The Nerd with glasses(3)

Jade

“Wear something that doesn’t hide you, Jade… because tonight I plan on seeing the real you.”

Those words echoed in my head the entire afternoon. By the time I got home, my brain was still replaying the way Tovi Lane had looked at me when he said it.

Like he already knew exactly what he would find. And that terrified me. Because the truth?

I wasn’t sure I knew the real me either. I stood in front of my closet for nearly twenty minutes before sighing in defeat.

Everything I owned screamed safe. Cardigans. Oversized sweaters. Long skirts. Clothes designed to blend into the background. My fingers brushed a black dress buried at the back of the rack. I had bought it two years ago for a work event I ended up skipping.

It was simple. Soft fabric. Sleeveless. But it hugged my waist in a way that made my heart beat a little faster.

“Okay,” I whispered to myself. “This is ridiculous.”

Still… I put it on. Then I did something even more ridiculous. I took off my glasses. Without them, the world blurred slightly. But I could still see well enough. And somehow… I looked different.

Less like the quiet accountant everyone ignored. More like someone I barely recognized.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

Tovi: Your car is outside.

My pulse spiked.

Outside?

I stepped toward the window and froze. A sleek black car waited by the curb. Of course he would send a driver. Because he was Tovi Lane, billionaire CEO, owner of half the skyline. And tonight… he wanted dinner with me.

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs before I could overthink it. The driver opened the door politely.

“Miss Sink.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, climbing in.

The ride across the city felt surreal. My reflection in the window looked calmer than I felt. My stomach was a storm. Because tonight wasn’t just dinner. Tonight was curiosity. Tonight was danger. Tonight was the moment I stopped hiding.

Twenty minutes later, the car slowed in front of a private rooftop restaurant overlooking the river.

Soft lights glowed along the terrace. Music drifted faintly through the warm evening air. And there he was.

Tovi Lane.

Standing near the railing like he owned the night itself. When he turned and saw me…He went completely still. For a moment, he didn’t move at all.

His gaze slowly traveled from my face down the length of my dress and back again. Something heated flickered in his eyes.

“Well,” he murmured softly.

I swallowed.

“Well what?”

“You listened.”

My cheeks warmed. His gaze moved to my face again.

“No glasses.”

“I can still see.”

He stepped closer. Much closer than a normal dinner greeting required.

“Good,” he said quietly. “Because I want you to see exactly what you’re doing to me.”

My breath hitched. He looked… devastating tonight. Black suit. Open collar. Dark hair slightly messy from the wind. But it was his eyes that did the most damage. That intense blue focus that made me feel like the only person in the world.

“You’re staring,” I said nervously.

“I’m appreciating.”

My stomach flipped. “You clean up well, Jade Sink.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“It’s a warning.”

My eyebrows lifted. “A warning?”

His voice dropped lower. “If you keep looking like that… I’m going to have a very hard time behaving like a gentleman tonight.”

Heat rushed straight to my face.

“Tovi—”

“I’ve spent months watching you pretend you’re invisible,” he continued.

My heart skipped.

“And now you show up looking like this.”

His eyes moved over me again slowly. “You’re making things very difficult for me.”

The tension between us heated.

“You’re exaggerating,” I whispered.

“No,” he said simply.

Then he leaned closer. His voice brushing my ear.

“You smell incredible.”

My breath caught instantly. It wasn’t even a fancy perfume. Just vanilla lotion. But the way he said it made my pulse race.

“Come sit,” he said gently.

Dinner should have calmed me. Instead, every second made the tension worse. Tovi was charming.

Funny in a quiet, dry way that caught me off guard. He asked about my childhood. My university. My favorite books. And he listened. Really listened.

Like my answers mattered. But every time our hands brushed while reaching for a glass or plate… The air crackled. And his eyes darkened just slightly. By the time dessert arrived, my nerves were completely shot.

“You’re quiet,” he observed.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what you said earlier.”

His brow lifted slightly.

“Which part?”

“The part where you said I’ve been denying myself.”

His gaze softened.

“And?”

“And maybe you’re wrong.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“And maybe I’m not.”

Silence stretched between us. The music played softly behind us. City lights sparkled below the rooftop. My heart pounded.

“Tovi…” I said slowly.

“Yes?”

“Why me?”

The question had been sitting in my chest all night. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood and walked toward the railing overlooking the river.

I followed a moment later. The wind brushed softly against my bare arms. Then suddenly…His jacket settled over my shoulders. Warm. Comforting. I turned toward him.

“You’ll get cold,” he said.

“You’re not wearing one now.”

“I run warm.”

His voice lowered slightly. “Especially around you.”

My breath caught. We stood close. Very close. The city lights reflected in the river below us. But his attention never left my face.

“You want to know why you?” he asked quietly.

“Yes.”

He lifted his hand slowly. Not touching me yet. Just hovering near my cheek.

“Because you’re real.”

My chest tightened.

“Everyone else around me wants something,” he continued.

“Money. Influence. Power.”

His fingers finally brushed my cheek lightly.

“And then there’s you.”

My heart stumbled.

“You just wanted your spreadsheets.”

I laughed softly.

“That sounds very romantic.”

He smiled slightly. “It’s honest.”

His thumb brushed my jaw gently. Sending a shiver down my spine.

“And tonight,” he murmured, “I get to see the woman who’s been hiding behind those spreadsheets.”

My breath felt uneven now.

“Tovi…”

“Yes?”

“You’re very close.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Is that a problem?”

I opened my mouth. But the truth? I didn’t want him to move. Not even a little.

“No,” I whispered.

That single word changed everything. His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my neck. Gentle. But firm.

“Jade,” he murmured softly.

My heart pounded harder.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”

“Do what?”

But I already knew. His gaze dropped to my lips again. Then back to my eyes. Giving me time to pull away. I didn’t. His mouth brushed mine slowly. Soft. Testing. The first kiss wasn’t rushed. It was careful. Curious. But the moment my fingers curled into the front of his shirt… Something shifted. His other hand moved to my waist. Pulling me closer. The second kiss was deeper. Warmer.

My heart raced as the world seemed to blur around us. Tovi kissed like he did everything else. Confident. Focused. Intent. Like he had been waiting for this moment.

When we finally broke apart, my breathing was uneven. His forehead rested lightly against mine.

“You taste even better than I imagined,” he murmured.

My cheeks burned. “You imagined that?”

“Many times.”

My stomach flipped. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re shaking again.”

I laughed nervously. “Maybe you’re dangerous.”

His voice dropped. “Only if you want me to be.”

Silence stretched between us. His hands still resting at my waist. My fingers still curled into his shirt.

“Tovi…”

“Yes?”

“What happens now?”

His eyes searched mine.

“Now?”

He smiled slowly. “Now we stop pretending this isn’t happening.”

“And if I panic?”

His thumb brushed my cheek again. “Then we slow down.”

“And if I don’t?”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Then we see where this goes.”

My heart pounded in my chest. For once in my life… I wasn’t hiding. I wasn’t playing safe. I was standing on a rooftop with a billionaire who kissed me like he’d been waiting months to do it.

And for the first time… I wanted to take the risk. I slid my glasses out of my purse. Then paused. And put them right back. Tovi noticed.

A slow smile spread across his face.

“Keeping them off?”

“Tonight,” I said softly, “I’m not hiding.”

His gaze warmed.

“Good.”

Then he leaned closer again. And whispered something that made my heart race all over again.

“Because Jade… this is only the beginning.” He said. “Go home with me.”

My world melted.