“Are you sure you want to cut your hair?”
Unease washed over her once more, and she cursed Tom for making her feel so inadequate.
He must have noticed the panic on her face because he leaned over and caressed her cheek. “What’s wrong, Tyger? Do you want to back out?”
She loved gazing into his eyes, and for some strange reason, she loved the way he said her name. For years she’d hated her first name, but now she enjoyed hearing it, as long as it came from him.
Breanna swallowed the dryness gathering in her throat. “It’s just that my hair hasn’t been cut for so long, and well... Tom isn’t quite sold on the idea. He doesn’t like change very well.”
Brad arched an eyebrow and gave her a look of disbelief. “Is this guy for real?” He shook his head. “Change is good, especially in this situation. I’m sure that after he sees what you look like with a new haircut, he’ll love it.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, Brad. What if he hates it?”
He leaned closer and took her face in both of his hands. “But what ifyoulove it? Who are you doing this for? You or him? Tyger, my sweet, this is your life, not his.”
His nearness made her breathing irregular, and yet his words made sense. How many times had she tried to tell herself that very thing in the past five years since meeting Tom?
Brad’s gaze dropped to her mouth and she held her breath. Would he kiss her? As much as her soul cried out for affection, she couldn’t let him kiss her again. Little by little, she was losing control, and she worried that if they kissed like they did after the party, she might enjoy it so much she’d want more.
Thankfully, Brad pulled away and gripped the steering wheel. “But don’t worry about it now. You can think about it over breakfast.”
Relief poured over her, yet at the same time, disappointment lodged in her chest. Perhaps she shouldn’t feel let down because he hadn’t kissed her. After all, this was only the beginning of their day together.
It didn’t take long before he was pulling the truck into the parking lot next to Denny’s. She wanted to laugh. Why would he pick this place when he was supposed to be a billionaire?
“Seriously?” she asked, arching her eyebrow.
“What can I say?” He parked the truck and killed the engine. “I love their breakfast.” He touched her arm. “Don’t move.”
She wondered why he’d told her that and then jumped out of the truck. But as he walked to her door and opened, she understood. “Brad, you don’t have to do that for me.” She took his hand as he helped her down. “I am capable of opening and shutting doors by myself, you know.”
He gently pushed her back against the side of the truck and pressed his body against her. Softly, his fingers caressed her cheek and she nearly sighed with pleasure.
“It’s my privilege to do that, so you better let me.”
Her heart melted, along with the rest of her body. He was such a gentleman. “Okay, I’ll let you.”
Brad took her hand in his again and led her toward the restaurant. As she tried to regulate her crazily-beating heart, she realized sheneededto feel special today. And she deserved it at least once in a while. She’d make the most of it, since it would only last tonight, and just like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, she’d turn back into a regular woman that nobody wanted to notice.
Inside the restaurant, they were shown to a booth and given the menus. Motioning with his hand, he silently communicated for her to sit. Once she slid on the seat, he sat next to her. It surprised her that he would sit so close instead of across from her. Tomneverdid this.
Inwardly, she growled. She really needed to stop thinking ofthat man. She was with Brad today, and she would have an enjoyable time no matter what.
He picked up his menu and peered down at it. “What are you going to have?”
“I don’t know.” That was the truth because her nervous stomach was in knots that nothing on the menu looked appetizing.
“How about an orange juice and a muffin?” he asked without looking at her.
“Brad, really.” She placed her hand on his arm.
His attention snapped toward her and he grinned. “I don’t want to eat by myself. Please?”
How could she deny this man anything when he looked at her with a pouty expression? He was just too dang good looking. “Fine. I’ll have a muffin and orange juice.”
The corner of his mouth lifted a little higher. “No pressure, of course.”
“Oh, none at all.”
