Single Dad Fixed Female CEO’s Computer And Accidentally Saw Her Photo. She Asked “Am I Pretty?

A First Date for Three

“I have a daughter,” he said, as if she didn’t already know. “My schedule is complicated”.

“I understand,” Eliza replied. “We could make it an early dinner or lunch if that’s easier”.

James found himself smiling despite his reservations. “Dinner would be fine, but nothing fancy. I don’t own a suit that isn’t at least 5 years old”.

“No suits required,” she promised. “Tomorrow at 7?”.

“Make it 6,” James countered, thinking of Sophie’s bedtime routine. “And I’ll need to bring my daughter. My regular sitter isn’t available”.

This wasn’t strictly true; he hadn’t asked his sitter yet. But he wanted to see how Eliza would react.

There was only the briefest hesitation before she said, “Of course. I look forward to meeting her”.

After hanging up, James stared at his phone, wondering what he’d just gotten himself into. Then he called his sister Karen, who had been his most reliable babysitter since Melissa left.

“Hey, any chance you can watch Sophie tomorrow night?” he asked when she answered. “Hot date?” Karen teased.

“Something like that,” James admitted. Karen’s tone changed immediately: “Really? With who? It’s been ages since you’ve been on a date”.

“It’s probably nothing,” James hedged. “Just dinner”. “With who?” Karen pressed.

James sighed, “A client, sort of. It’s complicated”. “The best ones always are,” Karen said sagely.

“And no, I can’t watch Sophie tomorrow. I have plans with Mark”. “That’s fine,” James said quickly. “She can come with me”.

“You’re taking your daughter on a first date, James?”. “No, it’s not really a date,” James insisted, though he wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince.

“And anyway, if this woman can’t handle the fact that Sophie is part of the package, better to know now”. Karen was quiet for a moment: “You really like her, don’t you?”.

James thought about Eliza’s sad smile and the way she’d looked at him when she’d asked that impossible question. “I don’t know her well enough to like her yet, but I’m curious”.

“Well, good luck,” Karen said. “And call me immediately afterward with all the details”.

The next evening, James found himself standing in front of his closet. He was trying to decide what to wear to a not-fancy dinner with a woman who probably owned clothes that cost more than his car.

“Dad, are you having a fashion crisis?” Sophie asked from his doorway, already dressed in her favorite purple dress and leggings. “Because you’ve been staring at those shirts for like 10 minutes”.

James laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Just trying to look nice for our dinner out”.

Sophie flopped onto his bed. “Is this lady your girlfriend?”.

“No,” James said firmly. “She’s a client who’s become a friend”.

Sophie looked skeptical: “Is she nice?”. “I think so,” James said honestly.

“But that’s part of why we’re having dinner—to find out more about each other”. Sophie nodded sagely: “You should wear the blue shirt. Mom always said it matched your eyes”.

James hesitated. Sophie rarely mentioned Melissa these days, and when she did, it was usually with a mixture of anger and hurt that broke his heart.

But there was no bitterness in her voice now, just the matter-of-fact observation of a child. “The blue shirt it is,” he said, pulling it from the hanger.

They arrived at the restaurant, a mid-range Italian place James had suggested, a few minutes early. James had half-expected Eliza to change the venue to somewhere more upscale, but she’d agreed to his choice without comment.

“Is she here yet?” Sophie asked, peering around the restaurant. “I don’t think so,” James said, checking his watch. “We’re a little early”.

But as they were being led to their table, James spotted Eliza already seated. She looked remarkably different from either the tired executive or the polished CEO he’d met before.

Her hair was down, falling in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore a simple green dress that made her eyes seem even more striking. She stood as they approached, her smile warm but nervous.

“James”. “Hello, Eliza,” he nodded, suddenly feeling awkward. “This is my daughter, Sophie”.

Sophie, never shy, stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you. Are you really a CEO? Dad says you run a whole company”.

Eliza shook Sophie’s hand solemnly.