My pulse rushed a little. The photo hadn’t lied — he wabs attractive in that tidy, business-casual way, and he carried himself with confidence.
What I hadn’t predicted was the bouquet of roses in his hand.
Not cheap grocery store flowers, but an actual professional arrangement connected with a ribbon.
“You must be Kelly,” he said. “These are for you.”
“Wow, thank you,” I replied. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Figured I’d begin the night off right,” he said.
But that wasn’t all.
He extended into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small gift box tied with a cyan bow.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Just a little something. Open it,” he supported.
Inside was a sleek silver keychain with the letter “K” engraved on it. It was graceful and individualised, something that demanded thought.
“Something just for you,” he said. “I asked Mia what you might like.”
I was honestly impressed. Flowers and a thoughtful gift on a first date? This man was clearly making a statement. Either he was interested, or he was the king of first impressions.
“This is really nice of you,” I said. “Thank you.”Eric continued his gentlemanly routine without missing a beat. He opened the door, pulled out my chair, and kept steady eye contact throughout our conversation.
“So what made you agree to this setup?” he asked after we’d ordered our meals.
“Mia can be very persuasive,” I laughed. “Plus, she and Chris both vouched for you, which rarely happens.”
“They’re a great couple,” he nodded.
“Chris and I go way back to college. He’s always been a stand-up guy.”
The conversation poured naturally from there.
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