I slump back against the booth. “Okay, fine. What would you do?”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t what?”
“Propose.” He shrugs. “Marriage isn’t really my thing.”
“That’s incredibly unhelpful, Banks. I’m asking you to use your imagination.”
“My imagination is telling me to order another steak.”
I drag a hand down my face. This was a mistake. I should have asked Archer—he’s married, he’s done this before. But Archer talks too much, and the last thing I need is the whole team knowing I’m planning to propose before I actually do it.
Banks was supposed to be the safe option. The vault. The guy who doesn’t gossip or get emotional or make a big deal out of things.
Turns out he’s also the guy with zero romantic instincts whatsoever.
“Okay, let’s try this differently,” I say. “What do women like?”
“How would I know?”
“You’ve dated women.”
“I’ve slept with women. That’s different.”
“Banks.”
“What? I’m being honest.” He leans back, arms crossed. “Look, I’m not the guy you come to for this stuff. I don’t dofeelings. I don’t do grand gestures. I show up, I do my job, I go home. That’s it.”
“You showed up at my house to warn me when the rumors started.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“That was crisis management. This is—” He waves a hand vaguely. “Romance. Not my department.”
I’m about to argue when movement near the entrance catches my eye. The hostess is leading someone toward the back of the restaurant, and I recognize the blonde hair immediately.
Winnie. Tori’s best friend. The yoga instructor Dana hired a few weeks ago—she’s been finishing up some training thing, but she starts with the team on Monday.
She spots me and waves, changing course toward our table.
I’ve met Winnie a handful of times now. Objectively? Yeah, she’s gorgeous—tall, blonde, the kind of impossible-to-ignore pretty that’s going to cause problems when she starts working with a locker room full of hockey players. Not my problem, obviously. I’m so gone for Tori it’s almost embarrassing. But I’m already bracing myself for the chaos.
“Hey, Zayden!” She’s all warmth and energy, even in the middle of a Tuesday. “Fancy seeing you here. Is Tori with you?”
“Nah, I wish. She’s at the new clinic. Grand opening prep.” I gesture across the table. “This is Banks. Banks, this is Winnie—she starts with the team on Monday. Yoga and flexibility training.”
Winnie turns to him with that megawatt smile. “Nice to finally meet you. Tori talks about you guys all the time.”
Banks opens his mouth.
Nothing comes out.
I watch, genuinely fascinated, as the most stoic man I’ve ever known completely short-circuits. He just... stares at her. Jaw slightly slack. Eyes a little too wide.
Winnie’s smile falters, just a flicker of uncertainty. “Um. Hi?”
