He taps his menu despite holding it toward himself, where I can’t see it. “Tequila.”
“A margarita?”
His laugh is loud enough to make me jump in my seat just in time to avoid the spittle that flies along with it. “No. On its own.”
“I can’t say I usually reach for tequila.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” he drawls, looking up just long enough to wink at me. “Try a glass with me.”
“I haven’t had tequila since university. I’ll stick with my martini.”
This time, his gaze lingers longer. It sticks to my skin like glue, making me shift uncomfortably. “Just one. I’ll order you a martini backup.”
A bit pushy. Terrible taste. But still not the worst I’ve dealt with. I can almost hear Finn’s voice in my head reminding me to keep an open mind.
“Alright. Just one,” I tell him, giving an inch.
The waitress arrives a couple of minutes later, and shocker, there’s no backup martini ordered. I hold back my annoyance and let yet another thing go.
“You’re a photographer, right?” I ask before he chooses the topic of conversation again.
His interest sparks, making me smile a bit. “Yes.”
“Do you have a specialty?”
“Well, I started with weddings, but after a while, I realized it was far easier to photograph women. Have you ever had boudoir photos done?”
I pause, trying to think of something nice to respond with. “No, I haven’t. Is that what you do now?”
“Oh, yes!” He laughs that abrupt, hard laugh again. Unfortunately, unlike last time, I don’t avoid the spit in time. “I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that women are far better subjects than men. You follow orders so much better.”
The waitress chooses this exact moment to arrive with our drinks. I open my mouth to tell her to just take mine back when Leo thanks her and slides mine in front of me. With my lips pinched together tight enough there’s no chance the words I’m holding back can escape, I take my napkin and dab my collarbone, removing his spit from my skin.
This time, when I look over at where Finn’s sitting, he’s glaring at Leo. I debate standing and leaving, but then his blue eyes flick to me, softening instantly.Do it for me, he said.
As badly as I currently want to waterboard Leo with his tequila, I remind myself of why I’m here and settle again, digging my heels in, refusing to give up.
7
Maybe this was a mistake.
Not my helping Aubrey; I’d walk through flames for that woman. But choosing to set up a blind date when those have never, ever gone well for her. I can’t help but feel like I set her up for failure tonight, and as I sit at the table directly behind them now, listening to every word that comes out of Leo’s mouth, I’m positive I’m going to need to grovel big time after this.
All I have to defend myself with is that Jett assured me his cousin was good shit. I know my teammate well enough to recognize that he wouldn’t have lied to me, which means Leo’s either an excellent actor or he’s had a life-altering changeup since the last time Jett saw him. Either way, all I see are red flags.
The low lights in this place make it more challenging to see through the dark tint of my sunglasses, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m taking them off right now. I chose this restaurant tonight because I know the owners, and they’re always doing the team a solid by making sure we aren’t photographed or accosted by ball fans. Still, I won’t risk taking off my sunglasses and catching any unwanted attention while Aubrey’s here.
She’s never minded the cameras or fans in the past, but if there’s anything that makes me feel guiltier than guilty, it’s when we’re alone together somewhere and we’re interrupted because of who I am. Tonight would be no exception, especially after she’d had to deal with Leo and his mindless dribble.
I take a swig of my Dr Pepper and focus on the words being exchanged behind me. The moment he started pressuring her to drink tequila, I’ve been ready to get up and take her away from him.
“How does it taste?” he asks, his voice having dipped into a low rasp over the course of the last half hour.
“Fine. It’s just pizza.”
I smirk at Aubrey’s short answer.
“Just fine? For thirty dollars, it should be better than that.”
