I stood in the lobby of the hotel, nervously waiting for Ryan. I checked the clock on the wall. 8:16. Three minutes since the last time I checked. He was late. Maybe Van was right. I shouldn’t get involved with someone famous. It was just a disaster waiting to happen.
“I’m so sorry,” a voice spoke from behind me.
I turned around. Sparkling blue eyes danced as they met mine. My breath faltered in my throat as I looked at him. I couldn’t seem to function around him. He was like a god come to life.
My soul actually ached as I took him in. Dress shirt, suit jacket, and designer jeans. His blond hair perfectly ruffled. A very expensive version of bed head, no doubt. Dressy, yet trendy. Everything I could ever want in a man stood before me. I mentally shook myself as I pulled my eyes away from his. This was going to be the best night of my life.
“Wow,” Ryan spoke, a smile showing as his eyes drank me in. “You look amazing.” He stepped closer, looking down at me. “I’m really sorry about being late. Zand kept me longer than I thought he would. Barely had enough time to get ready. I’m glad I did, though, or you would have put me to shame.” He leaned closer, placing a quick peck on my cheek. “You probably do anyway. You really are quite breathtaking,” he said softly as he pulled back away from me.
I knew I must have been grinning like an idiot as heat crept into my cheeks, but I didn’t care. Ryan thought I was breathtaking. Even if I never saw the man again after our date, I would always cherish that moment. It was one of those rare perfect moments one couldn’t dream of obtaining. Yet, here I was, living the dream.
“Thank you,” I told him, still mesmerized by the feel of his lips against my skin. “But you have nothing to worry about. You’re just as gorgeous as ever.” I blushed harder as I realized what I had said. So much for playing it cool! I was going to be nothing but putty in his hands, and thanks to my big mouth, he now knew it.
He grinned at me as I tried to calm my nerves. “I just got here myself,” I said, lying through my teeth. I had seen Zand in action. I knew how much of a slave driver he could be.
“Good,” he said, holding his arm out to me. “Are you hungry? We have reservations at my favorite place.”
I slipped my arm through his, leaning into him. “Sounds great,” I murmured, enthralled by his closeness.
“Come on, there’s a car waiting for us outside,” he said and led me to the hotel entrance.
I smiled up at him as we went. If I were a cat, I’d have been purring at that moment. My fairytale was finally beginning to come true.
Bell, Book, and Sandals Page 17
