Page 7 of Sideline Sweetheart (Greenville Generals #4)
Chapter Seven
Bryce
The first thing I did after inviting Mackenzie to dinner was call The Lake House to make a reservation.
Presumptuous? Maybe. Situated on the western shore of Saluda Lake, The Lake House had been named one of the most exclusive restaurants in Greenville, and I wasn’t willing to risk not getting a table.
Besides, it’s easier to cancel if she turns me down.
Of course, I hadn’t anticipated she would do exactly that.
Instead of cancelling the reservation, I gifted it to Reed and made a reservation for the next week.
When she still refused my invitation, I offered it to Felipe.
And reserved a table for the next two weeks.
Leo took the third week before Mackenzie finally accepted.
After practice, I stop at Glorianna’s, to pick up an assorted box of specialty chocolates. The award-winning chocolatier has the finest chocolates this side of Belgium. Once I have the chocolates, I head home to get ready for my date.
I shower, shave and apply a spritz of Bleu, my favorite cologne by Chanel, before I pull my black suit from the closet.
I pair the suit with a white dress shirt, black tie with a blue paisley design and black Cole Haan Wingtip dress shoes.
I slide my wallet and phone into my pocket, grab my keys and the box of chocolates off the breakfast bar and head out the door to my car.
After making my way through traffic, I pull up to the Mackenzie’s building twenty minutes later. Finding a spot on the street, I park along the curb and head inside, chocolates in hand. I take the elevator to the seventh floor, locate Mackenzie’s door and knock.
The sound of heels on the floor alerts me, and I smooth my hand over my tie as I wait for the door to open. My breath catches as Mackenzie opens the door. If I thought she was gorgeous in her Generals uniform or the jeans she was wearing the night we met, she is absolutely stunning tonight.
The royal blue dress she’s wearing highlights her curves and makes her blue eyes even brighter. Her red hair hangs in soft waves and my fingers itch to dive into those tresses. My eyes return to hers and a smile tips her lips.
“Hello handsome,” she says shyly leaning against the door.
I swallow willing my voice to sound steady. “Hi. You are absolutely stunning.”
Again, she hits me with a smile. “Thank you.” She takes a step back opening the door wider, as her arm sweeps out inviting me in.
I step through the door, and she closes it behind me. I offer her the box of chocolates. “These are for you.”
She reaches out and takes the box from me, smiling as she looks through the cellophane window on top. “Thank you. First the flowers, now chocolates. I have to say Bryce, I’m impressed.”
I grin, noting the teasing tone of her voice. “Well, my mother taught me to not show up at a lady’s door empty handed, and since I’d already sent you flowers…” I say, letting the thought trail off.
“Your mother sounds like a wise woman.”
I nod in agreement. “She is.”
“Do we have time for a drink?”
I check the Longines watch strapped to my wrist. “We should probably go if we want to make our reservation. Maybe I can take a raincheck?”
Humor dances in her eyes as she steps closer to me, placing her hand on my chest. “We’ll see how the night goes first.”
I shake my head at her teasing as she turns to pick up her clutch and tucks her phone inside.
I open the door for her to exit the apartment, closing it behind me, and wait for her to secure the lock.
I place my hand on the small of her back and guide her into the elevator.
Once the elevator door closes, I bend close to Mackenzie’s ear. “I was surprised to get your text.”
Her eyes search my face. “Really?”
“Mhmm, I was sure you’d claim it was against some ethical rule.” Her cheeks turn pink, and her focus drops to the floor before returning to me. I grin, pleased I was able to puzzle her out. “You did, didn’t you? You were going to turn me down. What changed your mind?”
“First,” she says, “I did turn you down.”
“Technically,” I reply with a grin. “You made me wait; there’s a difference.”
“Agree to disagree,” she says. “To answer your question, not what, who,” she says, a smile of her own curving her lips upward. “Luna, Jamie, and Allison convinced me to give you a chance.”
“I’ll have to thank them later,” I say as the elevator door slides open and we step into the lobby. I escort her through the entrance and down the sidewalk to my car. I open the passenger door for her and offer her my hand to assist her inside.
Placing her hand in mine she says. “An impressive car for an impressive man.”
I raise the hand I’m holding and place a gentle kiss on her ivory skin before she slides into the supple leather seat. After closing the door, I round to the driver’s side and slide behind the wheel.
Mackenzie is quiet while I pull away from the curb and out into traffic. The weight of her gaze on me causes me to glance at her. “What are you thinking over there?”
A smile teases her lips. “I’m trying to decide if all the girls get the sexy car and designer suit treatment when you take them out.”
“Only the ones who matter,” I reply smoothly.
Mackenzie laughs and shakes her head. “You are quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
“I wasn’t trying to be charming; I was being honest. Contrary to what you may have heard, I’m not the player some people think I am.”
“So, I’ve heard,” she replies softly.
I can’t help but grin. “Were you checking up on me, Doc?”
“Not exactly,” she says as I turn on Saluad Dam Road. “However, I was reassured you were one of the good guys.”
“Interesting. How am I doing so far?” I ask as my car glides into a parking space outside the restaurant.
The Lake House is lit up, soft yellow light glows from the floor to ceiling windows encasing three walls of the structure.
A wrap around porch allows guest the opportunity to take in the lakeview before or after dinner.
“I’m reserving my opinion until the end of the night, but it’s looking good so far.”
I shift the transmission into park and kill the engine before giving her my most charming grin.
“Guess I better bring my A-game tonight then.” I top off the grin with a wink and exit the car, circling the hood to the passenger side to open her door.
I offer her my hand and once her silver shoe hits the pavement, I feel as if someone has tightened a vise around my lungs.
How was it I had taken in her beauty when I picked her up and not tracked her mile-long legs in the process?
When she steps out of the car, I close the door before raising her hand to my lips.
“I’m not sure what the deciding factor was to accept my invitation, but I’m glad you did.”
“I am, too.”
I offer her my arm. “Shall we?”
Mackenzie gives me a soft smile as she threads her arm through mine, and I guide us up the steps to the entrance of the restaurant. I pull open the glass panel door and let Mackenzie step inside ahead of me.
The hostess, Collett, according to her name tag, smiles as we approach. “Good evening, welcome to The Lake House.”
“Good evening, Collett. Reservation for Coban.”
“Of course, Mr. Coban, right this way,” she says taking two menus from beneath the station and leading us to our table.
We wind through the tables to an intimate corner along a wall of windows.
Collett places the menus on the edge of the table and bids us a good evening before returning to her station.
I pull out Mackenzie’s chair and help her scoot forward, my thumb caressing the flawless exposed skin the halter dress provides electing a shiver from her. I hide my satisfied smile before taking my seat across from her.
Her blue eyes meet mine and the flicker of candlelight dances within the depths, it’s mesmerizing.
Mackenzie’s breath catches as she breaks our connection turning her gaze to the sun setting over the lake.
“This view is breathtaking,” she says, taking in the colors of the sky streaked in pink and orange.
“Yes, it is,” I agree, my gaze solely focused on her.
She glances at me, and pink stains her cheeks as she realizes I’m not talking about the landscape. Mackenzie Flynn may be one of the most beautiful women I’ve encountered and tonight I’m making it my mission to learn as much about her as possible.