Dane handed over the beautifully packaged breakfast.
He had brought it straight from his estate.
The private chef's cooking was something Claire absolutely loved.
The last time she stayed at the Green family mansion, she had practically cleared her plate.
Remembering that, Dane specifically requested the chef whip something up for her.
He hadn't actually stayed at the main estate last night; he was at his own penthouse.
But going back to grab her breakfast meant enduring an interrogation from Baldrick. When the old man found out it was for Claire, he was absolutely thrilled.
He used to worry his grandson would die a bachelor, but now it seemed Dane had finally learned how to romance a woman.
"Is this from your chef?"
The elegant packaging definitely wasn't from a takeout joint. Claire took it, her face lighting up with joy.
Dane nodded. "Yeah, I brought it from home. Eat as much as you'd like."
"Just don't stuff yourself too full. We're heading out for lunch."
Claire hadn't realized Dane had planned an actual lunch date.
She assumed they were just going to crash at the Cole family's place.
Her expression gave away exactly what she was thinking.
Dane smoothly explained, "Eating at the Coles' might feel a bit awkward for you, so I figured a restaurant would be better."
"You don't live in Cabinda full-time, so you probably don't know the local food scene. There are actually some phenomenal spots around here."
What Dane didn't mention was that he had ordered Miles to pull an all-nighter compiling a list of top-tier restaurants.
He then forced the secretary and his girlfriend to go taste-test the top contenders. Only the ones that passed the taste test made it onto an elaborate spreadsheet. Dane planned to take Claire to every spot that scored four stars or higher. Naturally, he let Miles expense the entire tasting tour on the company dime. Dane might not be a seasoned romantic, but he was a master at executing a meticulous strategy.
The internet held limitless resources for dating advice.
In his eyes, Claire was his rightful fiancée.
And figuring out how to pamper his future wife was a skill he fully intended to
master.
"Alright, let's try this restaurant of yours," Claire agreed.
She really wasn't familiar with Cabinda at all.
If Dane's recommendation was good, it definitely beat making polite conversation over a meal with the Cole family
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Crashing someone's house for lunch on the very first visit would have felt way too invasive anyway.
Following the navigation sent by his secretary, Dane pulled up to the location.
The establishment was completely decked out in a rugged, Western-outlaw theme.
The moment they stepped inside, two waitresses wearing bandanas over their faces dipped into a theatrical curtsy.
"Howdy, partners! Right this way."
Claire glanced at the two hostesses.
Their outfits were undeniably striking.
They looked like they were cosplaying characters straight out of a red-dead action game.
Except their clothes were incredibly skimpy.
It was already late October; the weather called for thick sweaters and trench coats.
Yet they were standing in mini-skirts. Even though the restaurant was
heated standing by the draft
entrance had to be misery
It just proved that no job in the world was ever truly easy.
If it were November with a freezing drizzle, they'd be shivering uncontrollably.
Claire shot Dane a highly pointed look.
Dane kept a completely straight face, though internally he was already planning to slash Miles's bonus in half.
Out of all the high-end spots, why the hell did he pick a place with saloon girls?
The interior was fully committed to the outlaw vibe, designed to look exactly like a rowdy frontier tavern.
The decor was actually quite impressive, and even the menu items were named after infamous gunslingers.
They took a window seat. The main hall featured a small stage, and each table had a rustic menu detailing the live performances.
Up on stage, a gorgeous woman in a dazzling dress was belting out a classic, heartbreaking country ballad.
Claire wasn't a massive fan of country music, but it was still an entertaining vibe.
Dane couldn't have cared less; he didn't even glance at the stage.
He ordered several of the tavern's signature BBQ dishes.
The food tasted decent enough, but it was far from mind-blowing.