Khizar held Jacqui’s chair for her, and then sat in his own. Jacqui still wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but she was willing to roll with it.
Their host waited until they were settled and said, “The chef is preparing his specialties for you, but if there’s something in particular you’d like, I’ll ask him to fix that instead. Ms. Bauer, do you have any food allergies or sensitivities the chef should avoid?”
Jacqui shook her head. “No, but thank you for checking.”
The host nodded genially. “I’ll bring some water and iced tea out for you, and if you’d like coffee, please just let me know.”
He stepped away and Jacqui looked around. They were they only people on the deck, and Jacqui hadn’t seen anyone else in the restaurant. She looked back at Khizar, who was watching her closely.
“I would have been fine with brats from one of the food trucks,” she said.
Khizar laughed. “I know, which is why I wanted to do something special.”
“You didn’t have to, really.”
He leaned forward.
“Jacqui, I don’t have anyone to spoil, and I have money to burn. I’m not sure how long I’m going to be in town, and you are without a doubt far more interesting that the people I’m spending the bulk of my time with. I’m being purely selfish by wanting to spend more time with you and wanting to use that time to show you the finer things in life.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, and he put a hand on his chest.
“On my honor, spending time with me comes with no strings attached. I will completely understand if you’d prefer not to.”
Jacqui studied him for a moment. She wanted to spend time with him. He was charming and handsome and so much fun. She was terribly attracted to him, and although she knew there wasn’t even a remote chance of a long-term relationship, she wouldn’t mind cultivating a friendship. A flirtatious friendship, maybe, but a friendship just the same.
“You don’t have to spoil me to spend time with me,” she answered finally.
It was a good thing she was sitting down, since his answering grin made her legs feel wobbly.
“No. Getting to spoil you is a benefit in its own right.”
Jacqui rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Fine.”
A server brought glasses to the table, and those were soon followed by small plates of a green salad, then main dishes of seafood pasta. The duo chatted throughout the meal, laughing and telling childhood stories.
When Khizar dropped Jacqui off at the bakery an hour later, he asked if he could take her to dinner that night.
“I wish I could, but I’ve got plans tonight. There’s a children’s home in town, and I teach baking classes for the kids there. We make a mess more than anything, but it’s fun for the kids.”
“And for you, too, I imagine. Is this the children’s home you spent time in?”
“No,” Jacqui said and shook her head. “But it is why spending time with these kids is important to me.”
“Of course. Dinner tomorrow night, then?”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I’d like that. Should I meet you somewhere?”
“I’ll pick you up.”
Jacqui gave him her address, and after agreeing on a time, she slipped out of the car before he could come around and open her door for her.
That night, Jacqui arrived back home after her visit to the children’s home. The manager of her apartment building was going out of the front door as Jacqui was coming in.
“Jacqui! There was a large delivery for you earlier. I had them go ahead and put it in your apartment, but I was there the whole time.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Thompson!” Jacqui called as the other woman headed out.
She wasn’t sure what had been delivered, but it was probably something from her parents. They occasionally found something they insisted she needed, and instead of asking, would just send it to her.
Jacqui had no idea what large object they’d found, but it was something she’d love. Probably.
She unlocked her door, pushed it open, and tossed her keys on the bookcase in the entryway as she walked in. The first thing she noticed was that her apartment smelled different.
She flipped on a light and gasped. Every flat surface of her apartment seemed like it was covered in flowers. There were daffodils and carnations and lilies and freesias—the only thing she didn’t see were roses.
Jacqui automatically knew, of course, who had sent the flowers. And, sure enough, an especially lovely bouquet in the middle of the room carried a card which read:
I hope these flowers brighten your evening the way you brightened my day. Deepest regards, Khizar
Jacqui sighed. The man knew how to make a girl swoon, that much was certain.