Chapter 1 Blind Date

As Marcel Sterling stepped into the bustling cafe and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries filled his nostrils, he adjusted the strap of his worn leather bag slung over his chest while he looked at the different customers who were seated around tables made from fine wood and were sipping coffee as they spoke to their partners.

He sighed as he blamed himself for letting him allow his friends to force him to come to this place.

A former soldier who'd traded in his combat boots for scrubs, he'd found solace in the quieter, more predictable world of an obstetrics ward. But his work had caused long-lasting relationships to become a foreign concept to him. And that his friends, Leo and Peter, did not want. He wasn't one for blind dates, but his friends insisted that he needed someone outside the hospital-someone normal. Obviously that was impossible so they had set him up on this damn blind date.

He was beginning to get impatient while looking for this blind date when his eyes fell on a tall, slender woman that was seated next to a table close to the counter. She was on the phone, speaking in quiet but urgent tones, her posture stiff as though her conversation demanded every ounce of her attention. Something about her drew his gaze- it was her elegance...the poised way she held herself.

Not only that, her dress caught his attention.

White. It was an exact match to the color of outfit he had been told his blind date would wear.

His heart skipped a beat. Could this be her?

***

Anna Blackwood sat at a small corner table in the cafe, her fingers nervously drumming against the phone as her grandfather's voice echoed through the line.

"Anna, this is no longer a suggestion," her grandfather was saying. "The Blackwood name, our business...it's all at risk. And the only way to secure your future-and the future of the family-is to marry. Quickly. If you don't, I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands. And trust me, you don't want that."

Her grip tightened on the phone. It was the first time he'd made such threats. He had always been a man who believed in swift action, especially when it came to business, and he made no exceptions for her.

"I understand, Grandfather," she replied, forcing her voice to sound calm. Inside, she felt pressure mount in her chest.

"I'll figure it out, Grandfather. Don't worry," she added, even though she had no idea how.

Suddenly, the sound of the cafe door opening caught her attention. She looked up, her gaze drawn to a man stepping inside. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a black simple shirt and jeans trousers with a leather bag slung over his chest. He looked around the room, his eyes scanning the faces, as though searching for someone.

The man's gaze landed on her, and to her surprise, he smiled after some moments and walked straight toward her. It was the kind of smile that seemed genuine and warm ...and far too disarming.

"Hello, Isabella," he said and cleared his throat. "You look beautiful."

Anna froze in shock

***

Marcel had finally agreed that she had to be his blind date and as he approached her, was thanking his friends in his head because damn...she looked so lovely.

To his surprise, as he talked to her, her eyes widened in shock then became annoyed. Something in the sharp curve of her brow told him she wasn't pleased with the interruption.

She placed a hand on her phone, lowering it, but didn't speak immediately.

"I'm sorry," she finally replied, her words sounding clipped. "Do we know each other?"

He chuckled nervously as he tried to ease the tension that seemed to hang between them. "I'm Marcel. I'm here for the-uh, blind date."

A flash of surprise flickered in her gaze, but it was gone almost immediately and replaced with something far colder. "A blind date?" she repeated.

"Yes, I'm twenty-eight," he answered with a smile as he slid into a seat opposite her since she didn't offer one. "I used to be a soldier, but now I work as a gynecology nurse. Not much of a romantic, I guess... but you know, I try."

She stared at him for a moment, the edges of her lips twitching as she did so. Despite the coldness in her gaze, there was an air of curiosity about her. As if she found him interesting.

His smile grew even deeper. Being interesting was not an effect he had on a lot of ladies.

"Well, you've got the wrong person," she said, a short laugh escaping her lips. "I'm Anna Blackwood."

"Blackwood?" Marcel repeated, his confusion reflecting on his face.

Her sharp look made him realize that he had made a mistake and that he should know of the name instantly.

"I'm the heir to the Blackwood dynasty," she said as if the title was supposed to explain everything.

Marcel inclined his head as his fingers drummed against his bag.

The Blackwoods. He'd heard of them, of course. The wealthiest family in the country, with their fingers in everything from real estate to tech.

Christ. What had he just done?

He stood up immediately, his face reddening with embarrassment.

"God, I am so sorry" he said with a choked voice. "I... I guess I've made a mistake."

Anna's expression softened, but not by much. "Yes," she said flatly, "You have."

Becoming even more flustered, he mumbled, " I am so sorry to interrupt. You are wearing the same color of the dress of the person I am supposed to meet. Jeez."

Acute embarrassment stopped him from thinking of anything else to say. He turned and walked away, wishing that the grounds would open up and swallow him while cursing his friends at the same time.

***

Anna watched him go as an intriguing look appeared on her face.

For some reason, she liked his honesty and simplicity. Maybe it was because there weren't many like him where she came from.

"Hmm. Interesting conversation you had there."

She gasped as she turned to her phone and saw that the phone call had been on all this while.

"Grand-pa!" She said, exhaling in shock. "You have been listening all this while?"

"Uh-huh. You were unnecessarily impatient with the young man. I wonder why."

She rolled her eyes. She knew where he was driving at. "Oh Grandpa, please."

He continued anyway in a pondering tone. "And I wonder if there can be more from this interesting surprise."

At that, Anna could not say anymore because to her surprise, she too was wondering the same thing.