“No, because you were too direct.That makes you hell on wheels at your job, but this needs a softer touch.”
I nodded once.“Go on.”
“See, if Kristen and I had been with you, we wouldn’t have just asked to see Lark.We’d have found a spot at the bar, ordered something, and been more discreet.”
My lips quirked with skepticism.“You mean we’d have hung out and waited for Lark to show himself.”
“No, I mean we’d have beendiscreet.Asking them why the bar’s called what it is…it’s a new business.They’ve got to get the word out, and most people love talking about themselves.”
I shook my head.“They’d have seen right through that.”
Chad swirled the wine in his glass then put it on the counter.“Maybe so.Under the circumstances, I think fate has sent you a sign, Ivy.”
I turned my gaze toward my kitchen window, trying not to roll my eyes.“You’ve told me that before.”
“No, I haven’t.”
I shifted my gaze back to Chad.“Not in so many words, but—”
He crossed his arms on his broad chest.“Why are you so determined to talk to this man?”
“I just want to meet him.That isn’t wrong,” I said in a small voice, mainly because I’d told Chad this numerous times in the past.
“No, it isn’t wrong, but you also want him to meet Debra.”
“Yeah, because maybe she’s curious about the man whose genes I share.”
“Or maybe she isn’t,” Chad argued.
For some reason, I couldn’t entertain that idea – no matter how logical it might be.“It’s also up to him, Chad.The fact he has three people gatekeeping for him makes me wonder what he’s hiding.”
Chad grabbed his wine glass.“Could be hazing.”
“No way,” I scoffed.
“Ivy, you didn’t do Greek life—”
“This isn’t college.”
“No, but a club is a club and a lot of them have rituals, rites of passage… you know,hazing.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, but the effort was feeble seeing as my best friend was looking out for me, or trying to anyway.“Something tells me you’re wrong.I just wanna meet Lark and I’m going back there after work tomorrow.”
Chad pressed his lips together while his cheeks puffed out like he was holding in his anger.“You’ve always been too independent for your own good.”
I shrugged.“Nothing wrong with being independent.”
“Sure, except you’d doeverythingyourself if you could.”
“That’s not true.I do group-like things.”I paused and nodded.“I definitely can’t do my job all on my own, there’s plenty of people I depend on to close deals, and I’m part of professional groups.”
Chad smiled.“Yeah, because your boss forced you to join them.”He tipped his wine glass toward me, his eyes darting to my t-shirt.“I gave you that shirt not because you love Jane Austen, but because you’re the most obstinate and headstrong woman I’ve ever met.At this point though, even the society of headstrong and obstinate girls wouldn’t take you.”
I smirked.“Of course not.They’re obstinate and headstrong.”
His posture slumped.“Oh, my Ivy.You got answers for everything.”
“Except this Lark guy, which is why I’m going tomorrow night.”
