Page 4 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date (Unexpected Dates #2)

Hunter

“Give an engineer a problem, and they’ll give you three solutions and a spreadsheet.” ~Unknown

I got the answers to those questions I had for Lily—why she’s going on a date, where she’s going, and who she’s going with—but I also got a lot more than I’d bargained for.

“Tell me again why you’re helping the girl you like go out with other guys?

” The low voice on the other end of the phone line that’s questioning my sanity belongs to my cousin Ryder.

He and I have always been close, especially since we’re the only male cousins in our respective families—we both happen to have two older sisters.

Despite his own unsuccessful love life, he’s game for helping me with mine. “How is this a good idea?”

That’s precisely what I’ve been asking myself the past hour while Lily’s been on her date with Engineer #3.

Tucked away into a corner booth at Kirin, a Chinese restaurant in Mountain View, I have the perfect vantage point to observe her and this Simon guy who are sitting at a table about twenty feet away.

And don’t worry, I am observing, not spying.

As the only non-Asian guy in this place, I couldn’t be discreet even if I wanted to be.

But I do try to speak as quietly as possible, so no one assumes I’m here to crash Lily’s date.

Even though that’s exactly what I’d love to do.

“She asked me for help, so how could I say no?” I reply in between bites of my beef chow fun. “I’d do anything for Lily. Wouldn’t you do the same for Amelia?”

He grunts instead of answering my question. Things with his ex-fiancée are a bit complicated right now, but I know Ryder still cares for her a great deal. When he starts sounding like a caveman, you know it’s serious.

“I do have a plan,” I continue as I pick up more food from my plate with my chopsticks.

The carrot slices I put into my mouth match the bright color of the seats and walls.

There’s so much orange in this place, I couldn’t see green if I tried.

But inside, I am envious. I wish I was the one sitting across from Lily, enjoying her company.

“I figure when her date goes south, I’ll be right here to swoop in and save the day—er, night. ”

“Wait, don’t tell me you’re spying on her right now?”

“It’s called observing.”

“But does she know you’re observing her?”

“Not yet.”

“So, you’re spying.”

“Or maybe I’m enjoying a good meal out, so I don’t have to cook tonight, and I happen to be at the same restaurant as Lily and her date?”

“Then you’re eating and spying.”

“All right, I’m spying.” I take a sip of chrysanthemum tea to wash down the oil from my meal. Too bad it can’t also clear my guilty conscience. “I wanted to get a look at my competition. ”

“And? What do you think?”

I crane my neck so I can see better and size up my opponent.

Simon looks like a decent guy, albeit somewhat uptight with his shirt buttoned up to his neck and a very somber expression.

I don’t understand how anyone can hold back a smile around Lily.

“It looks like someone’s forcing him to eat bitter melon. ”

“Blech. I have no idea what that tastes like, but it doesn’t sound pleasant.”

“But this is good news for me. Simon’s not her type, so that means this date will be one and done.”

“That’s great and all, but what about the next guy? How many dates are you planning to spy on?”

“Well, based on the research Lily and I did this afternoon, she needs to go on 3.7 dates a week to increase her chances of finding a husband within three months.”

“So, that’s 44.4 dates? You’re sure going to be busy, cuz.”

As soon as I hear the total, I gasp. It’s not because I’m impressed by Ryder’s ability to crunch numbers quickly in his head—it’s in our genes because I can do the same—but by the specific number he stated.

In Chinese culture, the number four is off-limits because it sounds like the word for death .

While I’m not superstitious, I find some humor and validation in this situation.

If Lily’s dates go down in flames, I can be her hero who brings romance back to life.

After all, she already compared me to Clark Kent. I just need to keep my contacts in and play the part of Superman.

Speaking of contacts, I realize I haven’t been moving my eyeballs much during dinner. I blink, then begin scanning the restaurant from left to right and back again. That’s when I notice something new on Lily and Simon’s table, and it’s not a dish.

“Hey, cuz, I just got paged,” Ryder suddenly pipes up. “I’ll talk to you later.”

I’ve lost track of the number of times my cousin’s had to end a phone call because of work.

It doesn’t bother me, though, when I know he’s literally saving lives.

His job as a doctor makes mine pale in comparison, but I feel like I’m on a mission to do a little saving tonight.

I’m ready to fly, figuratively speaking, out of my seat the instant Lily needs me.

I unfortunately can’t see her face from where I’m sitting, but I do have a clear view of her date.

Simon seems to be doing a presentation, about what, I’m not sure.

All I know is that he has a laptop on the table and is scrolling through an actual slideshow, complete with pie charts and graphs.

His dark brown eyes are determined and unblinking, as if he’s making the sales pitch of the century.

I wish I had super hearing so I could listen in on his spiel because I’ve never been more curious…

or relieved, to be honest. If he thinks he’s going to win Lily’s heart this way, he’s got it all wrong.

I’ve skimmed through the romance books she reads, and I’m certain none of them include a grand PowerPoint gesture.

But it looks like Simon wants more than her heart because the next thing I know, he takes a small black box from his briefcase—yes, the guy brought a briefcase on his date—and puts it on the table.

He slides it over towards Lily, weaving it in between a plate of Kung Pao Chicken and a dish of fried rice until it comes to a stop beside her porcelain teacup.

My heart pounds as I realize how much I underestimated Mr. PowerPoint. Simon came to win. He’s asking for Lily’s hand in marriage!

A dozen questions fly through my mind, all of which cause beads of sweat to break out along my temple. What kind of guy proposes on the first date? Why isn’t Lily rejecting him? Is she desperate enough to marry a complete stranger? If so, what can I do about it?

Regret courses through my body like kryptonite, snuffing out the life in my veins. I squeeze my eyes shut, not caring if my contacts become permanently glued to my eyeballs. This is such an unexpected plot twist, I’m almost impressed with Simon’s strategic, unromantic ways.

Will Lily be as well?

Speaking of plots, I now understand why she cries over the books she reads.

From what I know about romance stories, there’s usually a black moment for a couple when they think all hope is lost. It doesn’t come until after they get together, but in my case, it’s happening now.

Forget dating; I won’t even have a chance to tell Lily how I feel about her.

Some superhero I am.

I’m almost too afraid to look over at their table, but I force my eyelids open.

Taking a deep breath, I brace myself for the worst-case scenario—finding the woman I adore engaged to another man.

To my surprise, however, I only see Lily sitting at her table.

Simon and his briefcase are gone. I lean to the left to catch a glimpse of Lily’s left hand.

My lungs finally expand again when I see her bare ring finger.

Thank You, Lord!

I’m not sure what happened or didn’t happen, but I don’t have time to wonder because Lily’s heading over in my direction, likely on her way to the restroom.

Being the calm, cool, and level-headed guy that I am, I quickly grab the teapot and hold it in front of my face.

The expression I see reflected in the stainless steel is as sheepish as I feel.

I stay still, waiting for Lily to pass. Maybe if I hold my breath, she won’t? —

“Hunter?”

—see me.

Down goes the teapot and up go my brows as I fake a tone of surprise. “Hey, Lil! What are you doing here?”

“I came here for my date like I told you I would. What are you doing here?”

My tongue freezes, not because I have no excuse to tell Lily, but because she’s just so beautiful.

She has on a black dress, a color that I’ve never seen her wear, but her jewelry is still colorful.

Her big brown eyes look at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

“I, um, felt like Chinese food tonight.”

“Yeah? It’s sort of nice that I ran into you here. You’ll never believe what happened with Simon.”

“Sounds intriguing.” My tone is so nonchalant, I should get an Oscar. “Do you want to sit and tell me about it?”

“Yes! Let me run to the ladies’ room first. Be right back!”

While Lily’s doing her business, I get down to mine and ask one of the waiters to bring her food over to my table.

I also pay for her bill, so she won’t need to think about that part of her evening again.

Now that Simon is out of the picture, I hope we can focus on more pressing matters, like how did he mess up and how do I not follow in his footsteps?

I’m realizing now more than ever that time is not on my side.

If I want Lily to see me as more than a friend, I’ll need to make a move fast before she receives any more proposals.

When she returns and sees a clean plate and pair of chopsticks set out for her, she gives me a smile. She slides along the booth until she’s seated beside me. “Thanks for letting me crash your dinner. This night totally didn’t go the way I expected it to, but at least I don’t have to eat alone.”

Hearing the gratitude in her voice has me puffing out my chest like a male bird. I haven’t done much yet, but I already feel like I’m making headway. If I need to sing, dance, or offer a gift to impress Lily, I’ll consider it. But first, I want to hear all about her disastrous date.

I pour a fresh cup of tea for her, then say, “So, tell me what happened with Mr. PowerPoint.”