For nothing.
“It’s too much, isn’t it?” Ridge’s voice is quiet. He puts his hands in his pockets and then takes them out again, like he doesn’t know what to do with them. “It’s too much. Shit.”
He should be nervous. Because what the hell?
“What are you doing here?” I find my voice. “What is all this?”
I keep looking around the room because I’m flabbergasted.
What the heck!?
“Oh. Um.” He scrubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m confused. I thought… I thought that you agreed to talk to me this evening. You told Carla that I…um…should meet you here. Carla said dinner would be a nice touch. She said you’d be okay with—” He stops himself, groans, and drags a hand down his face. “Oh, Christ! I messed up.”
“Carla.” I lift my brows. “Really now? Oh wow, you…um…you listened to Carla?”
“Shit.” Ridge shakes his head slowly. “Oh, crap. I got this all wrong. I fell for the oldest trick in the book. I should have known she was setting us up. I just figured, since she’s your PA, she’d know if you’d—” He breaks off again. “She’s right. I’m an idiot,” he mutters to himself.
“I’m going to kill her,” I say very calmly.
“You’ll have to stand in line.” He gestures helplessly at the table. “I knew I was going overboard. I knew it. I was just so excited that you’d agreed to have dinner with me, and I didn’t want to do a half-assed job. ChatGPT said to make a grand gesture if you wanted to show someone how…” He stops there,shakes his head, and lets out a long breath. “You know what? I’m going to clean up. I’ll be out of your hair in a minute.”
He moves toward the table.
I look at the floor again.
“It would take an hour just to vacuum up these petals,” I tell him. “Never mind the rest. How many roses died in the making of this grand gesture of yours?”
“A lot,” he admits. “Sometimes a few sacrifices are required.” He sort of gets a smile.
He’s so pretty. I still want to dry-hump him, but I won’t be doing that.
No way!
“I think I’m going to go.” I jerk my thumb back at the door behind me. “You can clean up while I…am gone.”
“Please don’t go.” Ridge takes a quick step toward me, then stops. “I’m sorry. I messed up. Again. Please, can we talk? We’re here, anyway. We don’t even have to have dinner together. You can have it. I made it for you. Carla said filet mignon with a pepper sauce and baby potatoes was your favorite. I decided on cheese and biscuits instead of dessert because I know your affinity for cheese… or is it just melted cheese?” He widens his eyes, looking like he’s panicking a little.
It makes me want to smile. I don’t!
I lift a brow at him. “I’ll take any cheese. I love cheese… But that’s beside the point.”
“I also got something sweet in case you’d rather—” He breaks off and lets out a strangled laugh. “I should probably stop talking now.”
I press my lips together.
Don’t smile.
Do not smile.
The problem with Ridge is that he’s even more gorgeous when he’s flustered. I’m having such a hard time staying mad at him, and I have to be strong. I have to.
I made up my mind. I made a decision. I’m sticking with it.
“This isn’t a good idea, Ridge.” I take a breath. “I really don’t want a relationship. It’s not you.”
He laughs at me. “Don’t use that bullshit line on me.”
“It’s true,” I tell him, a little stung. “I…I’m not interested in being tied down. Or in love. Or any of that stuff. I’ve been there, done that, and I have the T-shirt. I don’t need another to add to the collection.”
