“Knock it off.” I wilt.
She clicks her tongue. “I’m just teasing, Lucy.”
“I know, but it’s weird. I skipped the last two years of my life, and there was some important crap I missed. I already feel too young for him, and this isn’t helping me feel more confident,” I whisper.
Gwen’s eyes rise above my head, and she swallows. I look over my shoulder, but I already know who’s going to be standing there.
“Hi, Rafe,” I chirp. That sure was fast.
Chapter 17
Iwas already on my way toward her house when she finally answered her phone, so it only took me a few minutes to get to the restaurant. I look around, wondering what the hell she’s doing at a bar on a Friday night.
It’s easy to spot her. She’s leaning over the table, talking hurriedly with some chick. I ignore the hostess and walk right into the dining area. Her table only has two glasses, and no food or plates, so I don’t think they’ve been here long or that anyone else is with them. I try to calm my nerves, but it doesn’t do much good. I need to put a fucking tracker on her phone. She used to just go to work and the store and shit, but now that she’s not at the club anymore, she’s all over the fucking place.
The chick she’s with watches my approach, her eyes roaming up and down my body before they land on my face. I can tell by the way her lips part she’s attracted to me.
“Hi, Rafe.” My girl says my name so easily. I like it when we’re alone, but not here. I place my hands on the back of her chair to keep myself from wrapping them over her shoulders and squeezing.
Keeping my eyes on her friend, I lower my mouth to her ear and rasp, “Hey.” She turns so she can look at me and smiles. It’s open and friendly, but not hungry the way her friend’s is. The difference is night and day.
I pull out an empty chair and scoot it closer to her before lowering myself into it. I really want to take her out of here, but I don’t think that would be the right move. This must be the friend she mentioned, and I don’t want to give this chick a reason not to like me… Well, not yet anyway. Once she’s fully mine, I don’t give a fuck what this girl thinks.
“Rafe, this is Gwen. Gwen, Rafe.” She makes the introduction nervously, so I place my hand on her thigh. I can’t tell if I’m making her uncomfortable or if it’s the situation.
Her friend leans over the table and limply extends her hand, like I might take it in mine. Instead of completely snubbing her like I usually would, I tap her fingers with mine, barely touching her, then rest my free hand on the table. “Girls’ night?” I try not to sound too much like a dick, but I’m not sure how well I do.
“Yeah, just dinner and a movie,” she answers.
A waiter nears the table and does a double take when he stops with a tray in his hands. “Aw, I thought I had both of you all to myself. My loss.” I meet his eyes and think about snapping his neck. I don’t bother hiding my thoughts from my expression. The guy looks away from me and starts placing the food on the table without any more shit coming from his mouth. He’s lucky.
“Wait,” she calls when the waiter starts to leave. I glance over at her, about to ask why she’s talking to him, but she meets my gaze. “Are you hungry? I mean, I’ll share, but do you want anything?” Her voice is soft, caring. It hits me right in my gut. Nobody offers to share with me unless it’s something that’s mine and they want it. I can’t think of anyone else who would have thought about my wants or needs.
“Just bring me whatever she’s having,” I tell the waiter, dismissing him.
“Here, you can share mine while you wait.” She scoots her plate and her chair closer to me, offering me a fork. I look down at the simple basket of food, fries, and some kind of sauce coated chicken. I’m not interested in it at all, but some part of me wants it just because she offered.
I snag a fry and motion for her to eat. “Go ahead, Lucy.” Her name comes from my lips just as easily as she said mine. She skewers a piece of chicken and takes a bite. I like the fact that she listened to me and I didn’t have to work to convince her. When I look away from her, the friend is watching me. I stare right back at her until she averts her eyes, but it’s not before I see a blush creep over her cheeks.
“How was your day?” she asks after swallowing her bite. Fuck, I’m horrible at small talk. I should have just found out where she was and watched her to see who she was with instead of joining her. I move my palm up and down her leg slowly, wondering what she would think if she knew all I did today was sit in my office and check her camera feed.
“Nothing too exciting. What did you do today?” I didn’t even see her until after three o’clock, but I just assumed she was out with her horses. It was only after she got dressed in clean jeans and I couldn’t find her in the house when I started to get concerned about her whereabouts.
“Just the usual chores.” She picks up another fry and offers it to me. I lean forward and take it from her fingers. Her pupils dilate as she watches me.
The friend clears her throat, looking for attention. She’s grinning across the table at us. I want to tell her to go away, but I know it’s not the right thing to do. I’ve always known the difference between right and wrong—about most things anyway—I just don’t care enough not to do whatever the fuck I choose. She is my only uncontrollable impulse. Some days, I think I hate her for it, or at least I used to think I did.
Rafe keepshis fingers wrapped over my thigh the entire time we’re at the table, even when Brandon drops off his food, which Rafe barely touches. I’m acutely aware of the heat and weight of his palm with every breath I take. I think Gwen knows I’m flustered. She keeps smirking at me. I wish I could kick her under the table, but Rafe is so observant, I know it wouldn’t go unnoticed.
Gwen starts chatting about her food and her day until she eventually starts peppering Rafe with questions. “So, what do you do for a living?” She tilts her head to the side, watching Rafe.
“I own several businesses. And you?” He turns the question around on her.
“I’m a student. Going to State in the fall,” Gwen supplies quickly before darting a look in my direction.
Please don’t ask me to go with you again, I plead mentally.
“What kind of businesses?” I know she’s just trying to get to know him, but it feels like she’s being too nosy. Besides, I want to be the one to ask him these things.
