Caleb lifted a hand like he might touch her, then thought better of it.
When he finally walked away, the moment didn’t feel unfinished.
It felt like a promise.
CHAPTER 27
“So,are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Mia asked Caleb as he pulled out of her drive. All he told her was to wear something special.
It’d taken her all of five seconds of searching her closet to find the perfect dress.
She pulled the navy-blue chiffon from the back of her closet. The hem angled slightly longer in the back, shorter in front, with short flutter sleeves, a scoop neckline and a subtle slit that showed just enough leg when she moved. She had bought it years ago to wear to the opera when she had lived in New York City. But that night she’d fallen ill and never had a chance.
Until now.
Tonight, she paired it with delicate metallic strappy heels. After a touch of makeup and pulling her hair into a low chignon, she studied her reflection and nodded.
Polished. Feminine. Sexy.
She hoped Caleb liked it.
Judging by the low wolf whistle he let out when she stepped onto the porch, he definitely did.
But then she really looked at him.
He wasn’t in work boots or a faded T-shirt. He wore dark slacks, a crisp button-down and a tailored charcoal jacket that sharpened his broad shoulders without making him look stiff. Clean lines. Perfect fit. The sleeves hit just right.
The kind of jacket she liked. On a man she really liked.
Her gaze lingered longer than she meant to.
“You clean up well,” she said, the same way she had on their last date.
A corner of his mouth lifted. “Well, you’re worth it.”
The words caught her off guard. Warmth crept up her neck, and for a second she forgot to breathe.
He opened the passenger door for her. “We have reservations at The Fisherman’s Wife.”
“Oh!” Mia exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to go there. I heard reservations were hard to get.”
“I know a guy who knows a guy,” he teased.
Mia laughed as she slid into the seat. “Guys are good to know.”
It didn’t take them long to get to the restaurant. Their conversation was comfortable in that quiet way that didn’t feel awkward or forced.
When Caleb pulled up to the entrance and handed his keys to the valet, Mia barely noticed. She noticed the lights.
Thousands of small lights lined the walkway, twinkling in the dark like something straight from a storybook.
She stopped short. “It looks like a fairyland,” she said softly. “I can’t wait to see inside.”
Caleb smiled and opened the door for her.
The moment she stepped inside, Mia felt it. The room wrapped around her in warmth, in color that felt intentional instead of loud. The deep oranges and browns grounded her.
The space was elegant but unpretentious. White tablecloths softened the room. Candles flickered gently at the center of eachtable. Fresh greenery nestled around the glass holders. Nothing flashy. Nothing trying too hard.
