Page 11 of Stolen Moments

I roll my eyes at the sight. I never should have come. I’m about to turn around when Cameron sees me.

“I see you, brother,” he shouts. “Get over here!”

With an inward groan, I make my way to his table.

He gets up to give me a half hug and handshake. “Thanks, bro.”

I grunt, taking the empty seat next to the girl I assume my brother wants me to distract.

Cam makes introductions. “Ladies, this is my brother, Mason. Mason, this is Stacey” — he points to the girl next to him, then across the table — “and this is Jenny.”

“It’s Jennifer, actually. Jenny is too girl-next-door while Jennifer sounds more Hollywood, like Jennifer Lawrence.” The girl doesn’t stop talking to let me answer, carrying on about wanting to sound more professional when she goes to auditions. “Jennifer sounds better, don’t you think?” She finally takes a breath.

“Sure,” I respond.

Her lips purse at my flat tone, but she tries to keep going with her fake friendly smile, even though the lines around her eyes and mouth give her away.

I glance at Cameron as he hides a smile with his fist.

Fucker.

A free dinner won’t be enough to make up for this impromptu double date. Don’t get me wrong, the girl is gorgeous with her long blonde hair and blue eyes. But her looks don’t do anything for me, nor does her phony attitude.

I’ve dated women like this before. They are only interested in what they can get out of being with me. They don’t actually want me.

The waiter takes our order as I casually sip my gin and tonic. Jennifer continues to regale us with gossip about other actresses she’s met on auditions, who—quote—are “whores that spread their legs for any director or casting agent”, which is why she can’t seem to catch a break.

Yeah, that’s the reason. More like…You’re an awful person, like the awfully cloying scent of your perfume that’s suffocating me. She smells like the inside of Victoria’s Secret, nothing like the soft and sweet scent of the woman that haunts me.

“So, do you think you can represent me?” she asks without an ounce of shame.

I pause with my chopsticks midair as my tuna sashimi slips off and falls to my plate. Gotta give it to the girl—she’s got balls.

“Jennifer,” the blonde hisses. At least one of them has manners.

“What? You said the brother was a talent agent.” She twists in her chair and grabs my wrist.

My skin itches at her touch.

“You’re him, right? Can you get me an audition for the new Henry Cavill movie?”

I look over at Cameron and his face is blank, but the tick in his jaw tells me he’s pissed. My brother has never witnessed this sort of thing. Me? Well, I’m not surprised at all. I’m used to this type of thing happening to me. It isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last. Just another reason I don’t date anymore.

“Sorry, sweetheart. You’re thinking of my brother, Eli.” Shaking off her hold, I place the ball of rice down and drop my sticks, my appetite now long gone.

“Oh. Well, what do you do?”

“I work in technology.”

Her eyebrow quirks up like maybe my stock isn’t so low after all. She’s barking up the wrong tree.

“Like Steve Jobs?” I can hear the hope in her voice.

I’m well off, but I’m no Steve Jobs. I own my company, a small home in a ridiculously expensive neighborhood, and a brand-new Tesla. But no way in hell am I going to break my self-appointed celibacy for a woman looking for material things.

“No.” I throw my napkin on the table. “Cam. Ladies. It was nice meeting you, but I think I’m going to head out.”

Cameron stands as well, his chair scraping across the ground. “I’m going to walk my brother out. Be back in a minute,” he tells the blonde.

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