In the end, I decide on the tuxedo dress because although it’s mid-thigh, it isn’t form-fitting and has the appearance of being more prudent. I hang it in the bathroom in case there are any wrinkles while I style my hair. I leave my locks down but work to define my curls and let them halo around my shoulders. I opt for light makeup because wearing camera-ready makeup all week has become tiring—just a little mascara and a red lip. I only brought one pair of dressy shoes, a black three-inch strappy heel. I search through the drawers to see if I just happened to bring any matching underwear. Looks like red lace unless I want to go with granny panties.
When the knock on the door comes, I rush to slip my dress over my head without messing up my hair, and grab my shoes from the closet. I’ll have to put them on after I let him in. I gave him my extra key card before I left this morning so I’m not sure why he doesn’t just come in. Or why he wasn’t here when I returned.
My shoes slip out of my hand when I open the door and witness the blinding beauty that greets me on the other side. He’s trimmed his stubble perfectly, showcasing his square jaw, and put product in his hair, styling his thick curls into a sexy quiff. Or more than likely, he spent part of his day in a salon because he’s too exquisite to have done it himself. His dark suit looks new but maybe not, because it’s flawlessly tailored. The blue dress shirt matches his eyes perfectly. He’s too pretty to look at so I avert my gaze. “Hi.” Hopefully he heard me because I barely eked that out.
There’s no response, and when I glance back at him, he’s staring at me with his mouth open. On this second look, I notice the red roses in his hand.
I try again, clearing my throat. “Hi, Knox. You look beautiful.”
He snaps out of the trance and grins. “I think that’s my line. God, you’re gorgeous. Your hair.”
I pat it and shrug. “Nothing special.”
He comes across the threshold and puts a hand behind my neck, under my hair, tilting my head back. “Everything about you is special.” He places a whisper of a kiss on my lips and steps back, taking me in again. When his gaze makes it down to my bare feet, he bends and retrieves my shoes, placing the flowers on the floor next to him. He’s on one knee when he offers the first shoe to me, which I slip my foot into. He closes the strap and then we repeat with the other shoe. My view from above has me rethinking going out tonight.
When he stands, I reach his nose with the extra boost. “Thank you, fair prince.”
He picks up the bouquet. “I almost forgot. These are for you.”
“They’re gorgeous. Thanks, Knox.” I peck him on the cheek and take the blooms to the bathroom and run some water in the sink, placing them there until I can get a vase. “You’ve certainly been busy today.”
He shrugs but can’t keep the grin from his face, eyes sparkling. He knows he’s beautiful, and I appreciate the restraint against false modesty. “We better go so we’re not late.”
“Okay, let me get my purse.”
As we ride down the elevator, we hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes. Yup, we’re super corny. Also, what rhymes with that. No filming tomorrow while they finish the individual restaurants, so tonight’s gonna be lit.
Knox hasn’t asked me about filming today and I don’t offer.
“Have you talked to your mom since this morning?”
I called Lillie before we left for the studio this morning, and she was feeling so much better. She wanted to go to the restaurant, but Daddy put his foot down and she actually listened.
“No, I haven’t had a chance, but I’ll call her in the morning.”
He nods.
“So I noticed that your luggage is in my closet…”
“Oh, yeah. About that.” He actually looks sheepish. “I can move it to Weston’s if you want. I got kicked out of my room since I quit the show.”
I stare at him and smile. We’ve come such a long way that I’m his first choice to share a room with. “No, it’s fine where it is.”
He leads me off the elevator and through the lobby. Heads turn as we pass and I have to admit, I snuck some glances in the elevator mirror-walls. We do make a striking couple, all cleaned up.
We catch a cab to the restaurant, inside an unassuming three-story gray building. The interior tells a different tale though. There’s an open kitchen plan, but the chef’s table is practically in the cooking area. They also have an open fire area, but it’s not nearly as impressive as Everheart’s. The furniture and fixtures aren’t fancy but the food definitely is. When we’re seated, I glance at the menu and my eyes go wide. “Thirteen courses, Knox?”
“I know right? That’s mind-boggling.”
There’s a mind-boggling price to go along with it. “You remember that you don’t have a job, right?”
He chuckles, rubbing his hand across my thigh. “I can manage. I spent this much on your lunch the other day. And that was just for you. Did you really have to order a $500 bottle of wine?” He shakes his head still laughing.
I don’t even feel bad.
