Page 70 of The Last Good Man

A secret smile colors his gaze while Olivia unsuspectingly invites him to sit across from me.

She sets a new plate, napkins, and silverware in front of him while he pulls the chair out and slides into his seat.

“I’m glad you asked him to join you. He is more than welcome to stay here overnight,” Olivia says, while I get dizzy grasping the meaning of her words.

He told her I’d asked him to join me?

What a lie.

My response is prompt.

“Oh. Yes… Unfortunately,hecan’t stay. He passed through town and wanted to see me.”

Olivia looks at me, puzzled, her hand tense around his glass.

She thought she had it all figured out.

What had possibly made her think the man in front of me had anything to do with me?

Well…

For one, he’s stunning.

And it’s not like he’s cleaned up hisbadboyact. Or that I want him to clean up his act. He’s very much a tall, broody, tattooed, muscular, green-eyed sex god.

He fools no one.

Even I can see that, although I have no intention of falling for it.

Besides, he and I would’ve never crossed paths had we not met at Aretha Stenson.

He wears a Celtic knot ring on one hand, a skull-embellished ring on the other, and a chain necklace with a pendant depicting a god with the head of a lion.

His raven hair glistens with rain, his eyes look like gemstone waters, and his clean-shaven skin sets off his high cheekbones.

My eyes dip to his sultry lips, and he catches me doing that and flashes a smile.

“Through town?” Olivia asks, bewildered, and for a good reason, I might add.

The nearest town is miles and miles away.

Amused, he cocks an eyebrow and tilts his head to the side, awaiting my answer.

My mind is blank now, so she goes on.

“Perhaps he can have dinner before heading back to New York. It’s a long trip.”

When did he have time to tell her all that?

Now I look like some ungrateful jerk sending him away.

“Sure, he can have dinner.”

Her face lights up.

“Are you hungry?” she asks motherly, and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

He catches thattoo, and bites back a grin.

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