“So, did you want anything else? A nightcap perhaps?”
“No, thank you. I’ll just get the bill.” She braced inside for the final costs as she tried to catch the eye of a waiter.
“You really don’t have to.”
“Dream Match asked for this meeting with you, and this is what we’re supposed to do.”
Amusement slid across his face. “Is that what your marketing people told you?”
“It’s called good manners.”
“Hmm.”
But when a waiter finally attended and she requested the bill, he shook his head. “It’s all taken care of.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The waiter glanced at Eric. “Mr. Churchill took care of it earlier.” He bowed his head. “Thank you for your generous tip, sir.” He discreetly moved away.
“Why did you pay?” she asked.
“I have an account here. And clearly I was the one who wanted to turn this into a meal, so it’s only fair.”
Well, that might be true, but it made her feel even more obligated to the man. For a second, she wondered if that had been his intention all along, before rationalising it with the thought that he couldn’t have known the others would all be sick. She frowned. But did that mean he was taking advantage of the situation?
“You look troubled. I hope you’re not upset that I paid.”
“No.” Despite being a little wary about his motives, she knew he was rich. He could afford it. Just because he paid for her meal didn’t mean he’d demand payment of another kind.
“So, here we are at the end of a very productive meeting.” He walked her outside. “How do you plan to return home?”
Oh. She hadn’t quite figured out that part of the day’s proceedings. “I’ll catch a ferry.”
“At this time of night?”
“It’s not like I’m unused to public transport,” she said.
“Hmm. Do you mean to suggest by that comment that I am?”
“It’s true, though, isn’t it?”
He laughed. “You are a constant stream of refreshment, aren’t you?”
Was she? She didn’t trust that look in his eye, so she stepped back. “Well, thank you. But I need to go, and—”
“I can drive you, if you like.”
For all his kindness, she still didn’t trust him enough to let him take her to where she lived. Especially after the last time a man had offered to drive her home, and that had ended so badly. “I’m catching an Uber.”
“To the north shore from here? Do you know how much that would cost?”
She shrugged. Better that than the unwelcome advances from a man whose motives she still wasn’t one hundred percent sure of. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ll be fine.”
“Really?” He arched a brow. “I can’t help but feel a trifle offended that you don’t want me to escort you home.”
“Like I said, I’m a big girl, and I don’t need someone watching over me.”
“But what if someone wanted to?”
