Invited to his table: instalove at the Parkslope Hotel

She was stood up. He couldn’t look away. One unexpected dinner could change everything…

Julie lives for her work in the research lab, and doesn’t allow herself to be distracted by dating. And when she finally agrees to a blind date, the guy doesn’t even show up. Alone in a fancy restaurant, all dressed up, Julie is about to swear off the idea of romance for good.

At the same restaurant, Mark is on one of his visits to the small university town where he started his first company. Now, many million dollars later, work is still his priority. Love has never been part of his plan, but when he sees the beautiful woman sitting alone, something shifts. He can’t let her slip away.

Can Julie let her guard down and trust that the heat between her and the handsome, charming millionaire could be the start of something real? What starts as a chance meeting in a legendary dining room turns into a night of surprising connection, heat, and the first spark of something real.

This is a steamy, small town stranger-to-lover short story romance, perfect for an hour of spicy escapism!