Page 34 of My Real Love Affair

“I’m sensing a theme with you and food recommendations.”

“What theme?”

“You like to feed people.”

“I like to feed people well. There’s a difference.” I flagged down our waiter. “Trust me?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

I ordered for both of us—appetizers to share, the ribeye for me, the sea bass for her because I noticed her eyeing it, and a bottle of wine that would complement the meal.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said once the waiter left.

“Do what?”

“Order for me. I can handle a menu.”

“I know you can. But you looked overwhelmed, and I know what’s good here.” I leaned back in my chair. “If you hate what I picked, we’ll send it back and get you something else.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Just fine? I’m wounded.” I pressed a hand to my chest in mock offense. “I put thought into that order.”

“Two whole seconds of thought.”

“The most agonizing two seconds of my life.”

She laughed and shook her head. This was good. This was working. She was relaxed and smiling. Now I just had to figure out how to pitch my insane proposal without scaring her off.

The wine arrived, and I poured for both of us. Melody took a sip, her eyes widening slightly.

“Good?” I asked.

“Really good. What is this?”

“French. I forget the year.”

“So, tell me why you got canceled,” I said.

She groaned. “You don’t want to hear the story.”

“I do.”

“It was a misunderstanding.”

“On your part or theirs?”

She grinned. “You looked me up.”

I shrugged. “You know all about my sordid past. I figured it was fair.”

Our appetizers were delivered. She gave me an abbreviated version of what happened, but I already knew most of it.

While we were enjoying our appetizers, I heard a woman’s voice from a nearby table, not quite whispered enough. “I can’t believe she has the nerve to show her face in public after what she did.”

Melody’s expression fell immediately. Her shoulders tensed, her smile dropping.

I turned to see who said it. Two tables over, a group of four women in their thirties, dressed in designer everything, were very obviously talking about Melody while looking directly at her.