na'

restaurant at e

inutes

epped inside and checked the

un away. You prom

igh

at home. I still couldn't believe that Lewis and Vi

Besides, Lily had gone through too

ere wa

the watch

mother

why she had used it to challenge me. If I refused to

eed, and now I was be

f my reservation, and she led

pposed to meet w

n and ord

inutes

n t

toward th

hadn't

chair. Apparently, I wasn't the onl

alked into the restaurant. He glanced around, then walked to my table and dropp

"Daniel. Sorry I'm late.

sound sor

nd offered a sma

ut next time, a message would hav

sement. "You're strict. Mos

s made m

iou

ord isn't a courtesy. It's inconsiderate. When someone sets asid

ily's. He could have simply told her that he wou

ed the waiter for a drink. "You're

man I wanted to have anything to do with. "I'm explaining basic manners. Arriving late is one thing. Arriving

rked. "You've got a sharp tongue for

I didn't need to ask how he

t," I answered. "Whether a person is single or married, they still de

clearly enjoyi

are a little more... flexible. Especially when th

s tone was smal

it h

than I thought. Half of the city knew

expression

because Lily insisted. If this is the direction

ng what everyone else is thinking. And from w

"What do

heard something about you not be

it me like

fr

. The soft music, the laughter from the next t

understand how a stranger I had met less than five minutes

premature ovarian insufficiency. I had kept it hidden

I stammered, trying to hide m

ting so hard to get. You're thirty, unmarried, and you can't even have chil

ed to say something. Anything. But my e

away sat Theo

t well-known men in the city, someone whose name fr

were fi

mach t

he had been looking in my direction, h

ed through

hting to keep my composure. "I think

ed. "Suit

d. "And for the record, you are

turned and

staurant, refusing to let anyone s

I reached my

side. I hadn't even closed it

e with both hand

s too

r something I couldn't control

life had never been the

he open car window m

oked

ay was standing

ll right?"