Chapter Eight

CHARLOTTE STRUGGLEDto hide her surprise when Lukas pulled her close to kiss her cheek in greeting. The last time they had seen each other was when they were both still in college, but one thing she was sure was that the Greek billionaire used to be a lot more...formal towards her. It was why she had never taken Addie seriously every time her friend teased her about Lukas liking Charlotte, and it was also why she had only rolled her eyes every time Landon expressed jealousy about her friendship with the other man.

Had time made Lukas different...or was it his perception of her that had changed? Did he think she would be fine with him being less formal because he no longer saw her as a woman in a relationship with someone else?

Then again...why should it matter to her either way?

This is your fault, Addie, Charlotte grumbled inside her mind. She had never felt awkward or self-conscious around the other man before, but all she could think about now was how her friend had kept on harping about Lukas having the "hots" for her.

The thought alone made her feel terribly guilty, and Charlotte felt even guiltier when she noticed the other diners looking their way as Lukas held the small of her back while guiding her to her seat.

She usually preferred to meet clients in her office or theirs, but she had chosen to make an exception when Lukas asked for them to meet on neutral ground. Not all men were comfortable about having their contract with Heart"s Match made public, and Charlotte could imagine why that would be the case for Lukas. In any case, all she wanted was to help people find true love, and if keeping her involvement secret was what it would take—-

SNAP!

Charlotte bit back a groan when she saw someone stealthily take a photo of her and Lukas with one of those big cameras that the paparazzi were often seen carrying around with them. San Antonio had its fair share of gossip accounts on social media, and she could already imagine how tomorrow"s posts would look like.

Celebrated Matchmaker Charlotte Carmichael Finds Her OTP in Greek Billionaire Lukas Tsaldaris!

Charlotte had to repress a shudder at the thought. Yuck, yuck, yuck. She had nothing against Lukas, and she was certain that most women would find it flattering to have their names linked to the billionaire"s. But the thing was, she was not like most women. Land was the only man for her, and she would never want anyone—-oh!

She finally noticed Lukas studying her from across the table, and Charlotte nearly squirmed. The way he was looking at her could in no way be described as friendly, but the billionaire"s gaze only gleamed when she frowned at him in silent disapproval.

"Are you not used to being looked at admiringly?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Oh, please." She was not unattractive, but they both knew she had never been the kind that turned heads like Cha-Cha or Addie had always done.

"I have always found you beautiful, Charlotte."

Charlotte made a face. "Quit it, Lukas."

"Why should I? Addie told me you haven"t dated since—-"

Charlotte quickly cut him off, saying, "It"s true." She knew it was childish of her, but she truly hated hearing anyone describe Landon with the D-word, and she doubted her feelings on this would ever change.

A waiter came at that moment to take their orders, and Charlotte was relieved to have the chance to change the subject afterwards. "So..." She pinned a professional smile on her lips as she looked at Heart"s Match newest client. "The way I usually start these things—-"

Lukas" humorless smile made her stop speaking.

"My case is likely different from your usual ones."

"In what way?"

Instead of answering, Lukas ordered a bottle of wine, and Charlotte politely declined when he offered to pour her a glass. She expected him to take only a sip or two, but when Lukas downed everything in one gulp, it was only then Charlotte realized that something might be truly wrong.

"The contract I had you sign before this includes a confidentiality cause," she reminded him gently. "So whatever you have to say—-"

"I"m infertile."

The abrupt admission left Charlotte speechless. She knew this wasn"t logical of her, but it seemed almost impossible that someone as seemingly...virile as Lukas Tsaldaris could be that.

"Is there any possibility of a misdiagnosis?" she asked finally.

"None."

Charlotte looked at him helplessly. "I"m sorry, Lukas."

"It is what it is," was all Lukas said, and although Charlotte felt bad for him, she knew it was best to simply keep silent.

For a man like Lukas, sympathy would be no different from pity, and Charlotte was privately relieved when their waiter came back with their appetizers. They spoke mostly of trivial things after that, and it was only as they were having coffee with their dessert that the billionaire finally returned to their conversation from earlier.

"Now that you"re aware of my situation, I"m sure you"d understand why I require a certain kind of woman to be my wife."

Charlotte could only nod, with her mind already busy going through the list of prospective candidates she had in her agency"s database. Women who were past childbearing age were obviously one option, but she had a feeling such women would be too proud to knock repeatedly on Lukas" heart until it finally started cracking open.

From what she could remember about Lukas, she had a feeling the Greek billionaire was suitable for someone younger. Someone who still had stars in her eyes in spite of having life knock her down—-

"What if you were placed in such a position, Charlotte?"

The sudden question made her blink. "What position?"

"What if the man you wish to marry is incapable of giving you a child?"

"That would never happen," Charlotte answered without hesitation.

Lukas" brows shot up. "Are you saying you"d have a man take a fertility test before you consider dating—-"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Of course not. What I meant was that I don"t want to have a child with any other man but Land. I never will. That"s why I know it"s never going to happen—-"

"Good."

Good?

"If that is how you feel about having children, then would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Charlotte started to laugh, but then she realized Lukas was being completely serious, and she ended up choking instead.

"At least give it some thought," Lukas cajoled, "before rejecting my proposal outright."

She shook her head. "I don"t need to give this any thought. I"m still in love with Land—-"

"That"s fine," Lukas dismissed. "I didn"t ask you to fall in love with me, did I? All I wish is for you to marry me—-"

Her brows furrowed. "Are you saying you"re interested in a platonic marriage?"

"Given enough time and opportunity, I believe I"ll be able to change your mind about that."

"Uh...no. You won"t."

"Don"t turn this into a challenge, Charlotte."

"I"m not," Charlotte protested.

"And yet it feels like you are."

The purr in Lukas" tone made Charlotte feel like she had suddenly turned into some kind of prey in the billionaire"s eyes, and it nearly had her throwing her hands up in frustration.

"I"m really not trying to challenge you," she insisted. "I swear it on my honor. I know you"re gorgeous and sexy and—-and all the other stuff that women want, but you know how I am, Lukas. Land is it for me—-"

"And like I said earlier," Lukas drawled, "I don"t mind that your heart will always belong to your first husband. All I want is the right woman in my life, and that"s you."