Love Rents A Room
Chapter 42: The First Date

Chapter 42: The First Date

Joanne’s car rolled smoothly through the towering iron gates of the Meyer mansion, the mechanical hum of the gate opening making her wonder—should she get one for her farm too? Maybe even hire security?

Would that be too much?

Her thoughts were cut short as she spotted Charlotte standing on the porch, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her energy practically radiating off her. The moment she saw Joanne’s car, the girl skipped the stairs entirely, leaping down in excitement.

A small smile tugged at Joanne’s lips.

Charlotte was dressed in her usual—shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers. Typical firecracker.

"You’re here!" Charlotte beamed, bouncing in front of the car.

Joanne raised an amused brow. "Did you think I wasn’t going to pick you up?"

Charlotte puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms. "No..." she drawled, then quickly added, "But I didn’t think you’d be here this fast."

Joanne chuckled as the little girl hopped into the passenger seat and buckled in.

"Let’s go! Let’s go!" Charlotte wiggled in excitement.

Joanne hesitated, glancing toward the house. "Shouldn’t we tell your dad first?"

Charlotte rolled down the window without hesitation.

"DAD! I’M OUT WITH JOANNE!" she hollered.

Then she turned back with an innocent smile. "There. Now we can leave."

Joanne shook her head, amused, but before she could respond, she caught sight of Jonathan stepping onto the porch. He was dressed and looked... expectant. The housekeeper beside him tensed slightly, as if contemplating whether to intervene.

Joanne gave the older woman a polite wave before reversing the car out of the driveway.

Meanwhile, Jonathan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he watched them drive off.

"I should’ve been clearer..." he muttered under his breath.

The housekeeper, watching his deflated expression, hesitated. "Sir, should I—"

"No," Jonathan cut her off gently, exhaling another sigh. "It’s fine."

But the slight clench of his jaw said otherwise.

He had been looking forward to spending the day with his daughter—and Joanne.

Too bad they set off without him.

Joanne’s car sped down the highway, the city skyline stretching out before them. She had decided to take Charlotte to the city for a shopping spree—not just for Charlotte, but for herself as well. Maybe it was time she started wearing cute dresses instead of the same old practical outfits.

The entire morning had been a whirlwind of ice cream, boutique stores, and playful banter. Joanne had lost count of how many dresses she had tried on, with Charlotte standing beside her, offering brutally honest critiques.

"That one makes you look like a grandma," Charlotte had deadpanned at one point, arms crossed.

Joanne had burst out laughing, twirling in front of the mirror. "And this one?"

Charlotte tilted her head, scrutinizing. "Better. But you should get the green one. It makes your eyes pop."

For a girl who hated wearing dresses, Charlotte had impeccable taste.

But unlike Joanne, who had filled her bags with dresses, shoes, and accessories, Charlotte had been much more reserved. She only picked out two dresses and a single pair of shoes, despite Joanne insisting she could get more.

"You sure you don’t want that pink one? Or the blue one?"

Charlotte shook her head firmly. "Nope. I don’t need them."

Joanne sighed dramatically. "You’re way too responsible for a kid."

Charlotte grinned. "I just like seeing you buy new things."

At checkout, the cashier smiled at them. "You must love your little sister a lot."

Joanne chuckled, glancing at Charlotte, who was skipping happily ahead. "Yeah, I love that firecracker."

But something about that statement lingered.

If Charlotte were my real daughter, I’d take that as a compliment...

The thought left a strange feeling in Joanne’s chest.

Am I even ready to be a mother to this sweet girl?

It wasn’t a question she was prepared to answer.

—

By the time they stepped out of the last store, the sky had already darkened into twilight. Joanne checked the time and nearly groaned. How did the entire day slip by like this?

Some responsible adult I am.

Feeling guilty, she immediately called Jonathan to apologize. To her relief, he took it well.

"It’s alright," he said over the phone. "I knew she was safe with you."

His trust in her was reassuring, yet it made her feel even worse for completely forgetting about their dinner—their first date.

She only remembered it as she pulled into the Meyer residence.

Joanne flipped open her compact mirror, staring at her reflection in dismay. Her makeup was smudged, her hair slightly disheveled from running around all day. And she was still wearing a sundress—hardly ideal for a dinner date.

This has to be the worst first date in history.

By the time she parked, Charlotte had already dozed off in the passenger seat, worn out from all the excitement. Jonathan appeared at the door just as Joanne stepped out. Without a word, he leaned in and carefully scooped his daughter into his arms, carrying her inside.

Joanne followed him into the house, hesitating. "Jonathan, I... I think we should postpone our dinner. I look like a mess."

Jonathan turned to her with a calm smile. "You spent the day making my daughter happy. There’s nothing to apologize for." He gestured toward the dining table, where a beautifully set dinner was already waiting. "Besides, I already prepared everything. We can have dinner here."

Joanne blinked. He’s really not upset?

She had expected some disappointment, but Jonathan was as composed as ever. It was... comforting, in a way.

So this is what dating an older man is like. No drama, no unnecessary tension—just understanding.

She excused herself to freshen up quickly, washing the exhaustion off her face before sitting across from him at the table.

Dinner was warm, easygoing. But as much as Joanne tried to focus on Jonathan, the conversation kept drifting back to Charlotte.

She recounted every little moment from their day—the ice cream flavors they tried, the way Charlotte had stubbornly refused to buy more dresses, the ridiculous faces they made in the store mirrors.

Jonathan listened, a small smile playing on his lips. He let her talk, never once interrupting.

But something nagged at him.

"You’re good with Charlotte," he said finally. His voice was gentle, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes.

Joanne, still caught up in her excitement, simply smiled. "She’s a great kid."

Jonathan’s gaze didn’t waver. Pure love. That’s what he saw in her face when she spoke about his daughter.

It was rare—most women who tried to get close to him had ulterior motives. They saw his wealth, his influence. Some even used Charlotte as a way to endear themselves to him barely putting up with her wild behaviours.

But Joanne? She wasn’t even trying.

And that...

That wasn’t right.

Shouldn’t she be interested in him? Shouldn’t she show even a hint of romantic desire toward the man she was on a date with?

Instead, it felt like she was far more invested in Charlotte than in him.

A troubling thought crept into his mind.

Does she even like me that way?