“So, I may have logged into your Match account and made a few tweaks to your profile.”

“WHAT! Why would you do that and how did you know my password?”

“You use the same password for everything. Just listen. This guy came up who I think is perfect for you.”

“Go on.”

“He’s twenty-eight and has never been married. He’s in business management, and wait for the best part: he loves kids. I think you should at least meet him, Lorelei.”

“I don’t know, Stella,” I whined.

“Listen, you said it was time to get out into the dating world. So here’s your opportunity. He seems like a great guy. Fun and outgoing.”

“How do you know this?”

“We may have talked online a bit and I pretended I was you.”

“STELLA!”

“He can’t wait to meet you on Friday night.”

“OH MY GOD! You set up a date?”

“Yeah, I did. Remember, don’t hate me. I love you and you’re like my sister.”

I couldn’t believe she set up a date for me with a random stranger online. But then again, that was Stella. I didn’t know if I could go through with it.

“I don’t know, Stella. I’m scared.”

“He’s such a romantic. He wants to meet on the top deck of the Empire State Building. Somewhere public where there’s a lot of people, so you’ll feel more comfortable. I told him that was very sweet of him.”

“Thanks. I appreciate you telling him that. How the fuck will I know who I’m looking for? And by the way, what does this guy look like?”

“He’ll be the tall, dark and handsome one holding a single red rose. I already told him yes, so you’re meeting at eight o’clock. The good thing is if you don’t like him or don’t click, you can leave. You don’t have to go to dinner or anything. You can go home and have some time to yourself. Hope is spending the night at my place. Sebastian will be out of town at a bachelor party, so she and I can have a girls’ night together.”

If I didn’t take this chance now, I might never. If Jack could go on a date, then so could I. There was no use sitting around and pining for the man that made it very clear to me that we were just friends.

“Fine. I’ll go. What’s this guy’s name?”

“Yippee! I knew you would. His name is Aiden.”

After hanging up with Stella, I walked into Jack’s office. I was hoping that telling him I was going on a date would infuriate him, but I was wrong.

“It seems I have a date Friday night.”

He looked up at me and smiled. “Good for you, Lorelei. Do I need to have this guy checked out for you?”

“No. That’s okay, Jack.”

“If you change your mind, let me know.” He winked.

Him and his damn winks. They sent flutters to my most sensitive areas.

****

My belly was a nervous wreck as I slipped into my black, spaghetti-strap slim-fit dress. I threw some curls at the ends of my hair and lightly sprayed it.

“Well, how do I look?” I asked Hope, who was sitting on my bed.

“You look beautiful, Mommy. Where are you going again?”

“Just out with a friend. No big deal.”

“Are you going out with Jack?” she asked.

“No, baby. I’m not going out with Jack.”

“When can I see him again?”

“I’ll give him a call over the weekend and see if he wants to hang out.”

“Okay.” She smiled.

I heard the door open, and when I walked out of the bedroom, Stella stopped dead in her tracks.

“Ah. Look at you. You’re gorgeous. Aiden isn’t going to know what hit him.”

“Thanks. I’m still mad at you.”

“No, you’re not. Now get your shoes on and get out of here. You don’t want to be late or the poor guy will think you stood him up.”

I gave Hope a hug and kiss goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Have fun with Auntie Stella tonight.”

“I will. She’s going to give me a mani/pedi and then teach me the do’s and don’t’s of buying a designer handbag.”

I looked at Stella and rolled my eyes before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

****

I made it to the Empire State Building at approximately seven fifty-five. Taking the elevator up to the top deck, I felt like I was going to throw up. My stomach was twisted and I could feel anxiety kicking in. I took in slow, deep breaths to try and calm myself down. It was ridiculous to be this nervous. He was just another person. We were just two people meeting for the first time. I met people every day and this was no different. So what if he was of the male species? Like Stella said, if I didn’t like him or we didn’t click right away, I could leave. No harm. We’d just part ways as if we had never met. The elevator doors opened, and as I made my way out with the crowd of people, I looked around for the tall, dark, and handsome man with the single red rose. Maybe he stood me up. I could only hope. Suddenly, I heard a low voice from behind.

“Hello, Lorelei.”

I stood frozen in place for a second before turning around. My heart was racing at the speed of light. When I turned around and stared at the man holding a single red rose, I gasped.

“Jack?” I cocked my head. “What are you—”

“I’m your date for tonight and, hopefully, every night.” He smiled.

Tears started to fill my eyes. “How did you—”

He handed me the red rose and then ran his thumb across my cheek.

“I was able to do this with the help of Stella.”

I gulped. “So you’re Aiden? The twenty-eight-year-old business management guy who loves kids?”

“Yeah. Stella came up with that. Are you mad?”

“No. Of course not. I’m relieved you’re not a stranger, but I don’t understand.”

“The only thing you need to understand right now, at this moment, is that I want to be with you and you only.” His blue eyes stared into mine.

“But you said you just wanted to be friends and you were just on a date.”

“I know what I said, but it was all part of the plan, and I never went on any dates. I only led you to believe that so this plan would work.”

“Why did you go through all of this?”

“Because, Lorelei, I wanted us to start over. A brand new beginning. I had already hurt you once and you made that very clear to me. But I promise, if you give me another chance, I’ll never hurt you again. That night I left the penthouse, the night Hope got sick, I went out with someone but only to dinner. After we finished eating, I sent her home and I went and sat in a bar because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You’re on my mind 24/7 and when I’m not with you, I feel alone. For the first time in my life, I feel alone. All I’m asking is for a second chance to show you that I can be your Prince Charming because, Lorelei, you’re my Cinderella.” He smiled as our eyes stayed locked on each other.

A tear fell from my eye and he gently wiped it away with his thumb. I was stunned but happy beyond words.

“Hi, I’m Lorelei Flynn.” I smiled.

“Hello, Miss Flynn. I’m Jack Sutton.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jack. I think you should know that if you want a relationship with me, I have a seven-year-old daughter and her name is Hope.”

“You’re in luck because I just so happen to love kids.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Jack

She wrapped her arms around my neck as I pulled her into me. Holding her in my arms felt so good and so right. I broke our embrace and softly brushed my lips against hers, reclaiming what was mine once again.

“So does this mean you’ll date me?” I asked.

“Yes, Jack, I’d love to date you.”

“Thank you, Lorelei. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.” I held her tight. “Come on; let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” I smiled as I kissed her again and we stepped onto the elevator.

Tony pulled up to The Trump and Lorelei looked at me.

“A hotel on our first date?”

I chuckled. “Actually, I made reservations for dinner at the restaurant in there called Jean Georges.”

“Oh. I thought maybe you booked a suite because I’ll have you know that I don’t put out on the first date.”