Page 124 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

The hostess called my name. “Ashlyn, right?”

I furrowed my brows in confusion. “Uh, yes. I’m here to meet someone.”

She handed me a piece of paper. “You just missed him. He said to give you this.”

Dumbfounded, I opened it to read:

Ashlyn, our night here was special for so many reasons. On some level, we’ve always connected. When we talked those nights in my office, we got to know each other in ways first dates sometimes never get to. You showed me that no matter what was going on in your life, or how busy you were, you had time to listen to me, to encourage me, and to offer me a kindness far too few people would. You are a sweet and gentle soul. You often think of those around you before you think of yourself. I saw the inherent goodness in you and needed to know more. If you want to find me, go to the location where my cologne drove you crazy. I’m waiting.

He’d signed it with his name and a X and O.

“Thank you,” I said to the hostess and ran back outside.

Getting back into the car, I pointed to the exit. “We need to drive a half-mile in that direction. I need to get to the bridge where he gave me his coat.”

Stella grinned. “Now you’re catching on.”

This time Stella’s slow driving didn’t bother me. I didn’t want to miss the sight of Dean. As we got closer to the spot, I noticed a living statue in the same place I’d intended to go. “Let me out here.”

“Sure. I’ll swing around and pick you up on the other side,” Stella called out since I was already climbing out of the car.

“Yeah, sure,” I answered, not really listening to what she was saying.

I ran across the street, dodging cars until I finally made it to the other side.Not bad for a girl in a fancy dress and heels.When I reached the living statue, the Oracle, she stood on a large box towering over me. Her silver gray body was so still. Her toga was the same shade as her skin, and her hair was pulled up on top with the rest trailing down her back.

Disappointment washed over me when Dean was nowhere to be seen.

A note lay rolled up within the basket at her side out of my reach. Typically to get the statues to move, you needed to give a tip. I yanked out a bill from my clutch, and tossed it in the bucket at the Oracle’s feet.

She slowly reached into her basket and cranked her arm down to me.

As soon as the note got close enough, I grabbed and opened it.

Ash, do you remember our walk during WaterFire? That night was perfect. You were perfect. I think at this point, we really believed we could keep this professional between us. Well, maybe I did. Either way, that night, when I gave you my coat and caught you sniffing it, I saw how you never pretended to be anyone but who you are. I thought it was adorable. It was refreshing to be with you. At that moment, a shift happened inside of me, and what I didn’t realize until later was that you were already cracking open my cold, icy heart. I knew I could be myself with you. That you accepted me, for me.

You’ve gotten two right, and now there is only one more to go. Find your next clue where we “officially” told the world we were dating. See you soon.

He signed this one the same way.

I tucked the note lovingly into my clutch, where it rested next to the first one. “Thank you,” I said to the statue before running over to meet Stella.

She’d stopped in the middle of the lane, and the line of cars behind her honked their displeasure.

“Hold your horses, jerks,” she muttered and shook her fist as an aggressive driver went by and laid on the horn.

I gave the driver a one-finger salute.

“The park, Prospect Terrace, is next.”

“You’re doing great, Ash,” Stella encouraged me.

My head whirled.

These were love notes. Within each one, he told me the little ways he’d fallen in love with me. I was excited and nervous about getting to the next one. Each one brought me closer and closer to Dean.

Stella pulled into an open space near the park. I headed to where we had our picnic. I’d loved all my dates with Dean, but this one, in particular, held a special place in my heart.

The park, not being overly large, made it easy to find our spot.