“Jack wants to move dinner to eight instead of seven. Are you cool with that?”
Linc scoffs. “Do I have a choice?”
She gives him a sympathetic smile before returning her attention back to her phone. The more time I spend with her, and the more I watch her and Linc interact, the more I like her. She takes care of him. And while there’s an unjustified hint of jealousy that I haven’t always been there to do that, it makes me feel good to know she does.
Tapping her forefinger on the bottom corner, she pushes her glasses back up her nose. “Don’t forget you have a phone interview with KWEZ at four tomorrow. I set a reminder on your phone. And that’s it,” she says, pocketing her phone. “For now anyway.”
“Sounds good. See you tonight?”
“I’ll be there. Someone has to stand between you and Jack when the punches start flying.” She leans in to give me a hug. “Later, y’all.” With the wiggle of her fingers, she’s gone.
I furrow my brow. “Who is Jack again?”
“Manager,” he says.
“Do you two fight often?”
“Only when he’s being a pain in my ass.” I nod, still not understanding, but I suppose I’ll find out tonight when I meet Jack.
“Don’t worry, his bark is worse than his bite.”
Well, that’s not very comforting.
Linc pulls up in front of the restaurant around seven and hands his keys off to the valet. Opening the door, he places his hands on my hips to help me down then he takes my hand and leads me inside the fancy establishment. Everything is so modern and sleek.
Expensive.
I lift my chin and straighten my spine, pretending I belong here when I clearly don’t. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Only about ten times since we left the house.”
He smiles.
Our host recognizes him right away and leads us to our table where the party has already arrived.
“I can’t stop thinking about what you have on underneath here,” he whispers, placing his hand on my lower back, guiding me through the rows of tables.
I blush, smoothing my hand down the front of the little black dress Linc bought for me today. It hugs all of my curves perfectly along with the black bra and panty set I’m wearing underneath. I’ve never worn something so fitting or revealing before, and I was a little self-conscious at first but when I tried it on for him at the store, the smoldering look he gave was all the approval I needed.
He’s wearing dark jeans, boots, and a white button-down with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. More than a few patrons gasp as we pass by and one lady even clutches her chest.
“Oh my God, it’s Lincoln Cole.”
I hear someone say.
“Every man in this room wants to be me right now.”
His words send more heat to my face but I think the exact opposite. Every woman I see has her eyes on him.
“That dress is killin’ me, by the way,” he says when we finally reach the table.
Two men in suits stand to greet us while Kacey remains seated. “Linc, my man. How the hell are you?”
“I’m good, Bill.” He shakes hands with the taller gentleman before turning his attention to the shorter one. “Jack.”
“This must be Sylvie,” Bill says with a warm smile.
“Syl, this is Bill Gardner, CEO of Milestone Records and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.”
