A Cosmic Kind of Love(34)

Christopher had texted me yesterday morning to ask me to lunch. He’d named the place and time, and I’d agreed. Hoping it might be a long lunch, I’d attempted to get a full day’s work done in one morning.

Hence the sweating.

At least, it was partly to blame.

A quick glance at my phone told me I needed to move. I stuffed my makeup back into my purse and marched out of the ladies’ room only to almost collide with my boss. I stumbled away from her.

Lia crossed her arms over her chest. Her expression was suspicious and displeased.

Wonderful.

“Lia. Hi. I’m just on my way to a client lunch.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Surprising, because I just received an irate phone call from Julia Gardner-Smith about how unprofessional my staff are for canceling a lunch date last minute and how she’ll have to rethink using my company at all for her wedding.”

“I can explain.”

“I’m breathless with anticipation.”

Ignoring her sarcasm, I continued, “Have you heard of the astronaut Captain Christopher Ortiz?”

She frowned. “I’m sure I know the name.”

“You will, because his face was plastered all over the news last year when he was sent on a mission to the International Space Station. He’s only thirty-five years old, son of distinguished Manhattan businessman Javier Ortiz, and was one of the youngest captains in the United States Air Force. He made a bit of splash because he’s garnered millions of followers on social media, is very handsome, and he dated Darcy Hawthorne for a few years before she met Matthias.”

Lia’s arms dropped from her chest. “Go on.”

“He was at Darcy’s engagement party on Saturday, and he asked to meet me for lunch to discuss the possibility of us planning a party to commemorate his retirement from the air force. He could only do today, and I used my judgment and decided he was a bigger fish to catch than Julia Gardner-Smith.” I tried not to grimace at my tiny little lie, my heart racing. I was pretty sure Christopher would have been happy to meet on another day.

But the lie was necessary. There was nothing I hated more than pissing off my boss. Thankfully, it didn’t happen often.

“Excellent judgment call.” Lia nodded, her lips unpinching. “And if he’s a friend of the Hawthornes, it’s important we nourish that relationship. Every time that family hosts an event, I want it to be a Lia Zhang event.”

I relaxed but tried not to be obvious. “Agreed. Well, he’s expecting me, so . . .”

“Go, go.” She shooed me with her hands. “Reel in that fish.”



* * *





Christopher had arrived at the restaurant before me. It was around a fifteen-minute walk to the Victorian building that housed the restaurant. I’d eaten there a few times and liked the food and the laid-back vibe. I was pleased Christopher chose somewhere like this to eat rather than somewhere people went “to be seen.”

Unfortunately the walk had just made me sweatier. Spring was fast fading into summer, and although it had rained all day yesterday, today the sun was back out. There was a slight chance I’d chosen my cute, sleeveless wrap dress out of my closet this morning, not just because of the sun shining outside but because of the man who would see me in it. The dress turned out to be a superb choice because it was so horribly humid out. I hoped there weren’t sweat patches beneath my arms and tried to surreptitiously look as the waiter led me to our table.

I’d just ascertained I was okay in the armpit department and looked up only to be caught in Christopher’s warm brown gaze. His lips curled at the corner in a slight smile, his expression welcoming.

Before the waiter could pull out my chair, Christopher rounded it and did it for me. For a moment, the gesture stunned me.

When was the last time a man pulled out my chair for me?

It was such an old-fashioned gesture.

And it completely charmed me.

“Thank you,” I murmured as I slipped into the chair. It was so considerate and well-mannered. I couldn’t even remember the last time George had held a door open for me. I’d held plenty of doors open for him, that was for sure.

“Hallie, are you okay?”

I blinked out of my reverie and wanted to melt into a puddle of gooey embarrassment at the concerned frown between Christopher’s brows. “Oh God, I spaced out, didn’t I?”

His lips twitched. “A little.” He flicked a look at our server. “Lawrence here was just asking you what you’d like to drink.”

I gave our server an apologetic smile. “A soda water and lime, please.”

“Just water for me,” Christopher said.

As soon as the server left, I blurted out, “You pulled my chair out for me.”

Those dark eyes of his glittered with confusion. “And?”

“It surprised me. In a good way. Hence the woolgathering. Sorry.” I am such a dork.

Christopher grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who just says what’s on their mind like you do.”

“Oh, I don’t. I frequently withhold feelings in order to protect the feelings of others.” Did I just say that? I hung my head in mortification. “I seem to have a slight filter issue around you, Christopher, apologies.”