Date Shark

Date Shark Chapter One

Chapter 1

Surviving

Nerves tightened every muscle in Leila's body when she spotted Eli approaching the restaurant, even though she knew this wasn't a real date. Even if she harbored any fantasy of him actually liking her-which she didn't-seeing his stylish suit and old movie-style good looks were the first indication that he was way out of her league. Eli Walsh walked up to her, brisk but welcoming. His hand extended and Leila took it quickly. In her eagerness to get started, she gripped his hand firmly with both hands and shook it like her hand was having a seizure. Immediately she realized she was behaving like a desperate nut and dropped his hand. Her blush burned the inside of her cheeks so fiercely she was afraid it would seep to the surface and catch her skin on fire.

Eli chuckled at her antics. "Nervous?"

She wanted to say no, make up for her erratic greeting by sounding confident, but Eli told her to be as honest and natural as possible. "Yeah, a little." "Leila, relax. There's no pressure on you tonight. Just be yourself. If you don't, I won't be able to get the information I need." He said it so calmly. But why shouldn't he? He had done this dozens of times. It was his job, after all. Leila was paying him to be here. She was paying him a lot.

Eli smiled at her. For one tiny moment, she let herself notice how sweet the curve of his lips looked, the genuine warmth they held. Leila shook herself back to reality quickly.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Then let's go to dinner." He held his arm out for Leila to slip her arm through. She felt like Scarlett O'Hara as she took his arm, one hand on top of the other. They started toward the restaurant. Leila was so enamored by the short red carpet leading to the door of the upscale Dolcini restaurant that she failed to notice the incline. The front of her shoe snagged on the ground and pitched her forward. Eli kept her from landing on her face and continued walking. He was a million times smoother than she was, as she had just demonstrated.

A very complimentary maître d' named Pierce greeted them when they stepped into the foyer. He greeted Eli by name like they were old friends and announced that their table was ready and waiting. Leila wondered briefly if this guy knew what Eli did for a living. Did he have any clue that the women his favorite guest brought here were desperate, confused, and out of all other options? If he did, he didn't let on.

Eli pulled out Leila's chair when they reached the table. It was such an unexpected treat that Leila was immediately flustered. "Oh, Eli, please, you don't need to do that. I can get my own chair, really."

"It's my pleasure, Leila." He waited, but now she felt even more awkward than before.

"Really, I'm fine. Sit down. You don't have to be so polite, especially since this isn't..." Leila caught herself and glanced over at Pierce hoping he had missed her near slip. She had called Eli for help willingly, but admitting her faults to a stranger was mortifying. Leila sat down in her chair dejected. She didn't look up when Eli finally left her side and sat down.

A leather bound menu was set in front of her, but before she could bury herself in it Pierce spoke and drew her eyes up to him. "Your waiter tonight will be Tony. If you have any questions about the menu, please feel free to ask him. Also, our head chef has chosen several unique dishes for tonight that are not featured on the menu."