The Girl Next Door
Chapter 40

Nerves prickle at the bottom of my gut as I park my truck in Mia's circular driveway and cut the engine. This is the same nauseous feeling I get in the tunnel, waiting to run onto the field before a game. Like I'm going to puke. I have no idea why taking Mia out on a

date feels like such a big deal, but it does. All I know is that I want everything to be perfect.

I grab the flowers from the front seat and take the wide stone steps two at a time before ringing the bell. The sound echoes inside the cavernous entryway. I run a hand over my button-down shirt and khakis one last time.

Wait a minute-are the khakis and dress-shirt overkill? Maybe I should have kept it casual. I'm not looking to spook her. Damnit.

It's too late to do anything about it now.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

After a few agonizing moments that feel like an eternity, the door swings open, and Mia stands on the other side of the threshold. That's all it takes for the doubts filling my head to disappear.

Neither of us say a word as her lips lift into a hesitant smile.

This.

This is exactly why I wanted to take her out.

My gaze rakes over her from head to toe. She's wearing a black sweater that hugs her breasts and a short, dark-wash jean skirt paired with black tights. Her hair hangs in loose waves that frame her face and tumble around her shoulders. My mouth waters. It takes every ounce of self-control not to reach out and yank her into my arms.

"Hi," she says, breaking the silence.

"You look beautiful." It's the only thought running through my head.

"Thanks." She ducks her chin as color blooms in her cheeks.

Sometimes I don't think Mia has any idea how gorgeous she is.

She points to my hand. "Are those for me?"

I glance at the flowers before shaking my head. How the hell could I forget about them? It took at least twenty minutes to pick out the perfect bouquet at the florist.

I thrust them toward her. "Yeah, sorry."

She takes the colorful blooms before burying her face in them. "They're beautiful. Thank you. No one has ever brought me flowers before."

It makes me doubly glad that I made the effort.

She nods toward the kitchen. "Let me put them in a vase, and then we can leave."

I shove my hands in my pockets as she silently pads down the hall. I hear the faucet run, and then she's back, carrying a crystal vase in her hands before setting it on the table in the entryway. She slips her feet into black heels that make her legs look even longer.

How the hell am I supposed to keep my hands to myself all night?

I clear my throat and those thoughts from my mind as I rock back on my heels and glance around. "Are your parents home?"

Mia shakes her head before grabbing her purse. "Nope. Mom went to visit her sister, and Dad left on Thursday for another trip."

That's probably for the best. I have no idea how Dan would feel about me dating his daughter. He likes me well enough as the son of his friend and neighbor, but am I good enough for Mia? Probably not.

But like she said, we're taking this relationship slow. I won't worry about jumping over that hurdle until I clear this one.

"All set?" I ask.

"Yup." She closes the door behind her as we head to the truck. When she reaches for the handle, I brush her hand aside and open it. Once she's safely secured inside, I close the door and jog around to the driver's side before sliding onto the seat and starting up the engine. A few moments later, I'm pulling from her drive and heading out of the subdivision. I wave to the guard in the gatehouse before we hit the main road.

"You never mentioned where we were going." Her fingers tangle together in her lap.

It's difficult to believe she could be nervous. I reach out and grab her fingers, wrapping my hand around them.

"I made reservations at Marco's. It's an Italian restaurant on the other side of town." I glance at her. "Have you ever been there?"

"It's one of my dad's favorites. We used to go there all the time when I was a kid." Her eyes grow distant. "I can't remember the last time we had dinner there." "They have the best eggplant parmigiana."

"The spaghetti and meatballs are good, too," she adds with a smile.

I nod in agreement. Marco's is one of those restaurants where you can't go wrong no matter what you order. It makes me doubly glad I picked that place to take her. Other than group dates when I attended prom and homecoming, I've never taken a girl out on a date before.

I pull the truck into the crowded parking lot and cut the engine. We exit the vehicle before heading inside to the hostess station. The ambiance is upscale, and the lighting is dim. The dining room is cavernous with high ceilings that give it a spacious feel. It's the perfect place for a first date.

If I play my cards right, it'll be one of many.

I'm almost tempted to pat myself on the back for a job well done, but I'll save that until after I drop her off. Although, so far, we're off to a good start.

The hostess grabs two menus and seats us at a white cloth-covered table in the main dining room near the stone fireplace. I make sure to pull out Mia's chair before taking a seat across from her. A waitress stops by and fills our water glasses as we peruse the menu. "Any idea what you're going to order?" I ask.

A thoughtful expression flickers across her face as she shakes her head. "There are so many options to choose from. It all looks amazing." She glances at me. "Maybe the lasagna."

"Yeah, that sounds good," I agree, "but I'm going for the eggplant."

As she continues to study the menu, I glance around the dimly lit room before my attention gets snagged by a couple tucked into the corner. I blink and refocus my eyes to make sure they're not playing tricks on me. When the man shifts, I get an unobstructed view of him. My heart kicks up its tempo as he leans across the table and locks lips with the woman seated on the other side.

There's no mistaking the guy.

It's Dan, Mia's father.

What's most disturbing is that the woman he's with is not his wife. She looks nothing like Julia. There's no way to even confuse the two.

What the hell?

Didn't Mia say that her father was out of town for business? If that's the case, what is he doing here with another woman?

I drag a hand over my face, knowing this is going to blow my whole night apart.

"Instead of lasagna," Mia murmurs, still staring at the menu, "I'm going to try the lobster stuffed ravioli."

f**k.

f**k.

f**k.

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