Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Look, this is a bad idea. Let’s forget about it and change the subject.”
I fully expect them both to stop talking about it. The servers come and pick up plates and announce dessert is on the way. I’m stuffed, and after Cruz’s little comment, I’m ready to get out of here. At least I was right. I figured he was arrogant, and it seems he is.
Lexi keeps looking between Cruz and me. Cruz is looking down at his plate, and the awkwardness is too much. As the servers bring out the dessert, I try to play it off like I’m not affected by it all and gush over the food. I start to ramble, and when the other two take a bite of their own desserts, I finally shut up.
It’s almost over, and then I can leave. Heck, my apartment above the florist shop is only two blocks from here. I can walk.
“How long were you dating?”
I had just taken a bite of the strawberry cheesecake when he asks, and the sweet texture turns to dust in my mouth. God, I hate thinking about my ex, but I should have known the question would come up.
“Three years.”
Cruz nods. “And he’s marrying your sister?”
I wince. I mean, it’s like just putting salt in an open wound at this point. “Yes.”
He nods again and then waves his fork like he wants me to continue. “And…?”
I set my fork down on my plate and sit up a little taller. “Oh, you want all the sordid details? Right. Well, I caught my ex—of course, he wasn’t my ex at the time—having sex with my sister six months ago. I broke it off with him, and they got engaged two weeks later.”
He’s just staring at me. His jaw is set, and he almost appears angry on my behalf, but I know that’s ridiculous. I break eye contact and pick up my fork again. There’s no way I can force another piece of food in my mouth, so I push the cheesecake around on my plate and then spear a strawberry.
I look to Lexi, hoping she’s going to jump in, but she’s just volleying her head between Cruz and me.
I clear my throat. “Dinner was really good. Thank you both for letting me intrude.”
“How old are you?” Cruz asks me out of the blue.
I roll my eyes. “Well, I’ll ignore the fact that you’re not supposed to ask a woman how old she is, but I’m twenty-five.”
“You’re ten years younger than me.”
I nod. I already knew how old Cruz was, so I’m not surprised by the statement, but it does surprise me that he says it in distaste. He acts like ten years is a big difference.
I lean back in my chair and put a hand to my stomach. “Everything was so good. I can’t eat another bite. Lexi, how is yours?”
I’m trying to get Cruz to focus on anything else besides me. The way he’s watching me is making me crazy, and the need to get the hell out of here is strong.
Lexi is smiling as if she’s not affected at all by the undercurrents. “It was really good.” She holds up the chocolate cake. “Tara, you have to try this.”
Before I can tell her no, Cruz interrupts. “No one is going to believe you and I are together.”
My mouth drops at the same time Lexi admonishes her brother. “Cruz!”
I stand up and try to hide the hurt from my voice. “Thank you so much for dinner! And congratulations on your retirement. Lexi, I’m going to walk home.”
She stands up instantly. “No, I’ll take you.”
But I stop her and hold my hand up. “No, spend time with your brother. I shouldn’t have come.”
Lexi can see I’m about to fall apart, but she knows me better than anyone, and she knows I won’t let her take me home. She forces her keys into my hand. “Here. Take my car. I’ll have Cruz drop me off to get it when we leave.”
I don’t have it in me to argue with her, so I take the keys, and without another look at Cruz, I walk out of the restaurant with my head held high.
I drive to my apartment and am stomping up the stairs to my apartment as I replay Cruz’s words. “No one will believe we’re together.”
He could have just said no; he didn’t have to go for the jugular. And he’s right: Hell, if I couldn’t keep Grant, I sure as hell couldn’t keep a man like Cruz Payne happy and satisfied. He’s a football star. I’m, well, a nobody. And yes, I know I’m curvy and probably a little too plain, but he didn’t have to drag my looks into it. I mean, I know Lexi believes her brother is some kind of saint, but all I can see is that he’s an ass.