The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 353

Liora’s POV

“This place look good to you?”

Callum pulled up to the front of the nice restaurant in the fancier part of town. It was a bistro situated smack dab in the middle of the market center, tucked between two other brick buildings. I looked up at the clean white facade, then through the windows.

Dim lighting, small tables with pristine tablecloths, candles flickering in tiny jars.

Intimate.

My heart skipped a beat despite my best efforts to avoid it.

“Yeah,” I said, somehow managing to not sound too strained. “This works.”

Callum parked and got out of the car. Before I could get out, he ran around to the passenger side and opened the door. He extended his hand to me.

I pretended not to notice and simply got out on my own. “Thanks,” I said.

Callum led me inside, where the host, seemingly recognizing him, took us straight to a table in the back corner. Our space was quiet and even more intimate than I imagined. Callum pulled my chair out for me like a perfect gentleman, even going so far as to help me push it in.

“You know, you don’t have to go all out like this,” I pointed out. “It’s just one date.”

Callum smiled faintly as he took his seat across from me. “That’s exactly why I have to go all out. So I can convince you to have another.” He gestured to the nearby waiter and ordered the most expensive bottle of wine off the menu.

Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I thought your parents cut you off.”

Callum’s jaw flexed. “I’ve got savings.”

I arched a brow at him over my menu, but I didn’t argue. His finances were really none of my concern. Still, though, I made sure not to order anything too expensive—just a club sandwich.

“Is that really all you want?” he asked as the waiter took our orders and left. “This place has delicious salmon—”

“I’m fine,” I said, flushing a little. “But thank you for the offer.”

Callum didn’t argue further. We sat in silence for a moment, sipping our wine. It was admittedly really good—the perfect middle ground between dry and sweet. I swirled mine in my glass and looked around.

“Oh,” I whispered, pointing subtly. “I think that guy is about to propose.”

Callum followed my finger toward the table near the center of the restaurant where a couple was sitting together. They were holding hands across the table, and underneath, I could see the man turning a small velvet box over between the fingers of his free hand.

I held my breath. The man pushed his chair out and stood, walking over to the woman’s side of the table. He dropped to one knee and popped open the box.

The woman gasped loudly, her hands flying to her mouth, as the man said a few words. Everyone turned to stare, waiting with bated breath.

Callum’s eyes flickered. “And the girlfriend is secretly saving up money to leave him for a man she met overseas.”

I giggled. The sound bubbled out of me before I could make it go away. Callum looked at me.

“You have a nice laugh.”

“Don’t do that,” I said, setting down my wine glass. The server arrived with our meals then and set them in front of us.

“Why not?” Callum raised his glass, clinking it against mine. “It’s true.”

“Callum…”

“It’s a date, Liora.” He was smiling. “Let me compliment you once or twice tonight, okay?”

I sighed, although a smile was tugging at my lips, too. “Okay. But just once or twice.”

“Three times?”

“Watch it,” I laughed.

Callum grinned and cut into his meat. I watched him for a moment, and he looked back, his gaze unwavering. He had never looked at me like that before, and despite myself, I… sort of liked it.