Page 24 of The Wrong Promise

Zara takes a sip while I swirl the golden liquid in my glass. She is watching me, my gaze locked with hers. “Have you always drank whiskey?”

“I prefer Michter’s. Franklin favors Blanton’s, and for years, it was a debate in our family about what was best. So now, I enjoy Blanton’s after drinking with him for years.”

She nods. “What else should I know about you?”

“About me or Hendricks Reality?”

Her shoulders rise and fall. “You,Jobe. I wouldn’t care for your work as much as I care for youifI were your girlfriend.”

I stare at her for a few seconds, mulling over her words. “I disagree since my work means setting up a future for us. You’d want to secure the contract as much as I do.”

She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t. The value of money doesn’t mean to me what it does to you. This is exactly why I’m wrong for the job. Sir James will see through me. See through us.” She links her fingers near her face as though she’s begging then rests her forehead on her knucklesbefore looking up at me. “You need to find someone who can act as I suck at make-believe.”

I signal to the server to fill her glass, and then I give her a minute. “You’re not wrong for the job. If I start talking about my family, you can add to the conversation. It will come naturally to you. Tonight, we’ll talk about our favorite foods at our favorite restaurant.”

The waitress appears, and judging by Zara’s expression, she is far from ready to order a meal. “Can you please give us a moment longer?” I ask and wait for her to leave before I continue. “Do you want me to order for both of us?”

She raises her perfectly sculpted brows. “Then you wouldn’t know what I like.”

I smile. “True.” She lifts the menu from the table, and I can see she’s going to need some guidance for this to work. “Zara. Leave the menu on the table.”

She places it down and frowns.

“Here are some quick pointers. Never lift the menu from the table. Raise it with some touching the table.” She’s still frowning and tilts it at a perfect angle. She picks up her glass to take a sip while reading the menu. “It’s preferable you drink from the same spot of your glass so you don’t leave a lip ring.”

The comment causes her to roll her eyes. “My lipstick does not leave lip rings.” She smacks her lips together as though to prove a point, and when she puckers them, I find myself smiling.

Fuck, she has no idea how hot she is.

“If you get excited, never clink your glasses with others. I know you like to ‘cheers,’ but it is fine glassware. The less noise, the better.”

“How do you know I like to cheers?” she asks.

“I’ve seen you with Penny when you’re out.”

Her face falls, and I realize mentioning Penny’s namecan be a trigger for her. I focus on more tips to distract her. “Do you like oysters?”

“Feeling horny, Jobe?”

Jesus, how am I going to get through a night with her when my thoughts flick back to our night together? “If there are no forks on the table…” I continue, in an attempt to be serious, “… do not ask for one, as it means the oyster is loosened, and you can simply use your knife.”

“Easy.”

“Keep the rim of your plate as clean as possible.”

“Got it. Now, can we talk about the menu?”

We talk about the appetizers and mains and our preferences. Zara likes steak, seafood, and pasta—everything I do. “It should be a piece of cake. You’re not fussy at all.”

She pops a shoulder. “I used to be. Ate what my boyfriends preferred me to eat. I’m done with that shit and happy the way I am. I’m all about enjoying the things I love.”

I smile at her. While I love seeing her new confidence, I’m curious about what douchebag had her feeling she wasn’t good enough. And her choice of words tells me I should mention cussing. “With me, you may cuss as much as you wish. When we’re with Sir James, we need to be mindful.”

“Of course.”

The waitress returns, and I order prawns and oysters, then the lobster for our mains.

“Practicing our fake relationship is going to cost you.”

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