot and bothered and I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“Sorry,” he laughs, pulling his hand back and setting it on the table. “I just can’t help myself around you. How about I see you tomorrow after work?”

I take a deep breath and lean forward over the table.

“I think that sounds wonderful. If you have time, of course. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your big case.”

Grant runs his fingers through my hair, causing me to close my eyes and practically purr with happiness.

“Tomorrow it is then, gorgeous.”

I nod, overwhelmed with delight. “Tomorrow.”