For once in her life, Char felt like she was in a fairy tale. When she was younger she’d been the girl that Jake didn’t fall for, and now… She stole a glance at him while he changed radio stations. She was his Cinderella. It felt good, even if it was out of pity. For once, someone had picked her.

She’d never realized how much she needed it. Until now.

Jake pulled the car into the first parking spot. “This looks like the place. They think they’ve won some sort of contest put on by the bed and breakfast. I had to time it right so that we’d arrive when they were seated for cocktails.”

Char laughed. “Wow, you’re just as bad as your grandma with all your plotting.”

“Good to know that if I never get my job back I can at least manipulate people for a living. Glad that’s the only thing my grandma passed down to me.”

“That and impeccable taste.” Char murmured, looking at the car.

“I think so, too.” Jake said, but when Char looked at him he wasn’t staring at the car; he was staring at her. It wasn’t real, it wasn’t real. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

Giggling, she took his arm and walked with him into the large bed and breakfast. It was attached to a really high-end restaurant nestled right on Alkai Beach. The sun was still perched high in the sky but it wasn’t too hot to go for a walk on the beach or have dinner outside. Char wanted to do both. That was, if she didn’t turn into a pumpkin first.

“You ready?” Jake whispered in her ear once he opened the door for her.

Unable to find her words, she gripped his arm and nodded.

The smell of rich food flooded her senses as they walked arm in arm into the building.

“Ah, Mr. Titus!” An elderly gentleman in a full tux stood in front of them. “We have the table set to your specifications. Would you care to start with champagne?”

Jake looked at Char as if waiting for her opinion.

“C-champagne’s fine.” She swallowed the nervousness in her throat as her gaze scanned the restaurant and finally landed on her parents. They were sitting in a corner in deep conversation.

Char’s breath hitched. Suddenly losing her nerve, she made a move to back away but Jake held her firm. When both of her parents looked her way with curiosity, Jake pretended not to care who they were; he merely nodded in their direction as the waiter led them to their own private section of the restaurant.

Char almost cried when she saw the table. It was littered with rose petals and on the plates, drawn in chocolate, was “Happy Birthday.” Strawberries were formed around the message. In the corner there was a giant present.

She had to hold back the tears so they didn’t stream down her face and ruin her makeup. No one had ever done anything like this for her before. It was inconceivable that Jake could even think to do something like this, let alone plan it in an hour! It had to be Grandma’s work. No way did he possess that big a heart… Either that or he just felt guilty that she’d accused him of being selfish.

He went to pull out her chair and whispered again in her ear. “Happy Birthday.”

Char felt herself blush as she focused on breathing. It was damn difficult, considering she’d just felt his lips on the tips of her ear, causing her heart to pound like crazy.

Jake took his seat as the waiter popped the cork on the champagne bottle. When Jake excused him, they were left alone with their appetizers and champagne.

“Char?” Her mother’s voice was tinged with excitement and surprise. “Is that you, honey?”

With a tight smile, Char greeted her mom and dad as they made their way to the private table, their eyes taking in every single detail and then finally landing on Jake.

“Jake Titus?” Her father held out his hand. “Heard you were just let go by your own grandmother. That’s gotta hurt. How ya holdin’ up?”

Char had to fight to keep her mouth from dropping open.

With a smooth elegance, Jake stood and shook her father’s hand. “Obviously, I’m doing fantastic. A job’s a job. All that matters is that Char’s here to help support me. As long as I have her, I’m fine.”

Had she not known he was lying, she would have believed him. Her mother looked between the two of them. “Are you… dating?”

Char opened her mouth to speak but Jake cut her off. “Of course. Why else would we be here?”

Her mother’s mouth pinched into a tight smile as she glanced down at Char’s outfit and then at her plate. “Oh, sweetie! Of course, it’s your birthday! How could we forget again?”

“Not sure,” Char croaked, reaching for her champagne. “I’m twenty-three today. Cheers.”

Jake lifted his glass and clinked it against hers.

“Oh, that’s so nice.” Her mother tilted her head at Char. “Jake took you out for your birthday then, so it’s not really serious.”

“Serious?” Char repeated. Were they insane? How did this go from them lamely apologizing for forgetting her birthday to not being convinced that Jake would actually date her? She bit down on her lip and looked across at Jake. All her insecurities came flooding back. Why would he be with her? He was one of the most famous bachelors in Seattle. He’d even dated a few models.

She made a move to stand. Birthday or no birthday, she couldn’t take it anymore. But as she stood, Jake pulled her to his side and down onto his lap. “Maybe it is best that they hear it from us, Char.”

“Hear what?” Her father seemed totally oblivious to the underlying tension.

“About us.” Jake ran his hands slowly up and down her arms. “We’re dating, and it’s quite serious.”

Char tensed.

Her mother laughed.

Her father joined in.

Char tried to pull away but Jake held her firm. She could feel the anger radiating off of him.

“You know what, sweetheart?”

Char turned in his lap.

“Why don’t we celebrate somewhere else? I have a condo right on the beach… We can celebrate your birthday with the rest of the family.” Well, he’d gone and done it; he’d rescued her and turned from assy frog into a prince. Her breath quickened when his fingertips grazed her cheek. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. Insecurity from junior high came rushing back. A whale. She’d been a whale, and now she was sitting on his lap. Char told her heart to stop beating so fast. She needed to remind her body that the physical reaction was what Jake was good at. That’s why he was so well-known. He’d made her love him twice in her life; hell if she was going to fall for him again. And then he moved his other hand and rubbed up and down her back. She gave an involuntary shiver. Hadn’t she always wanted Jake to stand up for her? Granted, she was a lot older now, and of course it was too late, but she could almost believe he had the potential to be the man she’d always dreamed of. The one who didn’t just take every single easy route thrown at him, but the hard ones, too. And she needed that quality in a man desperately, especially after seeing her mom and dad again. She didn’t want the type of relationship they had. The type where they lived in their own special bubble. Char wanted love, excitement, a hero, a best friend. Damn, maybe she was just projecting all of her needs and desires onto Jake because he was the one giving her the time of day. Which just brought her back to insecurity number one: Why would he of all people, suddenly want her? He wouldn’t. The truth stung, but she needed to stay strong in front of her parents so they’d believe the lie even though she wished to God it was the truth. He was there because for some reason he was trying to do what was probably his one yearly good deed—not because his heart had suddenly broken away from its icy cage and beat after her.

“Family?” Now her mom seemed irritated. “What family? Her family is all here. Right now… Well, except Beth; she’s on a work trip in LA.” Her mother sighed. “So successful, our Beth. Did you know she was a chemist?”