“Wait…they passed away?”I ask softly.
His smile dims.“Car accident when I was twenty-one.”
“I’m so sorry, CJ,” I whisper.
“Thanks.”
He opens the restaurant door for me, and I breathe in the scent of grilled meat and fresh-baked bread.
“Table for two,” CJ tells the hostess.
“Of course,” she purrs.
She shoots me a glare before she flips her hair over her shoulder and leads us to a table by the wall.CJ reaches out and takes my hand, interlacing our fingers.When I look up at him, he smiles down at me happily.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I return his smile.He squeezes my hand and then releases it so he can pull my chair out for me.
“Thanks.”
He nods and drops into the chair next to me.
“We should talk about the next event,” I suggest.
“Sure, after we order.”
He passes me a menu, and I scan it, deciding on the classic cheeseburger and fries.
“Do you know when the fundraiser will be?”I ask, setting my menu aside.
“Soon.I’ll get with PR to finalize details tomorrow.”
The server comes over, and CJ lets me choose first before placing his order.Once the server has left, he shifts, angling his body toward me and giving me all his attention.
I’m not used to having someone’s undivided attention, and definitely not someone as attractive as CJ.My pulse races, and I lick my suddenly dry lips.That turns out to be a bad idea because it draws CJ’s attention, and when his eyes lock on my mouth, my whole body goes up in flames.
“So, tell me about yourself.”
“Why?”I ask.
He smiles faintly.“I should know in case someone asks.Gotta keep up the fake dating ruse, right?”
I take a deep breath.“I was born here in Maple Creek.What about you?”
“Chicago.”
“When did you move?”
“I left for college.Went to Michigan and was drafted.I spent a year in New York before I was picked up by the Thunder here in Maple Creek.”
“Did you like New York?”
“It was fine.I wasn’t there long.What about you?”
“I was born and raised here.I left for college and went to California, then I moved back here after.”
He frowns.“Didn’t like California?”
I shrug.“This place is my home.”
