It’s a terrible habit of mine, the way I can’t keep myself from checking out the prices on the menu whenever I go out to eat. It’s just that I feel ridiculous ordering expensive food. A forty-dollar steak? I can buy one at the store for a quarter of the price and get three meals out of it.

Which is why the lack of prices on the menu is enough to make my skin crawl. It’s just a bunch of food. No prices. I glance at Brock over the top of it. The soft overhead lights of the restaurant fall on his face making his eyebrows appear straight and black and the sweep of his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheek. His skin looks golden. I want to reach out and touch him.

“I recommend the lobster,” he murmurs, before looking up and meeting my eyes.

For what seems like forever, our gazes catch and hold. The intensity of his cobalt gaze is incredible. It makes me feel exposed and vulnerable. Suddenly, there’s something familiar about him. Like a dream that breaks. I blink. This is crazy. I’ve never met him before in my life. I don’t run about in billionaire circles. I want to tear my gaze away but I can’t.

Then he smiles. A lazy sexy grin and my heart starts racing. “Unless you’re allergic to shellfish, of course. Are you allergic to anything, Dani?”

“Um…I can’t eat strawberries,” I croak. My voice sounds hoarse and thick. Why can’t I breathe properly?

He nods. “I’ll make a mental note of that.”

I drag my gaze away and focus it on the menu. I’m actually allergic to not knowing the price of what I’m ordering. It’s enough to make me break out into hives. There isn’t even any chicken on the menu. It’s normally a safe choice.

“What is it?” he murmurs. “You look…like you’re about to self-combust.”

I glance around at the tasteful décor and the low lighting, the beautiful people seated at every table. I lean forward. “Not knowing the prices of what I’m ordering is killing me.”

His eyebrows rise. Then he folds his menu and hands it to me. “Here have mine. It has prices.”

I take it from him and open it. My eyes almost pop out of my head. What? A hundred and twenty dollars for a lamb burger? I lift my gaze up to him, and he’s watching me with veiled eyes. I swallow hard.

Okay, time to come clean.

“Brock, I need to tell you something. I hope it doesn’t make you second-guess your decision to ask me to help you in Vegas, but I just have to honest with you.”

“Okay. Spit it out.”

I take a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t feel like I belong here. I can’t help it. I figure if we’re here to get to know each other, you might as well know how insecure I am.”

“That is a problem,” he acknowledges with a slow nod.

“I understand if you think this was all a big mistake. I know how important it is for me to do a good job, but I’m not used to any of this and I can’t help feeling like I’m out of my league.”

He purses his lips, taking a deep breath.

Well, this is it. It was fun while it lasted. If I get nothing else out of the experience except the satisfaction of seeing Brock knock Luke on his butt, I’m okay with it.

Instead of breaking things off with me, however, he says, “Clearly, there a few things we need to work out between us if this has any hope of success.”

“All right. I’m all ears.” I place his menu off to the side and fold my hands in my lap.

One corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile. “Whatever happened to you in the past is in the past, and I would prefer you not bring it up after this. I don’t mean the things we’re supposed to get to know about each other, of course. If there’s anything that worthless piece of shit did to you that I should be aware of before we get to Vegas, please tell me so, because I wouldn’t want to cause you any undue trauma.” He pauses. “Otherwise, all of that is in the past. It’s no longer part of your life. Whatever your hang-ups are with regards to money, or your self-worth, put them aside and don’t ever turn your attention to them again. I don’t care what anybody else thinks of you. To all intents and purposes, you are the woman I have chosen to marry and if anybody makes you feel small or tries to disrespect you, they will have me to contend with.”

“I wish it were that easy,” I admit in a whisper.

“It is. Do you know how I know?”

I shake my head.

“Because I had to do it myself. I had a choice, early on in my life. I could either continue to be who I was, to live as I lived, to allow my family and less-than-ideal circumstances determine the rest of my life. Or I could put it aside like a piece of unwanted baggage, and move on.”

“Just as simple as that?”

“As simple as that. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leans in. “Nobody in this restaurant knows anything about you. They can assume, of course. You’re a beautiful girl in a beautiful dress, in an exclusive restaurant with a man who’s staring at you like you’re the only woman in the world, because as far as I’m concerned, you are.”

My heart pitter-patters. He even sounds like he means it. Why, oh why, does he have to be hung up on his stupid ex-girlfriend? Then again, I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.

“The people around you can’t help but assume you’re one of them. Upper-crust. High society. Big fucking deal.” His smile is sexy. Dangerous. “I’ll tell you something else, too.”

“What?” I have to admit, he has me on the edge of my seat.

“Nobody’s perfect. Everybody is neurotic in their own way. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if these other diners whom you think belong in this restaurant have more insecurities than you.”

“Really?”

He nods sagely. “Rich people are famously notorious for them.”

“What are your insecurities, then?”

His face splits into a boyish, totally adorable grin. “Nobody’s perfect but me. You didn’t give me time to finish.”

I can’t help the loud burst of laughter that erupts from my throat. I have to cover my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound.

He laughs with me, the sound deep and infectious. “You don’t need to be so serious all the time,” he advises when we both stop chuckling. “I promise there’s nothing on that menu I can’t afford. It’s not like you’re wanting to burn the restaurant down, and even if you decide to do that, I could just about manage that too.” He smiles at me. A wide genuine smile. “Have fun, Dani. Order something you’ve never tried before, and if you don’t like it, you can always have something else.”

I stare at him, mesmerized by the fantasy of being able to afford anything you want in life. “You’re sure about this?”

“The first thing you have learn about me. I never say what I don’t mean.” He gestures to the menu and flashes me a roguish smile. “Go on. Live a little. Order the most expensive thing on it.”

So, I do. I decide on the lobster as he suggested, and watch while he orders a bottle of wine, lapsing into French with the waiter. I can’t help but thrill a little. He’s so darned cultured and sophisticated. How stupid was this woman to let him slip out of her fingers? I almost can’t wait to meet her.

He might have been the one to let her slip away, it occurs to me. What if he cheated on her and she left him? I watch him interacting with the waiter, occasionally glancing my way with a smile, and I decide it seems unlikely. Sure, men are men and they all have their weaknesses, but he seems like a stand-up guy. Cheating on his woman would be too tacky and ungentlemanly for him to even consider. I could be wrong, but I don’t feel as though I am, and my gut is usually on point.

“What were you thinking about?” he asks, turning his attention back to me. “You smiled a little.”

“One of my few happy memories as a child,” I admit.

He cocks an eyebrow.

“I know you said to leave all that stuff behind, and by the way, I appreciate that very much, but I just remembered something my father told me when I was little.”

His face is suddenly wary, which surprises me. “What was it?”

“That my gut would always tell me when something is right or wrong.” I place a hand against my stomach. “And that I should always trust that feeling.”

His gaze is steady. “What are you feeling right now?”

I check in with myself, closing my eyes for a moment. What am I feeling? “Good,” I whisper. “I feel good.” When I open my eyes again, I find him smiling in a way I haven’t seen before. Ever. From anybody. Like he’s looking at something he really, truly likes.

He’s so handsome right now. It’s enough to take my breath away. I’m liking this ex of his less and less all the time. I can’t wait to get a look at her, to see what’s so special that he can’t move on. I wouldn’t mind him moving on with me.