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Francisco with me this weekend?”
    There was silence for a moment. “Why?”
    “Because you said you like the theater.”
    “No. I mean, why would you want to see it with me?”
    Then was a nother pause before Amber whispered, “I thought you hated me.”
    Amber’s words hit Brian like a blow. He swallowed and spoke gently. “I don’t hate you, Amber. Far from it.”
    He took a breath. “I know I wasn’t very friendly at the office. That I was the cause of the tension between us. There’s no excuse for it.”
    He paused. “I’m asking for a chance to start over with you, Amber. Will you let me?”
    Brian closed his eyes and waited for her answer.
    Finally she spoke. “All right. I’ll go with you this weekend.”
    ***
    The show had just ended and the lights had come back up.
    Amber turned to Brian with a smile. “That was amazing. Thank you.”
    The blissful expression on her face took Brian’s breath away. He’d never seen her like this. She looked radiant.
    Something heated inside of his chest.
    The smile faded from Amber’s face. She blinked up at him, no doubt wondering why he was staring at her. Why he hadn’t said anything.
    Brian forced himself to smile. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
    Brian pulled up to Amber’s house an hour later.
    He’d wanted to get her door, but it was already open by the time he reached it. She was gathering her purse. He offered her his hand as she looked up.
    She gave him a small smile and put her hand into his. Stepped out of the car.
    They walked up the walkway to her door.
    “Thank you. I had a really good time.”
    Brian smiled at her. “Surprised?”
    Amber looked down at the ground before meeting his eyes again. “To be honest, yes.”
    Brian blinked hard.  He hated the hurt look that had come back on her face. He took a breath. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Amber. Deeply sorry. I know it’s hard to believe, but that’s not the kind of person I am.”
    He reached out and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.
    Amber gasped. But she didn’t back away.
    Brian looked down at her lips. He’d been having a hard time resisting them all night.
    Enough of that.
    He leaned down to kiss her. Heard her suck in another breath as his lips met hers.
    ***
    Amber and Brian’s next date was the following Thursday night. He took her to a restaurant on the water in Tiburon.
    They stood at Amber’s door again at the end of the evening.
    “Katie would love to see you again, too. Will you come over for dinner tomorrow night?”
    Amber nodded.
    “Good,” Brian whispered. He leaned down to kiss her.
    Amber closed the door after Brian left.  She leaned against the door and blew out a breath.  Her heart was still beating an unsteady rhythm after Brian’s kiss. The man literally made her weak in the knees.
    She’d had another good time with Brian tonight.  A surprisingly good time.  He had asked her questions.  Listened attentively to her answers.  Amber smiled. She’d get to see him and Katie again in only a few short hours. She pushed away from the door and went to get ready for bed.
    A mber turned into the open gates of Brian’s property on Friday evening and drove down the stone driveway. A large, brown two-story house appeared before her.
    Belvedere was filled with exclusive homes, but this one sat atop a low cliff overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The view of the water was magnificent.
    As they had on her first two dates with Brian, nerves fluttered Amber’s stomach as she parked next to Brian’s Escalade and stepped out.
    She walked up the walkway. Rang the doorbell and smoothed her dress.
    Brian opened the door. Gave her a kiss on the lips as Katie came running down the hallway. “Amber!”
    Amber gave Katie a big hug and handed her the shopping bag she’d brought. “This is for you.”
    Katie had the box out of the bag a second later. “Princess Belle! Thanks, Amber!”
    Amber smiled. “If you already have that one, you can exchange