Lauren left Hakim with his lawyer and his accountant, handling the transfer. He knew that Lauren wouldn’t be able to access the money until the next day, but promised to call her anyway just to let her know when everything on his end was done.

She got his call just as she pulled back into the garage under her office building. After earnestly thanking him again, she hung up the phone, leaned her head back against the headrest, and closed her eyes. This had been bad. Over the three years BingeWatch had been in operation, Lauren had dealt with her share of crises, but this one was by far the worst.

The moment of quiet helped her. A tiny part of her wished she could hide in her car for the rest of the day, but it was her company and her responsibility. And she relished fixing problems, even bad ones. She was going to fix this, and she was going to make sure it couldn’t happen again.

There was a knock on her car window and she jerked her eyes open to find Kayla standing there giving her a worried look. Lauren waved at her, and Kayla walked around to the passenger side and climbed into the car.

“Hey,” she said, sounding as tired as Lauren felt.

“Hey,” Lauren replied. “I got the money. We’re going to be fine.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Can I ask who we owe our everlasting fealty and first-born children?”

Lauren snorted. “You’re going to love this.”

Kayla gave her a puzzled look and Lauren took a deep breath. “Hakim Khalif.”

Kayla’s mouth fell open. “The billionaire that bought you at the auction? The one who’s mortal enemies with your mother?”

“That’s the one.”

“Oh. Well. Of course. That’s makes perfect sense.”

“No, it doesn’t. But it’s making it possible for us to live to fight another day, so I’ll take it.”

“What do we owe him for it?” Kayla asked, her voice filled with concern.

“He’s now an investor in the company, using his personal fortune instead of his company’s money. I plan to pay him back, but there’s an option in the contract for us to open up talks about some sort of long-term agreement. He knows we’re turning a profit and that we’ll be even more solid with his financial backing, so it’s a good deal for him.”

“Huh. So, not what we expected, was he?”

Lauren smiled to herself at the many ways that comment was true. “Not so much, no. Come on, Kay. Let’s go reassure the troops.”

As they walked to the elevator, Kayla asked, “Drinks after we clear things out? I feel like I need something to take the edge off.”

Lauren hesitated. “I would, but I, um, have plans.”

Kayla took two steps then stopped suddenly. “What plans?”

Lauren didn’t answer, and Kayla peered closer at her. “Who, exactly, are these plans with? A certain billionaire who just bailed us out?”

“They might be.”

“He’s making you go out with him? That jerk! I take back every nice thing I thought about him just now.” Kayla was all but yelling.

Lauren put a calming hand on her friend’s arm. “I want to go out with him, Kay. I really do. I want more, too, but my mom would be furious, so I’m going to have one awesome date and then let him go.”

“Just like that?” Kayla asked.

“Sure. Just like that.”

She said it so confidently she almost believed it.

* * *

Once she and Kayla knew that everything was taken care of, Lauren rushed home to get ready for her date. Greg was handling the transfer into the payroll account and, after going through the books with a fine-tooth comb, had assured Lauren that the stolen money was the only financial problem BingeWatch had.

Lauren had held a short all-hands meeting at the end of the day to talk to her employees. She had reminded them that it was how they reacted to challenges that defined them as individuals and as a team, not the fact that they faced challenges. She had encouraged them to pull together and emphasized that the problem was with one person, not a department. She’d been gratified when several employees stopped her after the meeting to tell her thank you.

She had promised Kayla that she would leave her phone on, just in case.

Every time she’d spent time with Hakim, she’d been wearing that terrible maid’s uniform or travel clothes or something more work appropriate. That night, she wanted to knock his socks off, so she picked out her favorite dress, the one with a deep V-neckline and almost no back. She left her hair down in artfully messy waves and added gold jewelry. Taking a quick look at herself, she changed earrings and then nodded at herself in the mirror; if she only got one date with him, it was going to be a good one.

Hakim picked her up right on time. Lauren didn’t even give him time to knock on the door before she had it open. He was carrying a giant bouquet of pink and white daisies, which he handed to her quickly.

“I thought about flowers and chocolate, but I didn’t want to appear over-eager,” he said grinning.

“They’re lovely.” Lauren breathed in the smell of the flowers, holding them carefully. “Let me put them in some water and I’ll be ready to go.”

When she came back, she was carrying a wrap that matched her emerald-green dress and tucking her phone into a small clutch purse. “Okay, I’m good.”

“Yes, you are that.”

A note in Hakim’s voice made her look up sharply. His look of open admiration sent a thrill through her. She smiled a little shyly and he shook his head.

“I don’t think I’ve said this out loud before, but you are a stunningly beautiful woman, Lauren Sanders. And tonight, I think you outshine the stars.”

Spontaneously, Lauren leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Seeming a bit nonplussed, Hakim escorted her out to his car and helped her into the passenger seat. “Dinner first, if that’s all right?”

Lauren nodded. “Sounds good. For what it’s worth, I’ve barely eaten all day.”

“In that case, let’s get going.”

By now, she was used to Hakim’s extravagant gestures, so it wasn’t that surprising when they pulled up in front of one of the most exclusive restaurants in Los Angeles. Lauren had always wanted to eat here—the chef was a culinary legend—but it was one of those places that she would have felt weird showing up to eat at by herself. And the vibe was romantic enough that eating here with a group of friends didn’t sound like that much fun.

They were led all the way through the restaurant to a table set on a dais off to one side. Sheer curtains interspersed with chains of giant glass beads fell in long drapes behind a long-backed booth, giving the space a romantic, intimate feel, but at the same time showing them one of the best views in the house.

Being Los Angeles, dinner was as much theater as it was a meal. The wine was presented with a flourish, the meal with a choreographed staging that rivaled Olympic-caliber synchronized swimmers, and their dessert was actually on fire. The chef deserved every bit of praise he got, and Lauren told him so when he came out to their table to say hello.

Lauren tried to take it all in, but what she kept coming back to was that she was on a date with a man she was falling for. Had fallen for already, really. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but she knew that Hakim was someone she could see herself with permanently.

Even though they’d been out to dinner before, this time both of them were hyperaware that it was a date. Hakim brushed her fingers with his when he handed her a glass, and Lauren leaned into him to point out something on the menu. They held hands and stared into each other’s eyes.

By the time they were having dessert and port, Lauren knew that it was going to be difficult to say goodbye at the end of the evening. And since that brought her back to the one-date-only foundation of the evening, she tried very hard not to think about it. Sure, they might see each other for business from now on, but in many ways, that just made things worse.

Over dinner they talked about everything. They traded stories from their time at university, and talked about growing up with or without siblings. They even talked a little bit of business, Lauren bouncing some of her ideas for strengthening her company’s financial controls off of him. Finally, she started laughing at the absurdity of their inability to not talk shop.

“Look at us. I know a lot has happened today to do with business, but we can’t even go a few hours without bringing it up.”

“Hey, I learned my lesson. You want to focus on your company, I’m not going to stop you.”

Lauren bumped his shoulder. “No, I need to learn to take time off. But I have to admit, I like talking about work with you. Not because we don’t have anything else to talk about, but it’s such a part of who we both are, it’s nice to have someone who understands that.”

Hakim threaded his fingers into hers and studied them. “I know. I’ve never been able to talk shop with one of my dates before.”

Lauren pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. He sounded so perplexed.

He looked up and saw her expression, and reacted with a sheepish grin. Hakim lifted her hands to his mouth and Lauren felt a thrill as his lips brushed across her skin.

“Fine, yes, you’re right. If I wanted to talk business with a date, I should pick a date that knows her business.” He gave Lauren a pointed look and she smiled back at him.

Back in the car, Hakim headed for another part of the city. Lauren recognized the theater right away; it was one of her favorite buildings in LA. She knew exactly what show was playing, because a bunch of her friends from her small theater group had tried to get tickets, but they were all sold out within thirty minutes of going on sale.

Lauren turned in her seat as Hakim pulled up to the valet. “How did you get tickets for this? It’s impossible.”

He gave her a cocky grin. “I know a guy.”

Lauren wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him or kiss him. She decided not doing either was probably for the best. She could hardly contain her excitement as they walked to their seats in the front row.

All Lauren could do was look at him and say, “Really? Now you’re just showing off.”

Hakim’s full-throated laugh made several people look over at them, and made Lauren smile. They took their seats just as the lights blinked to indicate the show was about to start. Lauren took a quick look around, watching her fellow theater-goers, hoping that the audience that night would be a good one. It made so much difference when the audience was just as into the performance as the cast.

Her eye caught on a man in a dark brown suit a few rows behind her, sitting just off the aisle. He looked familiar, but Lauren couldn’t place him. Probably a work thing, but it bugged her that she couldn’t remember where she knew him from.

Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose and Lauren forgot all about everything but the play and the man sitting next to her.

* * *

Lauren wanted to keep applauding long after the cast had left the stage, but with the audience already starting to disperse, she instead gathered her things and followed Hakim out of the theater. She was on an adrenaline high and couldn’t stop chattering to Hakim as they left about how amazing the show was.

When they got to the car, Lauren leaned against the car door so he couldn’t open it. Hakim looked at her surprised, but Lauren just shook her head.

“This has been an amazing night, Hakim. Thank you.”

Lauren held his gaze for a minute, willing him to understand just how much she’d enjoyed their date, then moved so that she could open the car door and get in. She was still full of energy, and didn’t really feel like going home, especially not alone. She wondered if Hakim would be up for another stop somewhere.

As if reading her thoughts, Hakim asked, “Since you seem to be far from tired, would you like to go back to my place for a drink?”

Lauren gave him a brilliant smile. “Yes, I’d love that.”

She stared out the window, humming just under her breath, as Hakim drove them to his house. Lauren couldn’t help but wonder if a drink was all that was being offered. As much as she hoped otherwise, given their situation, she’d understand if more wasn’t on the table.

Lauren didn’t wait for Hakim to open her door when he turned off the car, feeling at home. She walked in front of him into the house, and smiled when she heard the familiar sounds of paws padding across the wooden floors.

“Hi, Zeus! How are you, sweetheart?” Lauren called to the dog.

Zeus gave one happy bark and then bounced around Lauren, wiggling excitedly as she leaned down to pet him. Hakim laughed at the sight.

“Well, clearly, someone likes you,” he said just as Lauren looked up at him, smiling.

Lauren impulsively leaned over and kissed Hakim, not thinking, just wanted to feel his lips on hers. Instead of gently pushing her away, he leaned into the kiss. It wasn’t like their past kisses, which had been sweet, but ultimately chaste.

This time, she parted her lips and Hakim wrapped his hand around the back of her neck to pull her closer. Lauren shifted so she could press herself against him and she felt rather than heard the moan he made when their skin touched. The sound made something hot flare low in her body, and she pressed herself as close to him as she could.

Hakim stroked his hands over her skin, sending sparks of sensation all over her. Lauren wanted this, wanted him, and so she opened her mouth to his exploring tongue.

Coming up for air, Hakim took a moment to check in with her.

“Lauren, I want… I want you. Is that okay?”

She placed a hand on his cheek, wanting him even more. “I want you, too, Hakim. And I would very much like it if you would take me to bed right now.”

Hakim stood in one fluid motion, pulling her off the couch with him. Lauren grinned and tugged at his hand, knowing well the way to his bedroom even if she hadn’t been there with him before. She led him there, knowing exactly what it was that she wanted.