“Oh, I don't know, because I'd rather not dwell on my failures in front of a man whom the town thinks walks on water.” she said sharply. “Why do you want to know?”
Theo looked genuinely surprised. “I’m curious how someone as resourceful as you didn't have a Plan B,” he said.
Amber scoffed. “Don't you know? I have a magic ability to screw up every opportunity that comes my way,” she said, and she hated the hint of bitterness that tinged her voice. How ironic that her tolerance for what people said about her sex life was vast compared to what was said about her character. One she knew wasn’t true. The other was her greatest fear.
Theo didn’t flinch at her tone. “If you don’t like that version of yourself, change it.”
And that was her cue. The last thing she needed was a pep talk from Theo Clairmont. She leaned her elbows on the table and rested her breasts on them, giving him a pretty view. “Are you saying you don’t like this version of me, Mr. Mayor?” she purred with her usual wide-eyed look of utter fascination. It never failed to elicit at least a double take.
Theo’s eyes dropped, and rather than a familiar leer, he looked disappointed. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that advance check," he said instead of answering. “What did you need that money for?”
"I had some things I needed to buy. Makeup, hair things, a new dress.” She batted her eyes.
"And your air conditioning," he probed. "Was that something you needed to get fixed?"
Amber thought about her still-broken air conditioning. "No."
“Is it your car fixed? You mentioned that's why you were late this morning. Did you get that taken care of?” he pressed.
Eden slid two plates in front of them, and Amber jammed a fry into her mouth to avoid further questions.
"Here," Theo said, offering her a bite of his kale salad. “Try this.”
"Thank you, no," she said firmly. "I'd rather not eat bird food. What's with the twenty questions?”
“I’m curious why you're so broke if you've been working all this time,” Theo said, not unkindly, but she bristled nonetheless. She bet he wondered. Men like Theo Clairmont had no idea what life was like for the other half, and she didn’t feel inclined to tell him. Let him think she was a flighty mess who couldn’t balance her checkbook for love or money. She didn’t owe him anything.
Amber looked back at him boldly. "You and everybody else, but it's none of your business. Let's just say I have champagne tastes on a beer budget," she said, yawning. "I'm ready for a nap. You've got me working too hard."
“Ah. Distraction again. Fine.” He sat back and looked her over coolly. “I’d have thought that extra hour of sleep this morning would have helped with that.”
She ignored that. “How about this,” she said as an idea cameto her. “Let's play truth or dare. We each get a turn, and you can choose to tell the truth, or you can take a dare.”
"Are we in middle school?” Theo asked.
“Come on, it'll be fun, and I know you need more of that in your life. I’ve seen your schedule," Amber cajoled.
Theo looked at her pointedly. "You go first.”
Amber sat up excitedly. "Dare, of course," she said, challengingly.
Without hesitation, Theo scooped up a huge bite of kale salad on the end of his fork and held it out to her. "Try this," he dared.
Amber immediately balked. “Never mind. You don’t play fair. I'll die if I eat that."
"You'll die if you don't," Theo smirked. "Where’s your honor? You said you wanted to play this game."
“Fine," she opened her mouth, and Theo slid the fork between her teeth. They locked eyes for a moment before Theo pulled his arm back. Amber made a show of swallowing and pretended not to gag.
"That's disgusting. I'll probably get salmonella from the lettuce," she said.
Theo laughed. "You'll probably add five years to your life because of those micronutrients."
"Okay, now it's your turn," she said. "Truth or dare?" She raised her eyebrows in a challenge.
Theo sat back and stretched his arm over the back of the booth, the very picture of an amused, confident, alpha male. He was so going to regret this. “Truth."
She smirked. “Since you’re so interested in what I eat, what’s your secret guilty pleasure food?”
