For the rest of the week, a constant cloud of stress surrounded me as I searched, with no avail, for another building on the market to house my boutique. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack, wondering if what I was searching for even existed, but in sparse moments of clarity, I didn't let the agony of the situation get me down.

I still managed to jot down notes on patterns, colors, and silhouettes that danced across my mind. They'd all been done in haste, yet the inspiration hadn't faded, and when I woke up early Sunday morning, I had an overwhelming desire to work them into something real.

Sitting down at my desk, the drawers overflowing with sheer fabric and lace, I jumped right in. Each time one of my pencils touched the page, a new idea would spring to mind. I saw patterns before I drew them, could imagine how each color would look against different skin tones, and instinctively knew when something wouldn't work. There were ten scrapped sketches for every good one, and when I finally made a breakthrough, nothing felt better.

The hours got away from me, and before I knew it, a dozen new sketches had small swatches of material pinned to them and were scattered atop my desk. I'd also managed to bring two of my designs to life and had pulled out the plus-size mannequin I stored at the back of my closet to get to work on the third. So far, it was mirroring the vision I had in my head. It would be a baby blue set of undergarments, both supportive and sensual, paired with a sheer robe in pearly white.

With fabric thrown over my shoulders and bobby pins between my teeth, I was in the zone, using my hands to work each material the way I needed to.

"Looks like someone's been busy," Aimee mused, making me jump.

She was leaning against the door jamb as I turned to face her, her gaze arcing over the room, taking in the mess.

"Just a bit," I said, an airy laugh falling from my lips. Turning back to the mannequin, I tilted my head. "Well, what do you think?"

"I think it looks gorgeous, just like everything you design," she replied. "Though I wouldn't object if you wanted to recreate that in something closer to my size."

I glanced back over my shoulder. "Don't you already have a couple drawers full of things I've designed?"

"Yes, but one can never have enough lingerie. Especially when it gets put to such good use." The gleam in her eyes and the slyness of her smile caused me to roar with laughter. "Speaking of which," she continued, trailing off as she lifted one of the finished samples off my desk. A black lacy bra with thin silver straps. "Any plans on wearing something like this tonight?"

I froze, my eyes widening as a heavy feeling bore down on my chest.

Shit.

Dropping the fabric in my arms, I scrambled towards my chest.

"What time is it?" I asked, the words meshing together as I hurried to find something to change into. The last thing I needed was for Seb to show up at the door and see me in a pair of sweatpants, a loose t-shirt, and my hair tossed up in a bun.

"Around six, why?" Aimee asked, wide-eyed.

"Because I lost track of time, that's why," I said in a panic, sorting through my clothes. Frustration bubbled under my skin and I took a step back. "And now I have nothing to wear."

Falling back onto my bed, I took a few calming breaths as Aimee sat down beside me. "Trust me, we'll find you something to wear in time for your date."

I tilted my head to look up at her. "But how did I forget?"

It wasn't as though Seb and I hadn't spoken over the last couple of days. We had. Plenty. And yesterday morning, he'd called to make sure I was still up for grabbing dinner tonight.

And I'd said yes.

"You had other things on you mind," Aimee reasoned. "It's understandable."

"But what if this is a sign? What if this is the universe trying to tell me I don't need anything else on my plate right now, and that agreeing to go out with him was a mistake?"

"It's not a sign. You just got caught up. It happens." One of her hands rested on my arm, moving back and forth with comfort. "You know you want to go on this date or else you wouldn't have said yes, but if it doesn't end up going your way, that's okay. The important thing is you're putting yourself out there, and he's smoking hot to boot."

I laughed, pushing myself up onto my elbows. "He is, isn't he?"

"Extremely," Aimee said with a grin just as my phone vibrated in my pocket.

And speak of the devil.

Seven still good with you?

"Tell him yes, or I will," Aimee said, an underlying challenge to her words.

Though I didn't call her bluff. After all, she knew my passcode, and I had no doubt she'd go through with it if I chickened out.

"There," I said, showing her response as I hit send. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic." She grinned before waving me out of my own room. "Now go jump in the shower. I'll find you the perfect outfit to wear."

"Thanks," I replied, the ghost of a smile hovering on my lips. "Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."

An emotion flashed across her features so fast, I thought for a moment it was simply a trick of the light. "It'd be hard to imagine, that's for sure," she replied, clearing her throat as her demeanor shifted to one of mock sternness. "Now up. Up. You've got less than an hour until he gets here and still so much to do."

"I'm going. I'm going," I said, laughing as I stood up and felt her hand connect with my ass. Grabbing the towel from the back of my door, I swung it towards her once in warning, and was greeted with a look of innocence before I headed down the hall to freshen up.

***

The doorbell to our apartment sounded a few minutes before seven.

Expelling a breath, I glanced one final time in the mirror, double checking there weren't any fly away hairs or lipstick stains on my teeth before I made my way into the living room.

"He's on his way up," Aimee said, turning at the sound of my heeled boots against the hardwood after buzzing him in. Her gaze dropped, taking in my outfit as I reached for my coat. I'd slid into the emerald green dress she'd left lying on my bed—its lace arms and knee-length skirt molding perfectly to my body—and had pulled my hair up in a sleek ponytail. And while she couldn't tell, I may have also thrown on the black undergarments I'd sewn earlier. You know, just in case. "You look gorgeous, Jo."

My lips twitched. "Thanks."

"And you can't look this good without knocking somebody's socks off," she said, bumping my hip playfully as she slinked passed me. "So please, have fun tonight."

"I'll try."

Satisfied, she disappeared down the hall, making herself scarce as three knocks sounded against the door.

Shaking out my nerves, I opened the door, only to catch my breath as I took him in. Whether it was my small apartment or purely his strong build, Seb took up most of the doorway. His hair was pulled back from his face, his beard was freshly trimmed to better sculpt his jaw, and unlike mine, the black trench coat he wore was left unbuttoned. He'd paired a white dress shirt with a pair of black fitted pants, which, while strikingly handsome, was much smarter than I'd been expecting.

"Hey." A knowing look danced in his eyes when my gaze snapped up to meet his. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," I said, waving him in as I took a step back, "just let me grab my purse."

His eyes roamed around, taking in the apartment as I slung my purse over my shoulder. "This is a nice place."

"It's not much," I said, the corners of my mouth lifting as I moved back towards him, "but it's home."

As he looked down at me, a fluttering sensation built inside my chest, seeing the genuine joy painted across his features. "So," he said, offering me his elbow, "shall we?"

A breathy chuckle escaped me as I hooked my arm through his. "We shall."

***

"I'm not exactly caught up with the newer restaurants in the area," Seb explained as he steered his truck into the parking lot of a lavish restaurant a twenty-minute ride away from my apartment, "but my sister-in-law mentioned this place, and it had great reviews online." He killed the engine and looked over at me with a hopeful expression. "Is this okay with you?"

I had been expecting a cozy restaurant—somewhere with a simple menu and a homey atmosphere—and the 5-star restaurant in front of us was about ten steps above that. I masked my surprise however and nodded, following him inside.

He held the door open, motioning me ahead, and I was positive my expression blanked. Though Seb didn't notice as he stepped up to the hostess station to give his name.

The bar area was packed, serving only the finest alcohol to groups of elegantly dressed customers as they waited to be seated in the dining hall. The latter was only partially visible from where we stood, though from the candle-lit tables and glass chandeliers, a glimpse was all I needed to know this place was not for me.

Clutching my purse, I was acutely aware the cash in my wallet wouldn't even afford me an appetizer in this place when the hostess looked up from the reservation books and smiled at the pair of us. "Right this way."

Seb fell back a step, shifting closer to me before placing his hand at the base of my back and leading me forwards. And I needed the support. Moving through the dining hall, all I could feel was the weight of other people's eyes. To anyone else, it would've been no big deal, but my insecurities intensified reality, making it feel like everyone we passed was judging me.

Only when we stopped at an empty table near the back of the room was I able to breathe a sigh of relief. The hostess left us with a pair of menus and wished us well, letting us know our waiter would be with us shortly. Though as I slipped off my coat, I was still unsettled, and my hands began to shake when I heard a sharp intake of breath.

"Wow." I looked up to meet Seb's gaze and saw his eyes scan the length of me, taking in the outfit he had yet to see as I hung my coat over the back of my chair. "Jo, you look... stunning."

Sitting down, my cheeks flared with heat. "Thanks," I said shyly, adjusting my dress as it rode up my thighs. "You look good too."

The corners of his mouth slid upwards, though he was stopped from replying when our waiter appeared, greeting us. "Would I be able to start you off with something to drink?"

With no hesitation, I said, "Can I get a glass of red wine?"

"Any preference for the brand?"

I shook my head. "Whatever you recommend is fine."

"And I'll have the same," Seb added, smiling across the table as the waiter left to collect our drinks. "So, have you had any luck scoping out properties?"

"Not quite." I exhaled slowly. At least the conversation was pulling my mind away from our lavish surroundings. "It feels like I've gone through every listing on the market and nothing seems right. Everything is either too expensive, too small, or just not fit to house a boutique."

"Have you tried talking to a realtor?"

"I've considered it, but I want to see if I can find something myself before forking over the cash to get some help. But if things don't start looking up, I'll probably have to."

"You'll find something. I'm sure of it."

His smile was encouraging as the waiter returned with our drinks. When asked if we'd decided on an appetizer, we both shook our heads, requesting more time, and he nodded before turning to check on other customers.

"What about you?" I asked, turning the conversation on Sebastian before taking a sip of wine. "How do you handle the constant pressure of playing hockey?"

"Honestly?" He chuckled. "I got used to it when I was young. I had a practice or game every day of the week and I always looked forward to out of town tournaments because I loved to travel. As I got older though, everything intensified. Suddenly, the competition for spots on the teams was tight, and I knew if I wanted to make a run at this for a career, I couldn't back down."

"Did you always know you wanted to be a hockey player then?"

Seb nodded. "Yeah, and after following the Knights as a kid, it's kind of surreal now that I'm a part of the team. But it also feels like it's been a long time coming, you know?"

"Like the perfect ending to your story," I mused.

"Except it's only the beginning," he countered, his lips quirked upwards as he lifted his wine glass.

As I tapped my glass against his, my mouth wore a matching smile, but when I flipped open the menu, everything crashed down around me. The staggering prices displayed next to every item stood out to me, though as I lifted my gaze, Seb didn't seem to bat an eye. The appetizers themselves were the price of what I would be willing to pay for a full-blown meal, and after glancing at the tables around us, I noticed the portions being served seemed to be nowhere near filling.

"This place is really... posh," I said, unable to think of another word as I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair.

Seb met my worried gaze with a soft, reassuring smile. "This is all on me, Jo. Order whatever looks good."

A sweet sentiment—one that normally would've prompted my instincts to kick in and suggest we split the bill. But in a place like this? I couldn't afford to.

That didn't mean I took advantage though. In fact, I purposefully asked Seb if he wanted to share one of the cheapest appetizers on the menu before ordering a simple pasta dish, steering clear of the beef and seafood dishes that would've put a sizeable dent in my credit card if I'd been footing the bill.

As the night wore on, I tried my best to ignore the over-the-top elegance of the restaurant. At times, it wasn't hard. Like when the conversation between Seb and I flowed easily or as I dug into the delicious food we were served. But in short bursts throughout the evening, I could feel my insecurities creeping in, keeping me from fully enjoying myself as they prodded at my subconscious.

Telling me I wasn't enough. That I didn't belong in a place like this.

And I couldn't help but think that if this was what a date with Seb was like, then maybe, despite the chemistry between us, there was nothing in the cards for us moving forwards.

I wasn't meant for the spotlight. For the glitz or the glam. I was laid back and didn't believe in trying to be someone I wasn't, and while I knew Seb was a down to earth person, tonight hadn't shown that. And what might've been the worst part of it all was the fact he gave no indication he'd even recognized how uncomfortable tonight had been for me.

But it didn't stop me from offering him a smile as he pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex. "Thanks for tonight."

"No problem," he said, shifting in his seat to face me. Lifting the hand closest to me, he grazed the back of his fingers across my cheek, his movements leaving a trail of heat in their wake. "I had a great time."

I was unable to keep my expression from faltering momentarily, giving him a glimpse of my true feelings, prompting the first flicker of uncertainty to fill his features. "Goodnight, Seb," I said, voice soft after a short pause.

Climbing out of the car, I turned and headed for the doors to put an end to the night, but stopped mid-step as I heard a car door open and Seb shout. "Wait." I turned, watching as he jogged across the asphalt, stopping when there was only a foot separating us. Lifting my gaze to meet his, I waited for him to say something, but before he did, his hand reached across the open space between us and gently caught mine. "Did I—did I mess this up?"

"It wasn't you," I said carefully, though I bit my lip as the disappointment flooded his face, his mouth jutting into a frown at the knowledge there was a but coming. "It's just... the fancy restaurant? It wasn't really my thing."

He sighed, dropping my hand. "And I knew that. I did." He rubbed the back of his neck, as if embarrassed. "I just thought going with something a bit more up-scale would make the evening more memorable."

"It was memorable," I admitted, "just not in the right way." I managed a small laugh at the way he cringed. "If I'm being honest, this chemistry—" I waved a hand between us. "—this comfort and ease between us, that's all that really mattered to me tonight."

There was a spark of recognition in his expression. Of understanding. "And it got overshadowed by me trying to impress you." His shoulders fell as he paused, but as our gaze stayed locked, I saw the moment a glimmer of hope sprang to life. "Do you think, if I were to ask for one more night, you'd be willing to give me another shot? I promise, this time, no fancy restaurants."

The sincerity of his words wasn't lost on me, and I felt a tug in my chest, urging me to say yes. After all, it was mostly the restaurant that had thrown me off, and if Seb could somehow put the remainder of my reservations to rest, I wanted to believe in him.

Going with my gut, I took a step forward and erased the space between us. "I think that I can get on board with that."

Once again, I was the first to make a move.

He inhaled sharply as my lips touched his, but barely a second passed before he was pulling me closer, one hand on my cheek and the other falling to my hip. Allowing him to take the lead, the kiss was slow but teasing as he caressed my lips in a way that lit a flame beneath my skin. I felt the hairs on my arms rise, and with a tilt of his head, a new friction ignited. Better. More.

With each kiss, it grew more difficult to remember we were standing outside my apartment, but Seb didn't seem to care. He just kept kissing me as though he couldn't get enough. When he finally deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine in a way that drew a moan from the back of my throat, I pulled away, in need of the air that quickly rushed to my lungs.

"I'd invite you in, but..."

The words were breathless as I trailed off, my chest rising and falling in an uneven rhythm. I didn't want to admit that it'd been a while for me, and while the thought of having him in my bed excited me in more ways than one, tonight was not the night.

"I wasn't expecting anything to happen tonight," he said, leaning forward again so that his lips brushed against mine with every word he spoke. "A kiss is more than enough for me."

Raising an eyebrow, I stepped back, letting my arms fall from his shoulders. "And if I were to ask you to come in, what would you say?"

Seb's eyes flickered with a mixture of heat and surprise, though it vanished in an instant. He took a step back. And then another, his lips twitching. "I guess we'll never know."