She also felt an urgent need to get away from Aiden because she didn’t find his protective, alpha side nearly as off-putting as she should.His apparent jealousy caused butterflies to take flight in her stomach.
But wasn’t that the reason she agreed to this date?The first step in putting her feelings for Aiden behind her.She didn’t want her pulse to race when he was near.She didn’t want to think about his hands on her body when he treated her to his heated stare.She didn’t want to burn for him anymore, period, so she had to give moving on a real chance.
“Just tell me where you’re going, then.So I know you’ll be safe.”
Fueled by frustration and a need to put him in his place, Brooke closed the distance between them and shoved a red-painted fingernail into his chest.
“I’m not telling you anything, and it’s ridiculous that you would even ask.Who I date is none of your business.You lost the right to question me like this a long time ago.”
Despite speaking the truth, she also knew he had always looked out for her growing up.His protective possessiveness was part of the reason she’d fallen for him in the first place.
He shoved a hand through his hair in obvious frustration.“Maybe not, but that won’t stop me from worrying.”
She stepped around him, and this time he didn’t stop her, so she walked out the door and headed for her car.
A little while later, she stepped into the Italian restaurant Mark had chosen.He was waiting at the table when she arrived and immediately stood and pulled out her chair like a gentleman.Her lips curved upward at the courtesy.
“You look really beautiful,” Mark said, his eyes flickering up and down her body but not lingering anywhere that would make her uncomfortable.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat in a blush.
She settled into her seat across from Mark, taking a moment to study him.He matched his photo, but instead of being clean-shaven, he had a stubbled beard that suited him, sandy blond, like his hair.Good-looking and a nice guy.Fallon wouldn’t have set her up with him otherwise.
“I’m so glad you agreed to come tonight.Fallon told me about you a while ago, but she wasn’t sure whether you’d accept a date with someone you didn’t know.”
She smiled.“Don’t take it personally.I’m not really a blind date kind of girl.”
“I guess I should consider myself lucky then.”
Mark had an easy grin that put her at ease.She picked up her menu and flipped it open.She’d never been to this restaurant before, but it was a nice place with a romantic vibe.A small glass vase sat in the middle of the table with a tealight candle inside.The white tablecloths were crisp, and the lighting low enough to give an intimate feel.
For the next half hour, they drank wine, shared bread, and made small talk.It didn’t take long for Brooke to realize he wasn’t just nice, he was charming in a way that seemed effortless.Fallon had done well.Mark was a great catch.
Unfortunately, Brooke wasn’t interested in a romantic way.On paper, Mark ticked all the boxes.Successful, handsome, and easy to talk to.The only thing missing was the spark.
Sitting across the table from him, Brooke hated that she kept thinking about Aiden and the butterflies in her stomach when he demanded she skip her date.It was a ridiculous high but profound in comparison to the bland feeling she got when Mark smiled and told her she was beautiful.It wasn’t fair to compare the men.But that’s what she’d been doing for years, and it was a pattern she needed to break.
She couldn’t see Mark again, it would be leading him on, but for tonight, she did her best to keep herself engaged in the conversation throughout the meal.Her Alfredo smelled amazing, and she eagerly twirled the pasta around her fork.
She’d taken two bites before she realized that Mark was watching her.
“I love a woman with a healthy appetite,” he said.“It’s always so uncomfortable when I’m eating a full meal and my date is picking at a small, undressed salad.”
“Have you had a lot of dates like that?”
“More than you’d think.My sister told me that she eatsbeforeher dates so that guys don’t think she’s fat.”
Brooke laughed.“That seems a little over-the-top.Everyone eats.Why would a woman pretend not to?”
“That’s what I say.”
He cut a piece of his chicken parmesan and took a bite.“This is delicious.Would you like to try it?”
She almost said no, but it looked good, and he was already cutting her a piece, holding his fork out to her.The act felt intimate, especially when she wrapped her lips around the fork and his eyes darkened with desire.
Still, no spark on her end.
What was wrong with her?
