Chapter 4: Dinner Date

Suvi’s POV

“I’ve already told you, Miss Merdock. The hotel is fully booked. We simply don’t have a spare room for your poodle.” I plaster a smile on my face. This is the third time Miss Merdock has been to the front desk in the past twenty minutes. As a front desk worker at the Green Tree Hotel, I’m used to difficult guests. But Miss Merdock is a whole new level of difficult!

“Surely you can do something.” She rolls her eyes. Her poodle, Mr. Flufferoos is under her arm like a football. “Or should I take this to the manager?”

It’s a threat. Whenever they mention the manager, it’s to bully me into getting what they want. I scan the computer screen. The only room left is the penthouse suite. She clicks her nails on the counter. “I’m waiting,” she says.

“As a matter of fact, I do have a room for Mr. Flufferoos,” I sigh. I can’t believe I’m giving our best room to a poodle. I hand her the key. As soon as she’s out of sight, I put my head in my hands.

It’s been an emotionally draining day. I can’t wait to get home. Just then, my phone buzzes.

It’s Josh.

Instantly, my mood perks up.  

“Hello?” I answer, unable to suppress my smile.

“Suvi? It’s Josh,” he says in that velvety tone of his. “Is this a bad time?”

“Oh no,” I say. “Not at all. Just finishing up work. And…”

“Great.” He cuts me off. “Look, I’d like you to come to dinner with me.”

That was blunt. I’m a bit taken aback. “Dinner? Like, as in a date?”

He’s silent for a moment. “Yes, Suvi. I would like to take you on a date.”

Oh boy. A date? I haven’t been on a date in ages. I start to list all the reasons why I shouldn’t accept. He’s rich: I’m poor. He’s young: I’m not. He’s famous: I work the front desk at a small hotel. He’s the Alpha’s son. My wolf is in hiding.

Then there’s my abusive past….

No. I can’t.

“Suvi? You there?” he asks.

I sigh deeply.. He’s sexy. He’s handsome. He’s sweet. He’s way out of my league. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Josh,” I finally confess. What would be the point?

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” he quips. “It’s just dinner, Suvi. It’s not like I’m asking you to marry me. Come on. You’ve got nothing to lose here. Just share a nice meal with me.”

Well…how can I argue with that?

We set a date a week from now. Then of course I spend the entire week fussing and fretting about the date….

***  

I walk into the restaurant, holding Myla’s hand. I hadn’t intended on bringing her, but a last minute work emergency called Lucinda away. She’s a hair stylist and one of her rich clients had a ‘hair catastrophe.’

“So sorry, Suvi,” she said, rushing out the door. “Money’s extra tight this month. I gotta take whatever jobs I can get.”

I put on Myla’s pretty dress. The only pretty dress she has.

“Now remember,” I whisper to her. “Mommy needs Myla to be on her very best behaviour. Okay?”

Myla nods, her face serious. “Yes, Momma.”

I spot Josh. He waves at me, then he sees Myla. For a second, my stomach lurches. What if he doesn’t like kids? What if he’s mad I brought her? But instead he stands and waves again.

“And who might this be?” he asks, smiling sweetly at Myla.

“Myla,” she says shyly.

“Well, Myla, my name is Josh.” He holds out his hand for her to shake. She giggles and shakes it. “And I’m so glad your mom brought you here tonight. Did you know that this restaurant has the best chocolate cake in the whole wide world?” Myla’s eyes grow wide.

“It does?” she asks.

“Oh, but you probably don’t like chocolate cake, do you?” His tone is teasing.

“Yes. Yes I do,” she nods.

“Well then. Chocolate cake for dinner!”

My heart melts. It literally melts. Who is this man? It took him all of two minutes to win over my daughter. So much so, that she wants to sit on his lap. He happily plunks her down on his knee. This is surreal. There’s gotta be a catch. Some sort of red flag.

No one is this perfect.

But he is. He really is. We have a wonderful dinner together. We sip wine and eat fabulous food – expensive food – food I haven’t had in a really long time. And we chat. The conversation flows easily and casually. By the time the meal is over, I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in months.

And it feels fantastic.

As we’re leaving the restaurant, I accidentally roll my ankle on the door frame. I stumble, but Josh catches me. A strange, warm feeling rushes through me.

“Easy there,” he says, looking me dead in the eyes. His hands are on my hips. Our lips are very close. He looks like he’s going to kiss me.

I’m not sure how I feel about that. It’s been so long since I’ve kissed someone. This is all happening really fast. My mind is spinning. My heart is racing. I’m having a hard time breathing. He leans in closer.

And then…

“Momma,” Myla interrupts. She begins to sob.

“I think she’s overtired,” I say, picking her up. “I should get her home.” I smile awkwardly at Josh. He nods and smiles back.

“Of course,” he says. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.” He squeezes my hand and the warm feeling rushes through me again. Then he walks away. But before he’s around the corner, he turns back to look at me.

He flashes me a half-smile and gives me a quick nod.  Then he stuffs his hands in pockets and walks away.

My thoughts are all jumbled by the time I get home. If Myla hadn’t interrupted us…would I have let him kiss me?

“Suvi? Is that you?” Lucinda calls from the living room.

“Yeah…I…”

“Come here. Right now! You gotta see this!” There’s something about her tone that I don’t like…something foreboding.

I rush to the living room. The news is on. Lucinda places her hand on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Suvi,” she says. Then she points at the TV. “It’s been all over the news.”

“What has?” I whip my head to the TV. I see a picture of Josh. With another woman. They’re standing close together.

“Breaking news,” the news anchor says while pictures of Josh and the woman flash across the backdrop. “Famous race car driver, Josh, will marry his fiancée, Brooke Vanderin, in one month’s time! The official announcement was made earlier today by his very own father, Alpha Broderick.”

The color drains from my face.

Fiance?

Marry?

In a month?