Page 32 of The One You Want

“I’ve never been married. Attached a few times in long-term relationships.”

“How long?”

“Two that lasted nearly three years and one that lasted just under two. I’m not a serial dater, but I can figure out if I’m compatible with someone usually within the first three months if it lasts more than a few dates. As for why I’m not married or attached, I haven’t met the woman I can’t let go of yet.”

That “yet” told her he wanted to find that person, and part of her already wanted it to be her.

“What about you?”

She gave him as honest an answer as he’d given her. “For a long time, I sucked at dating. I was in it for all the wrong reasons.”

He tilted his head. “How do you mean?”

“I wanted them to validate me, to make me feel like I was worthy.”

“I can’t imagine you’d need anyone to do that for you. You’re smart and beautiful, and from all I’ve heard, you’ve done very well professionally, especially given the competitive company you currently work at.”

“Well, thank you. I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but I’ll take them.”

“I’ve got more if you ever do need them.”

Her smile grew even bigger. Her cheeks were going to hurt by the end of this if he kept it up. “I’ll let you know.”

“Happy to help. Anything to keep you smiling like that.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, I just don’t get how any woman let you get away.”

“I guess I wasn’t the one they wanted to hold on to.”

“Their loss. My amazing gain.”

Jeanine arrived at their table and introduced herself as their server. “Will you be having the brunch buffet?”

She glanced at Gray, who nodded with her, then answered, “Yes.”

“Can I get you both something to drink? We’ve got an amazing peach-raspberry mimosa.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Me, too,” Gray answered.

“Coming right up. Whenever you’re ready to eat, the plates are at the far right table.” She pointed in that direction. “Then just wind your way around to all the stations. I suggest you try the crepes.”

Jeanine left to get their drink order.

Rose turned to Gray. “Are you always going to get the same drink as me?”

“So far we agree. Let’s see how long we can keep it up. Besides, I don’t like orange juice, so the peach-raspberry sounded good.”

She smirked.

“What?” he asked.

“I don’t like orange juice, either.” It was a small thing, but she enjoyed the discovery of all they had in common.

“Did you figure out the right reasons to date someone?”

She fell back into their previous conversation. “I learned that I had to be okay with myself, so I could be good for someone else. I did the work to understand why I acted the way I did and was such a bad date and girlfriend.”