He chuckled and got me safely to my feet, then I heard the car door shut. His cheek brushed mine, and then he said, “Okay, open.”
He clicked a picture.
“Oh my gosh, Preach!” I slapped his shoulder.
We were standing beside his Jeep in a parking lot with about twenty other cars off to the side and behind us. A guy wearing a tux approached, his hand outstretched toward Preach.
“Here you go.” Preach tossed him the car keys.
“Alexander’s Steak House,” I said with a whisper.
“Yep.” He grinned.
I’d heard about this place. Dad had mentioned wanting to take Mom there a couple of times, but Mom said no because it was too expensive.
“Preach, really?”
He nodded and offered me his elbow. I felt like a princess. And here was my prince: amazing, gorgeous, and thoughtful.
Another guy in a tux was at the front door, holding it open for us. The next set of doors opened as well, and the scents of salt, steak grilling, and sweet desserts swirled around me. To my right was a dessert case. Up ahead a waitress stood there, smiling, her long, bright red hair curled around her left shoulder.
“Right this way, Mr. Armstrong and Miss Milner,” she said.
“Ohh,Mr. Armstrong,” I said.
“I know, right?” He chuckled as we followed her along the outskirts of the main dining area. Up ahead, separate from the main area, there was a table for two off in the corner, at least ten feet away from the nearest table, and there were only three in this secluded space.
And they were empty.
“Oh my gosh, Preach.” I leaned into him as we came up to the table. “This is too much.”
He shook his head. “I promise it isn’t.”
“But, this place, all of this, it’s expensive and…”
Preach gave me a soft smile. “I called in a few favors.”
“Favors?”
He shrugged. “I tutored the restaurant owner’s son in math last year. Never accepted any payment. She offered to help me pull off this date.”
“You really are a great guy, you know that?” I grinned.
He unleashed a smile that rivaled the wattage of the sun.
There was another rose on the plate in front of one seat, and a waiter came out of nowhere and pulled out my chair. I glanced at Preach, then sat down.
Preach took the seat across from me and grinned. I picked up my rose and smelled it. My favorite scent.
There was a glass of soda in front of both our plates. “This is amazing!”
“I’m glad you like it.” He slid his hand across the table, and I grabbed it. “Oh, and by the way…you look beautiful.”
Heat steamed my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but look away. His gaze was so intense it overwhelmed me. At that moment it hit me—Preach was amazing, and he really did care about me.
Had I really found my Prince Charming?
Chapter Thirty-Five