“Yes, you will, because you love me. I have to go, Maddie. I’ll call you later.”
“Well, I’m not answering,” Maddie pouted and I laughed.
“Bye, brat.”
After I ended my call with Maddie, I inhaled, releasing it slowly before opening my laptop. Like it or not, this work wasn’t going to just magically get done on its own, so I cleared my mind and got focused. I had a long day and possibly even a long night ahead of me.
Hours later, I was finishing the last of my presentation I was to submit next week. My eyes were tired and my back was sore from having been in the same chair for so long. As much as I’d paid for it, it should have been a lot more accommodating. I looked up and glanced out of my office window. Everyone was gone. Like always, I was the first one here and the last to leave.
I slipped my feet back into my Giuseppes, which I had kicked off hours ago, before I pushed my chair back and stood. After a good stretch, I smoothed my Marc Jacobs silk crepe button up dress and collected my things. I closed my laptop and slipped it into my leather carrier then pulled the handle over my shoulder. Once I lifted my purse, I headed toward the door, shutting off the lights before I left my floor.
When I reached my truck, I hit the remote and tossed my things into the passenger seat. I slipped in and settled into the soft leather. The second I started my truck, Beyoncé began to play and I automatically thought of Mr. Carter. I sang along while I made my way to Gallagher’s. It was indeed one of my favorite places, but part of me secretly hoped I would run into Mr. Carter. After his appearance at my father’s event, I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head and off my mind. I assumed fromtheir interaction that he and Orin were an item. That upset me a bit, but he wasn’t mine, so there was no need to worry.
“One, please.” As I stood in front of the podium waiting, my eyes moved around the sea of faces that filled the restaurant, knowing I was searching for one in specific, even though I lied to myself.
“Follow me, please,” the young blond girl stated with an overly chipper tone as she smiled at me, showing all thirty-two.
I followed her to a small table in the center of the restaurant where she stopped. I was extremely confident, so eating alone didn’t bother me. But for some reason, tonight I didn’t want to be on display.
“Would it be okay if I take that one?” I asked, pointing to a table in the corner near the bar.
“No problem.” She smiled again and started toward it.
Once we reached the table, she waited for me to take my seat, then placed the bound, leather menu she carried in front of me.
“Your waitress Susan will be with you momentarily. Enjoy your dinner.”
I nodded, offering her a slight smile before I opened my menu and scanned the dinner specials. More out of habit than anything because I was here enough that I knew my exact order.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were lowkey stalking me.” That voice made my stomach flutter and it grew progressively worse when I looked up to see the smirk spread across his face. Damn, this man was so sexy, it had to be illegal.
“Two people in the same vicinity on multiple occasions does not constitute stalking. It’s more like a coincidence,” I said dryly and returned my attention to my menu.
His deep, throaty laugh made me uneasy because I felt my attraction for him growing from the simplest things.
“Coincidence, maybe, or maybe it’s just fate,” he said as he pulled out the chair across from me and filled it with his tall frame.
“Umm, excuse you, but I don’t recall asking you to join me.”
“Trooper.” Even his name was sexy! My attention moved to a very attractive woman standing off to the side of the chair he now sat in with her arms folded across her large, exposed breasts. From her tone and posture, I could tell she was annoyed, but he didn’t seem bothered at all.
“Ay, I’m talking. Go order me another Crown and I’ll be there in a minute,” he released so coolly and effortlessly that I raised my brows, stared at her, and waited. There was no way she would accept that.
She held her position for a few moments more before she shot me the nastiest look then turned to leave. I glanced at him, amazed by what had just happened.
“Wow,” I stated more to myself than him.
“What?” That sexy smile of his was on his face again as his eyes locked on mine.
“It’s not worth mentioning but I think you might want to tend to her,” I said, feeling a little annoyed that he was actually here with another woman. I had no right to feel that way whatsoever, but it didn’t stop the feeling from consuming me.
“Say what’s on your mind, Sophie.” Lord, the way my name rolled off his tongue.
“What’s on my mind is you’re here on a date with another woman yet you’re sitting here asking what’s on my mind.”
A heavenly chuckle escaped his full lips and my stomach tensed. “You’re more concerned about that than I am, but how about this? I will tend to that, as you said, if you’ll do something for me.”
I wasn’t sure why, but my breathing suddenly felt constricted. Before he could continue, my waitress appeared.
