A lull came between us as our waitress came by again. Ottavia reached for the check, but I swiped it up before she could get it.
“Hey!” she protested. “Let me pay for it, Dakota.”
“Nah. My treat.” I tucked a couple hundred dollar bills in the check holder and called it good. “So what are you up to now?”
“Not much. I was going to go home before you showed up.”
“Are you still staying at the hotel?”
“Er, no.” Her eyes darted down. “That was only for a week.”
“Are you back at your dad’s, then?”
She hesitated. “No … I’ve been staying at Leo’s condo.”
“I see.” I bobbed my head. “How are you getting there?”
“Florin is always just a phone call away.”
“Well, you can call Fluoride up and tell him to get lost.”
She snickered. “Why? And why do you dislike my driver,Florin,so much?”
“You mean, besides the fact he’s a creepy stalker who’s in love with you?”
“Oh, stop!”
“Nah. It’s nothing personal against him. I just have a better idea.”
I reached into my pocket, grabbed my car key, and slid it across the table to her. She caught the key before it slid off the edge.
“What’s this?” she asked, a puzzled look pinching her face.
My Porsche didn’t have an actual set of “keys” so to speak; it’s a modern key fob with electronic ignition. But what’s unique about it is that the whole thing is shaped like a mini 911.
I grinned. “What’s it look like?”
“A little Porsche. Is that the key to your car?”
“Yup.”
“It’s so cute! But why are you giving it to me?” A cute smile eagerly pulled at her mouth. “I can’t drive, Dakota.”
“I know. Let’s fix that, yeah?” I gave her a wink.
“Here?Now?!”
I gave a nod and slid out of the booth.
Her eyes lit with disbelief and she squealed my name. “Dakota!”
18
Discreet
Ottavia
“By~e, gu~ys!”Sienna and my other coworkers sang, their playful, teasing voices following Dakota and me as we made our way out of the restaurant.
