I’m interested in defending myself, but he doesn’t know me any more than I know him. “I don’t date. This was Anne’s idea.”
“Yes, she’s really nice,” he says with an emotional gleam in his eyes. Then why doesn’t he date her?
“So what do you like to eat?”
“I prefer Italian food, but I suppose Mexican food will do.”
“I meant from here,” I bite out each word.
“Oh, sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“You were at work?”
“I thought the shirt was a dead giveaway.” Rude much? “I didn’t have time to change. Someone called off and I had to go in.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It really is. I need to find a better job.”
“Here are your drinks. Are you ready to order?” I look at him, and then he says, “Yes. I’ll have a steak fajita dinner.”
“I’ll have a chicken taco with everything.”
“Wonderful.” She takes our menus and then leaves us. What I don’t miss is the way his eyes linger on the server’s backside. I close my eyes and internally remind myself,I’m only here for dinner and I’m paying for my food, anyway.
“Anne says you’re in college. What are you studying?”
“A little bit of everything. I still haven’t figured things out.”
“Anything in the veterinary sciences?” I question. Maybe that’s why Anne thought we would be a good fit.
“God, no. I hate animals.”
“But you work at a pet store.” My voice jumps an octave at the absurdity.
“Chill. It’s just a job that I’m good at, and it pays the bills.”
“I suppose we all do jobs that aren’t our careers.”
A moment later they bring us our food, and it smells so good. “Thank you so much.” I dig in because I’m so starving. The food is delicious and gives us both a chance not to speak to each other. I’m loving it because he’s definitely not my type. Not that I have a type, but a man who doesn’t like animals and is rude is a double red flag. My mind goes to the other rude man who isn’t a good match for me, and yet I want to see him again.
“How is your food?”
“It’s okay,” he grunts while stuffing his face.
I take a drink of my pop, and then I feel a shift in the air around us as a shadow appears over us. Looking up, I see Mr. Grumpy Christmas staring at me.
Chapter Three
Parker
“Ugh, I’m glad I didn’t cook, but I’m getting hungry and I’m about to dip into the cookies the neighbor dropped off.” Chloe continues to gripe about dinner, and I can’t blame her because now that I’m not on my online stalking pursuit, my stomach whines violently like I haven’t eaten all week.
The words she said finally register in my brain and I blurt out, “The neighbor?” My heart skips a beat because if she’s talking about my little auburn beauty, then she came back, and I missed her. I’ve just gotten in my vehicle, breathing heavily.
“Yes, she dropped them off and apologized again for scaring my boyfriend.” I almost throw up in my mouth. She giggles as she adds, “Of course, I didn’t get a chance to correct her. Not that it matters to you.”
Snarling, I know how to pay my sister back. “I’m going to tell them to put sour cream on your tacos.”
