Sam cornered me by the bar. “What will it take to make him think you like him?”
My mouth dropped open. It wasn’t often I was shocked, but this was one of those times. “What do you mean?”
“My buddy, Tore, is fascinated by you. He doesn’t like bars, but he insisted we come back here after you waited on us last night.”
I glanced at the man currently sitting by himself across the room. I remembered him from the night before. His ears had turned pink when I’d put his beer in front of him. Sure, I’d bent down more than I had needed to, giving him a view of my cleavage, but that was my signature move. It usually earned me a bigger tip, not an adorable blush. His reaction had made me really look at him, and whoosh, was he hot. Nerdy in the right way, more polite than I was used to, with eyes that felt like a key slipping into my lock.
“What are you asking exactly?”
He shuffled closer, lowering his voice. “Five hundred dollars to flirt with him like you’re genuinely interested.”
I recoiled. “I’m not a prostitute.”
“Whoa, not saying that at all.” He chuckled softly. “I’m not asking you to do anything other than flirt.”
I’d been propositioned in all manner of wild ways over the years, but never like this. Flirting with Tore would be easy since he was exceedingly cute, and five hundred dollars was a hell of a lot of money for something I’d probably do anyway…
What was the harm?
I pushed down the flicker of guilt. That money wasn’t the reason I was going out with Tore. He intrigued me in a way that was new and exciting. My interest was real.
The tiniest voice in the back of my head warned this might come back to bite me.
But with Tore looking at me like I was the only person in the room, ignoring it was the easiest thing in the world.
Chapter Three
Bea
ThesecondIwalkedthrough the door, Benjamin plopped down in front of me and stared up with the most pitiful expression. I wasn’t falling for it. The guy was spoiled rotten—so much so, I swore I’d caught him bragging to his friends about his cushy life.
At least, that was how I interpreted his ruffs and snuffles.
I smoothed my hand over his massive head and bent down to kiss his damp, leathery nose. “Okay, Benji-bear, I hear you. The five extra minutes you had to wait for me were nothing short of torture. I’ll never, ever do it again.”
He woofed, low and rumbly, and pressed his face into my hand. My man wasn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch, but he more than made up for it in sweetness. As long as I kept the treats and walks coming, he had nothing but affection and goofy smiles for me.
Something I really needed after that surreal run-in with Tore. I hadn’t been able to get his face out of my head all day, but I was banking on a long walk with my dog to do the trick. After all, if Tore could forget me, I could do the same to him. No problem.
Benjamin had just enough patience for me to change out my sensible flats for my silver Pumas and throw a hoodie over my catering tee. Then we were out the door.
While he sniffed every surface in sight, I checked theCome on Roverapp for available yards nearby. No luck. The concept was cool—people renting out their fenced-in yards for dog owners to let their pups run free—but it was hit-or-miss around here. Not that Benjamin knew what he was missing. He was happy as a clam on his leash. Still, my good boy deserved to frolic in freedom.
We stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Our neighborhood sat on the edge of the arts district, always bustling with activity and people, just the way I liked it.
A guy on a bike share zipped up behind us, slowing as he passed. He turned his head to grin at me, and I already knew what was about to happen. If I’d had time to warn him, I would have. All I could do was watch the events play out in slow motion.
A car stopped in the crosswalk as the light changed, and Benjamin lunged forward, eager to keep moving. The biker, still looking at me instead of where he was going, swerved to avoid him.
Then, impact.
The bike collided with the side of the car, and the rider flipped over the handlebars, landing flat on his back.
I hurried over, crouching beside him. Head lolling toward me, he gave me a dazed smile.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m Christoph,” he said dreamily. “You’re really pretty.”
