Chapter Seven

A small smile tugged at his lips.

Stubborn. Quick-witted. And certainly not afraid to speak her mind.

He shook his head. What was he thinking? The woman had practically declared war on him, and he was sitting in his office thinking about her.

Still, there was something about Lauren that had stayed with him. Perhaps it was her confidence, or the fact that she hadn't seemed impressed by his appearance or money. Whatever it was, he couldn't quite get her out of his mind.

He picked up his phone and called his assistant.

"Clear my schedule for tomorrow morning. I have somewhere to be."

"Of course, Mr Callahan. Would you like me to move your nine o'clock meeting?"

"Yes. Move it to eleven."

He ended the call and returned his attention to his computer.

Perhaps he had just found a solution to his problem. And, for reasons he wasn't quite ready to examine, he was looking forward to seeing Lauren again.

Lauren might actually make the perfect wife.

At least for twelve months.

The following morning, Ryan arrived at the Corner Bistro shortly after eight.

He ordered his usual coffee and settled at a table near the window. He checked a few messages while waiting, occasionally glancing towards the entrance whenever the door opened.

A woman walked in wearing a beige coat and carrying a large tote bag. For a moment, Ryan thought it was Lauren, but when she turned towards the counter, he noticed her blonde hair.

He looked away.

A few minutes later, another woman entered. She had a similar build, but her face was completely different.

Ryan sighed and checked the time.

Perhaps the barista had exaggerated when he said she came in every morning.

He finished his coffee and left.

The next day, he returned.

And the day after that.

By the fourth morning, he was beginning to find the whole exercise ridiculous. He was a billionaire CEO, yet he was rearranging his mornings to look for a woman whose surname he didn't even know.

Still, he kept coming.

By the seventh morning, Ryan was beginning to think he had wasted an entire week.

He sat at his usual table, scrolling through emails while his coffee cooled beside him. He had already checked the entrance several times and was beginning to wonder whether he should give up and find another way to solve his problem.

Just as he reached for his coffee, the door opened.

He glanced up casually.

Then he stopped.

Lauren.

He recognised her immediately.

She walked into the shop, holding her phone in one hand and pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear with the other. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and she wore a fitted burgundy knit dress that fell just above her knees, paired with a soft grey cardigan and black ankle boots. .

It was a casual outfit, but it suited her beautifully. The dress gently hugged her figure, accentuating her curves without looking as though she had made any effort to impress anyone.

For a moment, Ryan simply watched her.

There was something different about seeing her when she wasn't glaring at him or arguing with him. Her face was naturally pretty, with soft features, expressive eyes and a warmth that was difficult to ignore.

He found himself admiring her longer than he intended.

Then she smiled briefly at something on her phone.

Ryan's eyes remained on her.

He shook his head slightly, almost amused by himself.

He had spent an entire week looking for this woman. He might as well make the most of the opportunity now that she had finally shown up.

Lauren approached the counter and placed her order. She asked for a medium latte and a blueberry muffin, then stepped aside to wait.

Ryan watched her check her phone again. Whatever she was reading seemed to bother her because the smile disappeared from her face. She pressed her lips together, typed a short reply and slipped the phone into her handbag.

When the barista handed her order over, she thanked him and looked around for an empty table.

She eventually spotted one near the window.

Ryan straightened in his chair.

She settled into the seat, placed her coffee and muffin on the table and removed her cardigan before draping it over the back of the chair.

He watched her take a sip of her coffee and break off a piece of the muffin.

That was his opportunity.

Ryan pushed his chair back, picked up his phone and walked towards her table.

He had found the woman he was looking for. Now, all he had to do was convince her to become his wife.