“Zane,” Hadley said, handing over the menu. “I picked some dishes for us. Take a look and see what you think.”

“Thanks.” Zane accepted it, giving the options a quick scan. “Everything looks delicious. I’ll go with these,” he said, making his choice.

“Would you mind picking out a red wine for us?” Hadley asked with a smile.

Zane nodded, a cheerful smile playing at his lips. “Absolutely.”

Before long, the dishes began arriving, each one looking better than the last. Twice during dinner, Zane’s phone started buzzing, but he let the calls go unanswered.

Hadley noticed and spoke up, her tone understanding. “If it’s something urgent, don’t worry about me. You can always step outside to take the call.”

“It’s nothing important. Just telemarketers trying their luck again.” Zane dismissed the concern with a small shake of his head.

“Alright,” she replied with a warm smile.

Hadley’s mind lingered on it, though. Telemarketers usually didn’t call in quick succession, and something in Zane’s eyes told her he might be hiding stress. She hardly ever saw him act this way before.

After those two calls, the phone stayed silent. They finished the rest of their meal undisturbed.

Conversation flowed easily, and Zane’s mix of kindness and respect for boundaries helped Hadley feel completely comfortable.

When dinner ended and Hadley asked for their bill, the server approached her with a polite announcement. “Miss Pearson, Mr. Hayes has already settled the bill.”

“What do you mean?” Hadley shot Zane a playful glare. “We agreed that I’d pay tonight! When did you even manage that?”

A soft laugh escaped Zane, but he offered no details. He had already settled the bill while slipping away for a bathroom break. He grinned and said, “How about you get the next one? I promise you’ll have a fair shot.”

“You never make this easy, do you?” A sigh left Hadley’s lips.

? ? .

For a brief moment, Hadley remembered a similar situation. Her younger brother, Brady, had once pulled the same stunt while trying to impress Colleen.

Was Zane…?

Before she could sort out her thoughts, a sudden interruption broke through.

“Zane?” A sharp female voice called out. “Fancy meeting you here tonight.”

Her eyes then flicked over to Hadley, her bright smile edged with a hint of challenge. “And who’s this? Is she your new girlfriend?”

Hadley blinked in surprise when she heard the woman’s words. She glanced at Zane, her face full of uncertainty. Who could that woman possibly be?

Zane, usually the picture of calm, had a look on his face she hadn’t seen before. Anger simmered beneath the surface, and every feature seemed locked in place with frustration. Still, he kept his composure. He refused to acknowledge the woman at all and simply said to Hadley, “Let’s go.”

Zane acted as if she hadn’t said a word or even been there.

Hadley lingered for a second, thrown off by the tension. “All right,” she murmured.

“Really, Zane?” From behind, the woman’s voice rang out, sharp and mocking. Her laugh sounded bitter as she called after him, “Oh, this is rich… Did you honestly have to go that far? I only asked a question. If she means so much to you, why not keep her hidden? What’s the point in bringing her out?”

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