“Yeah, I get your point. But he could have just told me he’snot interested when I set up the meeting instead of wasting my time at The Loft.”
What I did in my personal life didn’t affect anyone. I couldn’t understand how it could cost me a business deal. But I was determined not to let that happen. I just had to focus and find a better angle, then meet with Jude again.
“At least he chose a good spot for the meeting,” Knox said.
Finn scoffed. “That’s not a good spot. That’s just where everyone wants to be seen these days. Though apparently they do have great food.”
“I didn’t eat anything,” I said. “I just went to the bar, where I pretended to be someone’s date.”
The room went completely silent. Then, for the second time today, Knox started laughing. “That sounds like somethingIwould do.”
“Or me,” Finn added. “Don’t try to hog all the credit.”
“Credit for what? Being the hothead in the family?” Knox asked.
Finn nodded. “Precisely.”
“You can be a hothead,” Wyatt said. “But this is too out there, even for you, Griffin.”
“It is,” I admitted. I had no idea what had gotten into me. It was just an impulse, an instinct, and I followed it. And then while I was at the table with her and her ex, all I’d wanted was to punch that idiot out of The Loft. I could feel her shrinking next to me every time he spoke. After he’d left, she’d completely relaxed. It had taken all of my self-restraint not to flirt with her. It was second nature to me, and I’d been so attracted to her that I could barely think straight. But that was the last thing she’d needed, so I’d left as soon as possible. If I’d stayed even one more minute, I would have asked her out. I was sure of it.
And asking her out would have been bad for both of us because she was obviously looking for marriage, and I was certainly not.
“What exactly happened?” Duncan asked.
I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. But I could use your help brainstorming ways to win over Jude.”
“Come on, man. Throw us a bone,” Finn said.
“Yeah. We never pictured that you could be as impulsive as us,” Knox added, pointing at himself, then Finn. “But I see you’ve got potential.”
They weren’t going to let this go, so I told them everything.
Once I finished talking, Duncan and Chase exchanged a glance but said nothing, which was worrisome.
“Now, can we go back to brainstorming about the best way to tackle Jude?” I asked.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea. You said this Phoebe woman was game for faking things, right?” Knox asked.
“I think she was just blindsided but went along with it. According to her friend, she’d suggested it to her earlier in the day, and it just worked out that I was there.”
“Why don’t you ask her to pretend to beyourdate for a change?”
I just stared at him.
“That’s the shittiest idea I’ve ever heard,” Chase said.
“Well, that’s what I would do,” Knox replied.
“Yeah, hence why it’s not the best idea,” Wyatt said in a warning tone. Between the two of us, Wyatt was more rational. But even though I could be impulsive, this was insane.
Still, it was taking root in my mind.
Damn. No. It’s a crazy idea.
“I’m getting under your skin,” Knox continued. “I can’t believe it.”
Finn laughed. “Nah, he’s far too… what was the word?Cerebralto do this.”
