Yeah.
“Usually, the assistants try to score the billionaires for themselves.” She laughs through her nose. “Guess he rejected you?”
“I’m not an assistant. I work in PR, you know, being paid for my expertise.”
“Wow, a nine-to-five, hm? Well, I want to actually be a mom before I’m your age, so I treat dating like my full-time job.” She smirks at me. “And you know, taking care of myself.”
McCarthy turns, pricey scotch in hand.
“On that note, enjoy your date, kids!” I clap my hands.
“This place is vegan,” he hisses to me.
I pinch his arm. “It won’t kill you to eat some lettuce.”
“You’re coming with me to get steak after this,” he whispers, then, chameleon-like, his whole demeanor switches when Juniper trails a perfectly manicured finger up his arm.
“I’ve been vegan for years, but you might be the man who inspires me to put a piece of meat in my mouth.”
McCarthy seems intrigued. Lust at first sight?
He doesn’t look over at me once as he leads Juniper to a table.
“Good.” I drain the rest of my wine. “Maybe I can cross this off my list.”
A clammy hand rests on my shoulder when I’m accepting another glass from the bartender.
“Jenna?”
“Oh shit.” I gape at the older man in front of me.
“I thought that was you.” He chortles then rubs his clean-shaven face. “I shaved off my beard. Actually, my little girl got gum in it. Bet I look more like you remember me now, huh?” He grins.
When I’m too frozen to spin away, he leans in to plant a wet, sucking kiss on my cheek.
My ex-stepdad, a.k.a Mom’s fifteenth boyfriend, give or take, from when I was in high school, reaches out to wipe at my cheek with a laugh.
“I always thought you were hot.” He rubs my upper arm. “You really did grow up,” he says appreciatively. “I knew there was something there between us, some spark, and then you swiped on me on the Meat Market app.” Another sly grin.
I’m looking for the nearest exit, except, shoot, I have to babysit McCarthy. I spare a guilty glance across the crowded restaurant to his table. I can hear Juniper’s voice telling him about a trip she took to Madrid. Juniper is all over McCarthy, her feet caressing his leg under the table.
But McCarthy is looking at me, not his date.
He’s so trying to make a run for it.
Gritting my teeth, I prepare to settle in for a long, humiliating date.
My ex-stepfather accepts a glass of whiskey from the bartender, making sure to run his arm across my chest as he reaches for the drink. It’s crowded, and he has me trapped in my seat.
“You’ve grown up very nicely. How’s your mom?”
Suddenly, McCarthy’s there, knocking my stepfather aside, spilling his drink over his hand.
“Excuse me.”
“Sorry.” McCarthy doesn’t sound it. He turns, shoving my ex-stepfather back even farther.
“That is my date.” My ex-stepdad must have been drinking before he came to the restaurant because no one in their right mind would challenge a man younger, taller, and in better shape than them. And yet my ex-stepfather looks ready to fight.
