CHAPTER THREE

ALICE

What in the world was grammy thinking?!

This is like some horrible joke.

I can’t help eyeing the entrance not far from our table. I could make a hasty excuse and be out the door before this date can even start.

A wild giggle bubbles up in my throat as I think about all the foolish qualities in a man that I hoped my date would possess.

We can never go dancing. If he’s in a wheelchair full-time, I’m always going to be taller than him. The only thing that he has is good looks. His smile of greeting made me positively melt.

But that’s gone now as he frowns over at me.

“Sorry, Marcus, of course,” I say, willing my tense body to relax.

Maybe he’s having a bad day, or something happened on his way here? I should give him the benefit of the doubt.

If I leave now, I’ll be the rude one and grammy set us up and would not approve of my bad manners at all.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I lean across the table and offer him my hand, along with a smile.

He returns the smile, his large hand briefly encompassing mine. He gives my hand a single gentle pump before releasing it.

And there are those darn butterflies again.

He really is quite handsome with his thick black hair that has a bit of wave to it and his sharp cheekbones. This close, I see his eyes aren’t dark brown like I originally thought, but a deep olive green.

And naturally, he has long eyelashes. Those types of lashes are always wasted on men, while many of us girls have to go to great lengths to get lashes like that.

I realize I’m staring as Marcus’s lips stretch wider in an engaging grin showing off his straight, white teeth. His dark pink lips are perfectly outlined by his black facial hair. He’s so striking, it’s hard to look away. Thankfully, our server appears just then and hands over menus as well as taking our drink orders.

We both order water with lemon and exchange grins.

“I’ve never eaten here before. Have you?” Marcus asks, raising his eyes from the menu.

Shaking my head, my loose blonde curls tumble over my shoulder. “No. I thought maybe you picked the place.”

Marcus laughs and lines fan out from the corners of his eyes.

Maybe in his forties would be my guess. Putting him a solid decade older than my twenty-seven. From what I can see, he’s dressed in a well-fitted dark black suit jacket with a white dress shirt and a black tie with a faint pattern on it. He appears clean and well-groomed, which is definitely a plus in his favor.

“Who set you up on this date?” he asks.

“My grammy.” I set down the menu. “How do you know her?” Marcus is attractive enough to be an actor, but grammy’s acting days are long over.

His husky chuckle sends a wave of want through me, and I nearly gasp at the suddenness of it.

“I don’t know her at all. But I’m willing to bet my grandmother knows her and the two of them cooked up this whole thing.”

Our server reappears with our drinks and takes our orders. Marcus’s straight, dark brows arch up as I order the crab and bacon linguine. When he orders the same thing, I grab at my water glass and take a fast gulp.

Alone again, I feel Marcus regarding me and try not to squirm. “Are you a lawyer?” I blurt out.

I’m treated to his laughter again and the heat in my belly intensifies. I haven’t been on a good date in forever, let alone with a man this good looking. That’s why I’m reacting the way I am, I tell myself.

“No. I’m not.” He picks up his glass and takes a sip. “Are you a lawyer?”

Frowning, I shake my head. “Not even close. I’m an IT assistant director.”

My blue eyes lock with his green ones. “Why would you think I was a lawyer?”

“Why would you believe I was?” he tosses back at me with a smirk.

“Your attitude,” I say with a wry twist of my lips.

“Most people regard lawyers as pompous assholes. Guess this date isn’t going as well as I hoped.”

Licking my lips, I can’t help asking. “Did you want this date to go well?”

Avoiding my question, he places his large palms on the snowy white tablecloth and asks one of his own. “My grandmother isn’t in the habit of fixing me up. Is yours?”

“No, she isn’t.”

“And yet you came. Are you also feeling hopeful about this date?”

Things got serious fast. I find myself leaning forward, drawn in by the intensity in his gaze.

Our food arrives, breaking the spell between us, and I shuffle back in my seat. Confusion fills me. This entire time, I’ve been caught up in our conversation and somehow forgot about the fact that he’s in a wheelchair.

That’s not something you can just forget about though. Is it?

I concentrate on my food and risk a quick peek up at Marcus to find his eyes on me.

“You never answered my question.”

“What question?” I ask, stalling for time.

“Are you hopeful about this date? About us?”

My laughter sounds forced even to my own ears. “I don’t even know you, Marcus.”

“Nor I you. Isn’t that the whole idea behind a date? To learn more about the other person?”

Before I can form a response, he continues. “Like I stated, this is the first time my grandmother has set me up on a date.” His lips quirk up, drawing my attention once more to his full lips. I can’t help wondering what they would feel like pressed against mine.

“I wasn’t fully interested in going on this date.”

His words are like a bucket of ice water dumped over me and all thoughts about his lips and tasting them disappear.

“But I’m very glad I came. Because Alice, I find myself very interested in getting to know you.”