“My friend owns the company,” I said, knowing I couldn’t ignore him without seeming childish. “She had someone call in sick so I thought I’d help her out.” I shrugged. “Besides, I needed the money. The sooner I can buy my own place, the better.”
“Gia.” His hand curled around my wrist, forcing me to look at him. “About last night. I—”
“Now’s not the time.” I glanced over his shoulder and sure enough, his date was shooting daggers at me as she leaned against the bar. “You’re here with another woman, remember?”
He tipped his head back, looking at the ceiling. “You’re right. It’s not the time. Midnight tonight, my place?”
I opened my mouth before snapping it shut. “I don’t think so.” I shook loose of his grip. “Excuse me, I have work to do. I don’t know why you and your date showed up so early, but I have to get these tables set up before the rest of the guests arrive.”
“It’s her step-sister who’s getting married and she’s supposed to help co-ordinate music and speeches, so she needed to speak with the wedding planner to make sure they were on the same page before the reception.”
“Like I care.” Apparently, I was still in bitch-mode. Ugh. I hated to be so nasty, but sometimes this man brought out the worst in me. Usually, he brought out the best.
He stepped into my path when I grabbed my cart of supplies and tried to move on to the next table. “I’m not going to leave you alone until you agree to meet me at my place.”
“Would you stop it?” I said, between clenched teeth. “You’re making a scene.” Sure enough, people were starting to stare.
“I don’t care who’s watching us, but if you do, you can put an end to this conversation right now by agreeing to meet me.”
Like I had a choice. “Fine.” I tried to push him aside, but the man was like a mountain. “I’ll see you at midnight. But won’t your girlfriend mind if you want to cut your evening short?”
He curled his hands around the back of the chair, leaning in to whisper in my ear, “You really think I would have kissed you like that last night if she was my girlfriend? Or bought you that ring? Or asked you to be mywife?”
I was grateful I’d worn my roomy work shoes because my toes were curling. “I don’t know what you would or wouldn’t have done, Joel. I’m not even sure I know you anymore.”
His heated gaze pinned me to the spot before he said, “Don’t say shit like that. You know me better than anyone.”
Refusing to be intimidated, I said, “I would have agreed with you, before last night. Now? I’m not so sure.”
“Don’t you try and put the entire blame for that on me, G. I know I was an asshole, but—”
“Not. The. Time.”
He drew a deep breath and I could tell he was clenching his jaw before his piercing blue eyes narrowed as he stared me down. “Fine. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about this. Later. And don’t even think about making me come looking for you, girl. Because you know I will.”
ChapterSeven
Joel
Angela had been cozying up to me all night and it was making me sick. Especially after I’d seen Gia. The sight of her knocked the wind out of me, and I’d never regretted being on the arm of another woman more.
“Angela,” I said, withdrawing when she tried to reach for my hand as I pulled up to the curb in front of her condo building. “We need to talk.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Does this have something to do with that woman you were talking to? The one who was setting up before the reception?”
It had everything to do with Gia, but did I have the guts to admit it? I didn’t want to hurt Angela, but I had no intention of leading her on either.
“Gia and I go way back.”
She folded her arms, looking sullen. “What does that mean?”
Angela was a nice girl. Someone who would have turned my head on the street and warranted more than a few dates in my old world. But everything was different now. I couldn’t look at another woman without thinking about Gia and I had to be honest, with Angela and myself, about that.
“It means that I have feelings for her.” I groaned inwardly when her hazel eyes filled with tears as she looked out the window. “I’m really sorry if that hurts you, but things between us were casual for a reason. We were both free to date other people and…”We’ve never even slept together.I didn’t say it, but we both knew what I was thinking. “I assume you’ve been seeing other people too.”
She shrugged. “I’ve been on a few dates, but I thought you would eventually come around. Realize we could have something good together.” She sniffed before fishing a tissue out of her purse and dabbing her nose. “Have you been sleeping with her? Is that why you weren’t interested in being with me?”
I had no intention of discussing my sex life with her. “That’s irrelevant. Point being, Gia and I have a lot of history, and I’m ready to see where things could go between us.”
