Only Marius King could irritate and charm a person all in one text message.
The kitchen fixes Rob’s salmon, so after waiting for only a couple minutes, the two of us can finally enjoy our meals. I’m thrilled when he stops talking as he eats, giving me a reprieve from his boring conversation and rude complaints about the server.
I wait for the right moment just before he’s finished to let out a tiny groan that gets his attention. Looking concerned, he asks, “Are you okay, Eden?”
Grimacing like I’m in agony, I lean forward and croak out, “I’m not sure. I don’t feel well.”
Rob from IT is a clueless boob, but he can see I’m not doing well by the fake look of pain on my face. “Oh, I bet it’s something that requires sodium bicarbonate. I have some at my apartment, if you’d like me to give you a dose.”
The last thing I want is this guy to give me a dose of anything, so I shake my head and gently groan again. “I think I just need to go home. I’m so sorry, Rob, but I’ll have to cut our date short. I hope you understand.”
His eyes get big as he nods. “Oh, I definitely understand. If we had time, I could tell you about the week I spent with an upset stomach. I almost landed in the hospital because of that. Choking and upset stomach are definitely my bugaboos. I’ll get the server to give us our check right now.”
It’s hard not to burst out laughing as he’s talking, but I need to keep this sick act up for just a little while longer. Then I’ll be free.
Although Rob is a terrible bore and possibly the least sexy man I’ve ever had dinner with, on top of being rude to service people, he surprises me by getting and paying the check in a matter of minutes so we can go. I keep up my sick routine all the way to my parents’ house, and when he puts the car in park, I get the feeling even being ill isn’t going to let me escape a good night kiss.
“I had a lovely time. I hope you did too, although I know being sick can make you feel like you don’t want to think of this as a lovely time.”
I try to smile, but I’m worried if I make it too good, he’ll think I’m okay, so I nod and reach for the door. “I’m so sorry, Rob, but I think things are worse now. I hope you can forgive me.”
He thankfully doesn’t try to kiss me when I quickly open the car door. “Can I see you again?”
Clearly, I need to step up my acting skills. Bending over like I’m in real pain, I look into the car at him and groan. “Oh, you have my number. I wish I could talk more, but I have to go. Good night.”
I hurry into the house and slam the door behind me, relieved this night with Rob is over. Now the second half of my night begins.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Eden
“Marius King!You come out here right now,” I bark when I step out of the elevator into our penthouse apartment.
He walks out of the kitchen wearing nothing but a pair of black basketball shorts. “Was your date awful, dear?” he asks with a chuckle.
I glare at him for a few seconds before walking past him on my way to our bedroom. “Well, my date was rude to the waiter, and you thought it was a good idea to crash the whole show. Awful doesn’t cover it.”
Behind me, Marius laughs. “Rude to the waiter? Seriously? Where does Ava find these guys? I think I’ll have to tell my brother to fire that son of a bitch. Being rude to wait staff is so fucking…well, rude.”
Spinning around, I stop and shake my head as I look at the man I love with utter astonishment. “And you showing up wasn’t rude?”
That gets me one of his trademark smiles that never fail to remind me of a pirate. “That wasn’t rude, and if it was, it wasonly rude to you. He was rude to a perfect stranger just trying to do his job. Big difference. I ordered in food. You hungry?”
“It’s been a hell of a night, Marius. I lied through my teeth to Rob from IT because I can’t tell my best friend I don’t need to be set up with any more guys because I already have one I’m normally perfectly happy with, although at this moment I’m not sure about that. I had to fake being sick so I could end the date early, which I guess is more lying. You know what? I’m tired of lying. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
He walks over and wraps his arms around me in a hug I had no idea I needed so much. “Aww, let Marius take care of everything.”
I look up at him and sigh. “You’re part of the problem, you know.”
“I know, but you love me.”
This man is going to drive me nuts. “And somehow that makes it okay? I thought I was going to throw up when you were standing at the table with us. I had no idea what you might say from one word to the next.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “At least I brought a little excitement to what sounds like a pretty terrible time.”
I sigh and hang my head. “What am I going to do with you?”
Marius slides his finger under my chin and lifts it so I can’t avoid looking up at him. “For starters, you can eat some of the dinner I had delivered.”
