He laughs, and I feel better knowing that I’m putting the poor guy out of his misery by doing so. We make our way to the booth and take the seats opposite one another. I don’t know exactly what I had planned once I got here, but it feels like I have a bird’s-eye view of us sitting here, and even though it’s innocent on my part, it feels wrong. So I don’t waste any time and get down to business.
“Look, Jeff, is it?” He nods, so I continue. “You seem like a really nice guy, but I think our friend got a bit ahead of herself, and—”
“Oh, thank God.” He releases a deep breath. “I’ve been dreading this since the moment I agreed to Denise’s plan. That woman can be very convincing. And kinda scary.” He laughs. “I just got out of a long-term relationship, and if I’m being completely honest, I don’t want things to be over between us. So I’m kind of stuck in the place where I’m respecting her space while still wanting her back desperately.”
I develop instant heart eyes for the man in front of me. Platonically, of course. There is nothing my rom-com-loving heart loves more than a man fighting to get his lover back.
And some good groveling. That never hurts either.
It seems like this proposed date has now turned into operation Get Jeff’s Girl Back, and I have more than enough romance novels to recommend for this exact task.
“Okay, Jeff. Hear me out. I think I might be able to help. My only question to you is, how fast can you read?”
thirty-two
I toss my keysto the starstruck valet and don’t break my stride as I make my way toward the heavily secured doors. Eye contact is all it takes for the velvet rope to be lifted and for large men to scramble to open the doors. This is one of those moments where having a recognizable face comes in handy.
I make my way through the hordes of people. Being a head taller than most makes it easy for me to spot Denise and Luisa. I make it to their table in four long strides. I ignore the look of shock on the faces of two women I don’t recognize as I scan the table, where there’s no sign of Isabella.
I lean into one of the vacant seats, keeping my voice low as I look at Denise. “Where?”
More words aren’t necessary. She knows exactly why I’m here and who I’m looking for.
She nods at a booth where a guy wearing a navy dress shirt is sitting and typing desperately on his phone. “She just got up touse the bathroom, but she’s sitting over there. Listen, Mateo. I had—”
I stop a passing waiter and hand him my Black Amex. “Cover the tab for this table and that booth over there. Once you’re done, leave my card with her.” I nod at Denise. “Before you close out, give yourself a 50 percent tip. You got all that?” The waiter nods rapidly and runs off toward the bar.
“Mateo,” Luisa starts.
“Torres is on his way. I’m offering up his services to drive you ladies home safely.” I make brief eye contact with the women I don’t know. “Hope you don’t judge me for the man I might become in the next thirty seconds. See you all at a game soon. Have a good night.” My media training finished the rest of that sentence for me, because my eyes were already scanning the room for the bathrooms.
My hands itch with the need to touch her, to know that she’s safe and that she’s within reach.
I find the dimly lit hall to the bathroom right as she’s walking out.
She might as well be on a damn runway with the way she’s strutting in that red dress. It’s cut low enough to give the hint of cleavage before it cuts short by her mid-thigh, molding to her every curve.
Heads turn as she passes, men attempting to get a peek at the figure I know all too well.
She’s about to turn off toward the booth when I notice a dark and quiet alcove and pull her by the wrist.
She gasps as she loses her footing slightly, landing between the wall and my chest. I close in around her, making sure that if someone passes by, they can’t see her.
When her eyes finally reach mine, her jaw drops slightly, and I can see the questions floating in her gaze. I don’t give her a minute to catch her breath.
Why should I? I haven’t since the moment I laid eyes on her all those months ago.
“This is how it’s going to go, Isabella. So listenverycarefully.”
Her eyes widen at my tone, and she bites her bottom lip.
My large hand cradles her chin as my thumb releases the plump lip.
“Option one: you tell me to get lost and I leave.” I lean in close enough for my lips to fan faintly over hers as I speak. “But let me warn you. If you’re gonna tell me to fuck off, do it properly and make it convincing.” Her eyes flare with heat as I swipe my thumb over her bottom lip, then slowly pop it into my mouth.
Cherry fucking ChapStick.
“Option two: you keep your manners for the time being, walk over to the man I hope has been a gentleman all night, and bid him farewell. I will be waiting with my car outside the private entrance to take you home. If you choose option two and take more than five minutes, I will walk back in here and show you that I have no problem disregarding my manners when it comes to you. I’ll haul your ass over my shoulder and out of here. Understood?”
