“What if I take you out for coffee to make this up to you?” She was cute, with her wavy blonde hair, tanned skin, and green eyes — and God knew he could use a distraction. Coffee with a pretty girl would be a good way to unwind from this appointment before he had to go back to the hospital and see his father again.
She gave him an appraising look. “What would you say to something a little stronger? It’s been a rough morning.”
“You’re not alone there,” he said. “All right, you’re on. There’s a pretty good sports bar near here, we can get some cold beers and something to eat.”
The woman smiled. “I’m Chelsea,” she said. “Chelsea Burke.”
“Miles,” he said, deliberately holding back his last name in case she recognized it. This wouldn’t be the relaxing break he needed if she knew who he was. He gave her his most charming smile and held an arm toward the door.
Chelsea Burke flashed him a small smile that went through him like lightning.This is going to be an interesting lunch.
CHAPTER 6
CHELSEA
Chelsea had been expecting the kind of mid-range table-service restaurant she’d grown up going to on Sunday afternoons with her family, but that wasn’t where Miles took her at all.
Instead, the moment they arrived, they were led to a private room. It had a window overlooking a garden that she hadn’t been able to see from the street and a fireplace in the corner. She looked around in awe. “I didn’t know there were places like this in Austin.”
“Of course,” he said, as if she’d told him she didn’t know there were traffic lights in the city. “Why wouldn’t there be?”
“Well, I just… I’ve never been here before.”
“That makes sense. You need to be a member to get in,” he explained.
She was beginning to get the picture. Miles was wealthy — wealthy enough to think nothing of memberships to private dining establishments. “But I thought you said we were going to a sports bar.”
In response, he picked up a remote control and pressed a button. A panel in the wall drew back to reveal a TV. “We can get any channel, if you want to watch something,” he offered.
“No,” she said. “I’m fine.”
She wasn’t fine. This was a punch to the gut. The kind of money this man must have would have solved all her problems, and it was frustrating to see that he didn’t need it like she did, that he could waste it on things like restaurants with disappearing TVs. If she had the resources he so clearly did, her worries would be over.
But that isn’t his fault. There’s no point in being upset at him because he has something and I don’t. I’m sure he has problems of his own. What I should focus on today is that he was nice enough to bring me here to try to cheer me up. That was kind. Generous.
For the first time, she took in how well-dressed Miles was. He wore jeans and a sweater, but she could tell by the cut and the fit that they were designer items, and that they had probably been tailored just for him. His haircut was expensive too — at least she was pretty sure it was. The dark, glossy waves matched something she’d seen on a magazine cover. She felt suddenly insecure of her own hair, which she habitually cut at home in front of the mirror. It was definitely uneven in the back.
She mustered her confidence and walked over to the table and sat down. “It’s a cozy spot,” she said with a smile. “I could get used to this sort of thing.”
“It’s nice to get away from crowds,” he agreed. “My father doesn’t love it here, but it’s one of my favorite places in thecity. And the food is great. Do you want to put in an order? I recommend the sirloin.”
She laughed. “It’s lunch,” she said. “Do they have a cheeseburger or something?”
“Sure,” he grinned. He put a hand on the table and a digital readout appeared.
Chelsea stared. “The table is a computer?”
“I guess they thought it was a better idea than having a tablet here for people to order from,” Miles said. “That would take more wear and tear. So, a cheeseburger for you? How do you want it done?”
“Um, medium?”
He tapped a few buttons. “And I’ll get us some of their craft beer,” he said. “If that’s all right with you?”
“Sounds good.”
A few more taps, and then the display faded. “All right,” he said. “Lunch is on the way.”
She shook her head, smiling, hardly able to believe that a smile had found her. “This place is wild,” she said. “Do you come here often?”
