Date Swap

Christine walked into the fancy restaurant with her heart beating as fast as someone who had just run two miles. What was she supposed to say to Alex Pencraft? How would she even introduce herself? Would she be able to recognize him? Yes, Ruth had shown her a dozen pictures of the young handsome billionaire but she still couldn't trust her brain to remember the face.

Her dark eyes searched the restaurant as if scanning a document. There were just a few people seated around the air-conditioned room. Soft music was playing in the background and the lights bounced around in different tones adding to the ambiance of the place.

But Christine couldn't bring herself to enjoy it. The dress Ruth had forced her to wear was too short and the heels were already killing her as she stood by the corner trying to find her date.

"Excuse me miss," someone said behind her and she jumped in fear.

It was simply one of the waiters. Christine held her heart and took a deep breath to calm herself from the panic attack she almost had.

"I am sorry ma'am I didn't mean to startle you," the waiter apologized.

Christine planned on ignoring the man but when he didn't move, she said a subtle, "It's okay."

"Are you waiting for someone?" The man asked.

Christine eyed his white shirt and blue trousers thoroughly before moving her thick-lashed eyes to his shiny brown shoes. She thought of ignoring him again but on second thoughts, she figured he could indeed help her.

"Actually I am meeting someone. He should already be here but I haven't seen him. Maybe he had reserved a table somewhere..." She trailed off as she waited for the waiter to respond.

"Oh, I understand ma'am. Do you perhaps know his name?"

"Alex Pencraft," she said in one breath.

The waiter's face squeezed into a small frown as he thought hard and then he snapped his fingers as if a light bulb of knowledge had just been turned on in his brain.

"Yes, he is here. Please come with me," He said and started walking to a different section of the restaurant —one Christine hadn't noticed.

They got to a different section from where Christine had been standing and the man stopped. The area was darker at the entrance but a blue light brightened the seating area a few feet away from them. The waiter pointed at a far table in the corner, "he is waiting ma'am. Do have a wonderful evening," He said and walked away.

Christine's heart ran to her knees as she started walking towards him. The question that had been bugging her returned. What if he embarrassed her and called her a fraud? Was it normal to stand in for your friend on her first date?

Alex Pencraft sat in the restaurant special section and waited for the only woman who had blown his mind away for the first time in a long while —Ruth Davies. He wasn't a womanizer. Once he fell for someone he fell really hard and he stayed loyal. He wanted to start something with Ruth and he wanted it to be long-lasting.

As he watched the blue light dance around in the restaurant while nursing his wine, he felt the air shift and he dropped the glass. This was the same way he had felt that first night when he saw Ruth at the club. She had a way of controlling the atmosphere when she was around. He turned his head and true to his assumption, she was walking towards him. His heart pumped blood faster as he anticipated what she would look like tonight. The side of the restaurant where she had walked in from was dark so he could only make out her curves as they swayed towards him.

As she got closer, he got up to pull the chair for her but as her face came into the light, his brows joined together in surprise —it wasn't Ruth Davies.

"Hi! I am Christine. Ruth's friend," Christine said with her heart now in her throat as she got close enough to recognize those captivating gray eyes.

The frown on his face deepened at her introduction, "did something happen to her?" He asked in a calm voice despite the torrent in his head. "Please seat," He said helping Christine to the seat he had pulled for Ruth.

His actions made Christine's insides curl. She shouldn't be doing this. She shouldn't be playing games with such a gentleman.

"Thank you," Christine whispered as she clutched her purse.

Alex walked to the other side of the table and resumed his seat. "I am sorry. Your news caught me a bit by surprise. I am Alex Pencraft. Nice to meet you," He said as he stretched out his hands to her.

Christine hesitated for a few seconds before she placed her small hand into his. As their hands came into contact, they both experienced a shiver of current and Alex pulled his brows together again. He couldn't understand why he was having such a reaction to her —a stranger he had just met.

"What about Ruth? She told me she will be here," Alex said as he briskly pulled his hand away from the shake.

"She was supposed to... But her mother collapsed just a few minutes ago and Ruth had to stay with her," Christine said out of panic. She couldn't think of a better lie that could work at that moment except for the one she had just spilled.

"Where are they at the moment?" Alex asked Christine and her heart skipped at least four beats.

"They are... In the house... The nurse and doctor come around to treat her... at home," she structured as she clamped hands became sweaty.

"That must be serious. Will it be fine if we go check on them right away?" Alex asked and Christine's eyes widened in fear.

If took Alex to the Davies mansion, she would ruin her friend and herself. She had to think of something and fast...

"Actually, that won't be necessary. Mrs. Davies is very particular about her image. She wouldn't want to meet you for the first time without looking her best, " Christine rushed out. This much was true. Rhoda Davies would kill her if she brought such an important personality home without a former warning to her to go to the spa.

"Oh, I understand," Alex said thoughtfully.

"Yeah... That's why Ruth sent me here. She is really sorry and won't want you to cancel the plan. You had talked about it all week. It would have been awfully wrong," Christine explained.

"It's fine. She could have just reached out still. I would have understood. It is an emergency," Alex said relaxing into his chair as he took a second to observe the beauty in front of him. If she had introduced herself as Ruth's sister, he might have just believed her for they had a lot of similar traits in their physical appearances.

An awkward silence filled the table as Alex got lost in his assessment of Christine while she thought she had done a good enough job and should leave.

She got up and Alex frowned, "I am sorry. I should go, " she said and was about to turn around but Alex was faster. He got up and held her hand back.

Once again, there was an electric wave coursing through them where their hands touched. Alex pulled back and was the first to regain control of himself.

"You are here now, why not stay and we could have a drink together," he said.