Isit on the edge of my bed wearing my towel, panicking because I’ve never been to a six-star steak house before. Hell, I didn’t even know such a thing exists. I’ve been to steak houses, but they’re literal honky-tonks with peanut shells on the floor and a questionable bucking bull in the middle of the joint. A six-star steak house is a foreign concept to me.
I tried calling Rodrigo for advice, but there was no answer, so I assume he’s at work. And as I look down at my phone, there’s only one other person. Lori. She told me to call or text her any time, and although I don’t doubt that she meant it, it’s still a little awkward. She’s old enough to be my mom… could she possibly be a friend, too?
Lori picks up after one ring with a high-pitched, “Well, hi there, you sweet thing,” and immediately my trepidation melts away.
I smile, although she can’t see me. “Hi, Lori.”
“What’s happening, darlin’? You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry to bother you. I?—”
“Now let’s just get one thing straight, baby girl,” Lori interjects. “The only time you will ever be a bother is forty-five minutes after Jonesy pops a Viagra.”
“I’ll keep that in mind…” I grimace at the thought, but I also can’t contain my own giggle. “I have to go with Brookes to a place called Rare tonight. And I Googled it, and it said it’s this really fancy steak house.”
“Oh, IloveRare,” Lori says through an exaggerated sigh.
“What should I wear?” I ask, nervously chewing on my nail.
“Well, the LBD, of course,” she says as if it’s obvious.
I think of the little black dress June and Lori practically forced me to get, and my lips twist to the side with uncertainty. “Are you sure? It’s a little… low cut.”
“You bet your sweet ass it’s low cut,” Lori sasses. “You need to show off those perfect titties while you’ve still got ’em, hon.”
“Oh my God,” I mutter under my breath.
“With those cute black strappy sandals and a bold red lip,” Lori continues, adding a kiss sound. “Brookes won’t be able to keep his hands to himself.”
I roll my eyes. “We’re not doing that, Lori,remember?”
“Yet,” she sing-songs the same way she did last week.
I bite back my laughter. “Fine…”
“That’s my girl!” Lori gushes.
I have to admit, Lori was right. The black dress, the heels, the red lips. Perfection.
Not to mention, the way Brookes looked at me when he saw me walk out, the way his blue gaze trailed down my body like he was seeing me for the very first time, the way his chest hitched like his breath was caught in the back of his throat, the way he became this bumbling, befuddled mess of limbs. Now, as we walk into the fancy restaurant, his large hand placed firmly against my lower back while all eyes watch our every move, it seems Lori Jones knows what’s up.
As if Rare isn’t high-end and exclusive enough, we’re led into an even fancier private dining section, hidden behind a set ofluxurious drapes hanging from the high ceiling. Our table is tucked away on its own, surrounded by windows that look south, down over the lights that dot the coastline like fireflies sparkling against the night sky.
“Brookes!”
I hear Brookes stifle a groan, but then he steps in front of me to take the lead, shaking Blake’s proffered hand.
“Oh… you brought Poppy,” Blake says, his tone tight and so disingenuous I almost laugh. His eyes darken as they scan me from head to toe in a way that makes my stomach curl because he’s so gross.
“You look beautiful,” Blake says to me under his breath, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my cheek that lingers way longer than is socially acceptable.
With a muttered, “Thanks,” I pull back, putting some much-needed space between us and refusing to meet his lecherous stare.
“Brookes, you remember Chuck and Dave?” Blake turns to the table.
Chuck and Dave, two suited fifty-somethings with orange tans and teeth whiter than they should be, own Royale, which is basically the Rolex of golf clubs, or so I’ve been told.
The men stand, smiling from Brookes to me before rounding the table to greet us. When Chuck, the slimier of the two, wraps an arm around me, I instinctively freeze; the bare skin on my shoulder where his hand rests starts to burn, and it’s suddenly hard to breathe.
