Fixed Up by Maddie Jane

you heard me. Yes or no?’ Stop pissing about, Harper. I know you know I really like you.
    Harper looked at him. ‘Yes, but it’s not a date. It’s my treat—as a thank you because you helped me out today.’
    He was tempted to tell her she was annoying and difficult and that she didn’t deserve him. But he didn’t. You’re a prize idiot. She doesn’t give a shit about you as anything more than a friend.
    Luke pulled himself away. ‘I’ll head home to shower and pick you up at seven-ish?’
    Harper nodded. ‘Or I could pick you up.’
    â€˜No. I’ll drive. See you at seven.’ He hoisted his gear up and headed out to the truck, too afraid to look back in case she changed her mind. She might think it was on her terms, that it wasn’t a date and that she was paying, but he knew differently.
    To Luke it was the chance he’d been waiting for. The night out with her he’d wanted since the day they met, and he wasn’t going to let Harper stand in the way of a great date with Harper.
    When he returned at seven-o-one to pick her up, she was waiting for him. Dressed in tight jeans and a silky top, she sat on the top step of her front porch, pretty much where he’d left her earlier. Beside her sat a glass of white wine, a discarded paperback and a pair of sandals. It seemed promising she was painting her toenails what could only be described as harlot red. Definitely a positive sign.
    â€˜Ready to go?’ he said, unsure of correct greeting etiquette for date slash non-date situations. Friendly cheek kiss, handshake, fist bump?
    â€˜Just need to give my toes a couple of minutes to dry. Would you like a wine?’
    â€˜No thanks.’ Though the thought of a quick glass of Dutch courage held a certain appeal. Harper looked stunning. Dark shiny hair hung loose, framing her face and making her brown eyes appear larger than ever. Her lips were glossy and her skin glowed. His hands itched to touch her. But the window of opportunity for the casual ‘hello’ kiss had already slammed shut.
    Luke waited while she put her belongings inside and locked the front door. A strappy purse appeared from somewhere and she tossed it over her shoulder. Carefully she edged the freshly-painted toes into delicate sandals and they walked towards his car, a sleek black BMW.
    â€˜No truck?’ Harper sounded surprised.
    â€˜Nope. It’s a gas guzzler. Doing my bit for the environment with this baby.’ He reached to open the car door for her, but she beat him to it, pulling the door handle and sliding into the vehicle. By the time he walked round to the driver’s seat and climbed in, Harper had her seatbelt on and was all settled.
    â€˜You can’t help it, can you,’ she said.
    â€˜Help what?’
    â€˜Doing things for people. Opening doors, running errands, chasing around to make sure everyone’s happy.’
    â€˜Not everyone, no.’ But Luke remembered the dinner reservations he’d booked and suddenly wished he hadn’t. It’d seemed a good idea at the time to book them into his friend Jay’s restaurant. He was Jay’s biggest supporter. Literally. Luke had stumped up the cash for Jay to open the restaurant, always convinced his friend was an extremely talented chef who deserved his own place. He usually loved taking people to Jay’s.
    Did he have time to tell Jay and the staff to pretend they’d never seen him before? Luke experienced a strange thud in his stomach as he turned the key in the ignition. Harper had him second guessing himself as bad as a girl. He took a deep breath, checked his side mirrors and pulled out into the tree-lined street, which was still scattered with branches after the storm.
    Luke had always thought Jay’s restaurant was the perfect destination for a romantic dinner. Classy without being formal or too stuffy, it appealed to all the senses. Fantastic scents