"So, darling girl, are you going to give Mr. Hottie a chance to explain himself or what?" Jasper asked as he leaned over the island and brought his hands to his chin.

Emma came strolling into the kitchen just as I was going to answer.

"I wouldn't give him the time of day after that, Addison. He couldn't even call you or text you in a week. It takes a second to send a quick text."

I sighed. "I know, but he did think of me enough to send me those flowers and he said he can explain, so I'm going to call and thank him."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Do whatever you want, sweetie, but I don't think it's a good idea to get involved with a guy so soon after you moved here. Especially when that guy took you on one date, whispered sweet nothings in your ear, and then skipped town the next day without so much as an explanation.”

"Okay, Mom. I'll take it under advisement," I growled.

"I have to get ready for work. You two divas stay out of trouble while I'm gone,” Jasper said as he strolled out of the kitchen.

Jasper was born with the gift of cooking. The cuisines and desserts he made were probably the best I’d ever tasted. He and Madeline used to cook in our kitchen all the time when we were younger. He spent a lot of time at my house growing up. His dad had anger issues and always liked to take his frustrations out on him with his belt, and his mother was too scared to even try and stop him. He left home when he was sixteen and stayed with his aunt for a while before going off to college. Madeline always told him he had a home to come home to for the holidays and vacations, which he did. He was like a second child to her and a brother to me.

Pulling the card from Andrew out of my pocket, I reread it. I poured a glass of wine and took a couple sips before picking up my phone and dialing his number. My heart started racing as I heard the line ringing and a voice that answered, "Hello."

"Hi, Andrew, it's Addison," I responded nervously.

"Addison. Hi. I'm happy you called."

"I just wanted to thank you for the lovely roses."

"You're welcome, and trust me, they are well deserved after what I did. I'm sorry I left like that, but under the circumstances, it couldn't be helped."

"No, it's fine. I understand completely. I hope everything is all right.”

“It was a family issue. Everything is fine now.”

His voice was low, and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I heard him again.

"Please say you'll have dinner with me tonight?” he spoke with desperation.

My inner voice chimed in and spoke, “Play hard to get. See how badly he wants to see you."

"Sure, I'll have dinner with you tonight,” I spoke, dismissing the voice inside my head.

"Great. Let's have dinner at my place. I'll cook," he spoke with an excited tone. "I’ll have Phillip pick you up at seven o’clock."

"Sounds good. I’ll be ready.”

"Goodbye, Addison, I look forward to seeing you again.”

"Bye, Andrew. Me too. See you later."

I hung up and placed my hands on my face while my belly fluttered. I wasn't sure if having dinner at his place was such a good idea. But, I did love a man who could cook, so I put it out of my mind.

I went to my room and started unpacking my clothes, trying to decide what I was going to wear for my date with Andrew.

"Emma," I yelled from my room.

She came to my room in a flash with her iPad in hand.

"I'm going to have dinner tonight at Andrew's place. What should I wear?"

Emma was the expert at putting together outfits; that was her job. She was a part time personal shopper for Neiman Marcus while she sat home most nights designing and creating her own fashion line.

"Hmm," she spoke as she rummaged through my clothes. "I would assume it’s casual dress since it's at his place. But maybe not if he decides to dress up.”

She pulled out a pair of skinny black stretch pants and a plum-colored tank top.

"Here, put this outfit on while I go to my room and grab something."

I pulled on the pants and then the shirt that fit nicely with my Victoria Secret push-up bra. Emma came back into the room with a short leather jacket.

"Here, this is to go with," she said as she threw it at me. You need your black heels, Addy. Where are they?"

"They're packed in one of those boxes," I spoke as I pointed to the corner.

She walked over to the other side of the room and opened one of the boxes.

“Here we are.” She smiled as she handed me my black Jimmy Choo cosmic suede heels.

I slid my feet in them and looked at myself in the full-length mirror while Emma jumped up and down.

"Perfect, perfect, perfect. You look amazing, girl. Andrew isn't going to know what hit him."

I looked at my phone for the time. It was six forty-five. Phillip was going to be here in fifteen minutes and I still had to curl a few more strands of my long blonde hair. After giving it a fluff and a spritz of spray, I touched up my blue eyes and then grabbed my lipstick from my purse. As I was applying it to my lips, my inner voice went off and decided to offer me a piece of advice.

"Whatever you do, don't sleep with him. It's too soon and you'll only be hurting us both."

I rolled my eyes and headed down to the lobby. When I reached Carson, he looked me over and whistled.

"Miss Belle, I must say you look amazing." He grinned.

"Thank you, Carson. I'm going on a date."

"I believe that Escalade out there is here for you.” He pointed.

I patted his arm and walked outside. Phillip got out of the car and opened the door for me.

"Good evening, Addison. You look stunning, if I may say so."

"Thank you, Phillip," I spoke as I smiled and slid inside.

The ride seemed like an eternity with all the traffic, but it gave me a chance to try and calm the hell down. I couldn’t understand why I was so nervous. I wasn’t like this with men. Phillip pulled into a parking garage and parked the vehicle. He opened the door, took my hand, and helped me out. My luck, I would have fallen flat on my face trying to get out by myself in these heels.

 He walked me over to the elevator and inserted the key that took us up to the top floor. The door opened, and I stepped out into a large foyer. Turning my head from side to side, I took in the beauty of Andrew’s home. The walls were beige with white Le Chambre crown molding throughout, and the French limestone floors shined like diamonds. Standing there, I wondered how the hell he could afford a place like this. I heard footsteps walking my way and a very handsome man approached me.

"Addison, you look gorgeous." Andrew smiled as he gave me a kiss on each cheek.

He stood dressed in a pair of black Armani jeans and a white button-down shirt that clung to his sculpted muscular arms. His hair was softly tousled, and his eyes were even a brighter blue than I had remembered.

"Thank you." I smiled.

He lightly grabbed my hand and led me to the living room. The beige walls were complemented with floor-to-ceiling windows. In the center of the room sat an oversized leather couch and loveseat in a dark cranberry color with an elegant coffee table and end tables that matched perfectly. The fireplace was the focal point of the room with floor-to-ceiling bookcases on each side and a seventy-inch plasma TV that was nestled in between.

"This is beautiful," I spoke as I looked around the room.

“Thank you, but I must give credit to my interior designer. She put this whole place together. Dinner will be ready shortly. Please make yourself at home." He grinned.

“How long have you lived here?” I asked.

“Six months,” he spoke as he headed towards the kitchen and I followed behind.

"Where did you learn to cook?"

"Believe it or not, Paris."

"What?” I asked in surprise with a smile on my face.

“My family and I spent a summer in Paris when I was fifteen," he spoke as he removed the pan from the oven. “The man who lived next door to the house my parents rented had us over one night for dinner and asked me if I wanted to learn how to cook. I said yes, and he taught me.”

“Wow. What a great experience.”

“Actually, it was. I learned a lot from him. I hope you like alfredo.”

"I love alfredo. It's one of my favorite dishes.” I smiled.

"You’re not just saying that, are you?” He smirked.

“No. I really do love alfredo.”

He grabbed the chicken alfredo and set it on the table in the dining room. I took the salad and the rolls that just came out of the oven and followed him.

"Addison, you are a guest in my home. Let me serve you," he spoke as he took the plate and bowl from my hands.

"I can help. I like to help."

"I hope this wine is satisfactory for this meal?" he asked as he held a bottle of Pinot Noir in front of me.

“It’s perfect.” I smiled.

We both took our seats at the table and began eating.

“Andrew, can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask anything you want," he replied with a grin.

"What do you do at London Arc Corp? I never asked you that night.”

"Ah," he replied. "I do a lot of things there."

"Hold that thought.” I got up from my seat. "I'm sorry, but I need to use the bathroom.”

"Go down the hallway and it's the first door on your left."

“Thanks. I'll be right back." I smiled.

I walked out from the bathroom and on the wall directly opposite of it was a picture of Andrew and his parents. It looked like it was taken at some reception or banquet. The engraving on the frame read, "Businessman of the year Gregory London." I gasped and covered my mouth.