18. Can You Measure Up?

The words tumbled out before I could stop them, sharp and unfiltered.

“Whoa, hold up with the questions. Let me at least get a chance to answer one.” He said, holding up a finger and smiling.

“I didn’t exactly send for you or kidnap you. You came with Mark, willingly, didn’t you?”

“Okay, yes, but still, I had no idea what he was up to.”

“You were selected by chance from Mark’s Pot of Gold contest.”

“So, how well do you know Mark Meadows?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll share it with you one day. But I don’t want to bore or ruin our night with such details, Ms. Charlize.

“I hope you don’t mind spending the first date with me instead of Blaze or Diamante?” Xavier asked me.

I said, relaxing back in my chair and crossing my legs.

I could see Xavier was attentive, his eyes following my every move. I had his attention as he watched me relax, and my mannerisms unfolded before his eyes, causing him to smile.

"No, don’t mind at all. I didn’t think I would ever go out on a blind date. But I’m cool with it. Are you blind?” I asked him in a small, playful, flirty way.

His eyebrows rose as his eyes began blinking a mile a minute. At first, I didn’t know if he understood. Then I saw a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

Not a full smile, but it made me wonder what one would look like. It was the first time I’d seen him genuinely smile at me. However, it had a hint of shyness, as he caught on to my sense of humor.

I softly laughed at his expression. “Sorry, I had to say that little joke. I hoped it would break the ice. So you don’t do blind dates?” I asked, friendly.

“Uhm... not usually,” Xavier said, still grinning at me.

I made a slight frown appear between my brows. Xavier’s eyes danced to my every expression. I could tell he already found me surprisingly unique and intriguing. He looked at my lips as I spoke.

“Since that’s the case. I suppose we should shake hands and go our separate ways?”

“Are you suggesting our time together is over because I don’t do blind dates?” Although his voice now sounded concerned, there was something nice about meeting me, and he wasn’t ready for it to end so quickly.

“Did I offend you by saying I don’t do blind dates?”

“No, certainly not.” I smiled warmly at him.

“Oh, Good! Because my instinct is to invite you to spend the...” He paused as he saw my eyes expand, and now my eyelids began blinking a mile a minute like his.

“Go ahead and finish your statement.”

Xavier said quickly. “I give up; you won’t understand,” he said, shifting his eyes and looking around awkwardly. His heart pounded as he realized he’d messed up. I narrowed my eyes at him. I could feel what he was about to say or ask me in my bones. Now, more than ever, I was determined to teach this guy a lesson. I could tell he wanted to break the rules, or was he making a significant slip of the tongue?

I stared at the handsome man in disbelief. He was only inches away from my face now, and his words were still thick in the air around us.

“I don’t play by anyone’s rules. All I know is what I want—and right now, that’s you. Let me in. Let me be the one who changes everything.

“What?”

Alright, maybe that’s too straightforward. So, let’s date and get to know one another.”

“Are you joking? This is not funny,” I whispered.

He was so close that the warmth of his breath fluttered against my skin. “No, I’m not joking. Do you hear me laughing?”

Xavier’s voice dropped, rough with honesty. He glanced at my lips, then back to my eyes, searching for a sign I felt it too. Suddenly, desire flashed between us—raw, undeniable. My pulse thundered. This was the moment everything changed.

“Hey, I just want a chance. What must a man like me do to be with you?”His face looked beautifully devastated.

Xavier held my gaze, interested in what I would say next.

“As a woman, I want my man to love me so fiercely, to be so infatuated with me, that nothing else matters to him. I want to be loved; no doubt. I’m afraid the man I choose might change his mind and take that love away. I want to feel safe, have a partner who can protect me, and return my love with the same intensity. It has nothing to do with money, fancy clothes, or wealth. Still, those things don’t hurt to have. But it’s the love that I’m seeking. See, you would have to be an exceptional man to be with me, and to be honest with you, I haven’t met an exceptional one yet.”

“Really?” Xavier asked.

“Yes. You don’t think I’m serious?”

“I do. Or is that just what you want?” Xavier asked, looking pensively at her.

I took a moment to think, avoiding his mesmerizing gaze and words. “That is what I want. But I think it’s what all women want too.”

“Maybe they broke the mold when I was born. But I know what I need, and that is the right woman in my life, someone who is going to care for the person I am underneath truly, and the person I am is what I want to give you. I want to fix all your problems and be that man that makes you happy.”

His words moved me in ways I could never articulate. “Stop right there,” I stated, studying him for a long moment before speaking. “What makes you so sure I’m the right woman?”