Page 3 of Becoming His Perfect Daddy

I was always upfront about being transgender, both in my profile and in DMs when setting up a date. I’d been surprised once, and that was all it took. Men could be assholes about my anatomy with their invasive questions and rude comments, especially on the dating apps, but at least I didn’t have to meet the bigoted fuckers in person.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on that now. Because I’d glanced up just in time to see one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen in real life walk in the door, flash a ten-thousand-watt smile, then scan the nearly empty room to finally lock his stark blue eyes with mine. His flowing blond hair was shaved on the sides while the top was wavy yet impeccably styled. A single lock fell purposefully across his forehead.

My heart rate picked up as he made his way through the dimly lit, intimate dining room, his smile lighting up the entire room. I had to clench my jaw so it didn’t drop.

“Hi, I’m Jason.” I clasped his extended hand, and he released it just moments afterward to take the seat across from me.

I smiled, the feel of his soft skin still warming my hands as I pulled them into my lap. “Cameron. Nice to meet you.”God, he’s so hot.

Jason settled into his seat, his hands folded over the menu covering his place setting as he glanced around. “This is a nice place. Great choice.”

I nodded. “Thanks. I’ve always wanted to come here.”

His eyebrow raised as he opened the menu, his eyes instantly scanning it. “Oh? I assumed you’d been here before.”

My head shook as I picked up my menu as well. “No, just heard good things online. I thought it might be fun to try something new.”With the restaurant and with you, I hope.

Jason’s cheeks flushed a little, and my eyebrows furrowed at his reaction. What was that about? “New can be good.” He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.

Seriously, what is going on?My internal alarms had started going off. Might have been nothing, or . . .

“What sounds good to you? I’m taking care of dinner, as we discussed.”

“Thank you,” I immediately replied, offering my most demure smile. “I was thinking the salmon.”

He nodded absently, licking his lips. “I think I’ll have the steak.”

I wanted to wince, but I kept my face blank. The man could have whatever he wanted; I wouldn’t begrudge him that. He had no way of knowing I didn’t eat red meat—I couldn’t stand the taste. “Excellent.”

His almost too-blue eyes fixed on me then, and I wondered if something in my voice had given me away. “Something wrong with that choice, Cameron?”

Um, what?My mind started reeling.What the hell?“Uh, no, not at all.”

“Then what was that tone?”

I froze, quickly skimming through my options. Then I sighed. If I couldn’t be honest now, nothing would work out between us. “I’m sorry if I offended you. I honestly did not intend it. I prefer to forgo red meat for myself, that’s all. But I have no issue with your choice, I promise. Please enjoy your selection.”

Jason huffed. Loudly. Then he slammed his menu shut more forcefully than was proper at a place like this. This wasn’t going to go well. “I think we’re done here, Cameron. I can’t have you looking down your nose at me for my dinner choices.”

“I wasn’t . . . I didn’t mean . . . I—”

“It’s fine.” Jason tossed the napkin he’d politely placed across his lap a minute earlier on the table. The man wasn’t fuming, but he was well on his way. How the hell had this escalated so quickly?Anger issues much?“I guess you saved me from a disappointing evening, so I suppose I should say thanks for that.”

My mouth fell open as I gaped at him. “‘A disappointing evening’? Are you serious?” I was hissing, trying to keep my voice down. And wondering if his reaction to the “trying something new” thing was hiding a secret I really didn’t want to discover.

The asshole actually smirked. “You’re cute enough, but I don’t think you’re boy material. I mean, you already disagreed with practically the first words out of my mouth.”

NowIwas fuming. My words came out through clenched teeth. “Don’t pretend you know me, Jason. We’ve only just met.”

“And I’m glad I saw your true colors before this went any further. I was willing to take a chance on you”—the look in his eyes was a dead giveaway; his transphobia was showing—“but now I see I shouldn’t have wasted my time.”

Oh, fuck no.I was not about to let him get away with that. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I growled, keeping my voice low though I wanted to scream. Thank god it was early enough that the dining room was still mostly empty. “‘Take a chance’ on me? What—you thought you’d see if Ipassedgood enough for you, is that it? Thought you’d see if I wasmanenough for you to consider hooking up with? Tell the truth, Jason. That’s it, isn’t it?”

The way the color bled from his cheeks confirmed my suspicions. Which would’ve been satisfying had I not been fighting nausea. As it was, my stomach lurched and tumbled.

He started spluttering. “I didn’t . . . I . . .”

I quirked an eyebrow, refusing to help him.