Page 7 of Perfect (mis)Match

He grimaced at us. “Duty calls. I’ll catch you guys in a bit!”

Vincent and I stared at each other in silence, probably trying to determine who was going to draw first blood.

“You were such a—” I began.

“Listen, about what happened—” Vincent said at the same moment. “You go.”

I took a step closer to him. “I was going to say you were incredibly rude this morning. Blame aside, it was an accident, and now that I’ve had a chance to check out the damage, a minor one.”

“Says the woman who drives a fifteen-year-old car,” he sniffed. “The damage to mine wasconsiderable.”

“Well, that’s what you get for driving a delicate little egomaniac car that probably costs more than I’ll make in my lifetime.”

“Probably?” he smirked.

I gritted my teeth at him. “You are…”

“Correct?”

“Insufferable!” I hissed.

He fixed his gaze on me, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Are you forgetting I’m paying for your repairs?”

“As you should; it was all your fault,” I huffed.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

I snorted at him. “You call that an apology?”

“I never said I was apologizing,” he shrugged and looked around the room, like he was bored with me and above it all…right up until he spotted something that made him flinch. “Ohfuck.”

I glanced over my shoulder to where he was looking and saw none other than supermodel Maya Russo swanning through the restaurant just outside the private dining room Paul had reserved for the event.

“Clearly, you’ve got your sights set on your latest conquest. I’ll leave you to it,” I fumed and started to back away.

“No, thank you. I’ve had my fill of that one.”

I frowned so hard I thought my face would break.

Vincent finally refocused on me. “She’s my ex, and if she sees me here, she’s going to glom on and not let go.”

“That sounds like a ‘you’ problem.” Now was my turn to smirk. I turned to walk away, but the sharp click of his shoes followed, like he wasn’t ready to let me escape just yet.

“Piper,” he said. “Just listen—if she spots me, pretend you’re my date. Consider it a favor.”

I sputtered out a laugh. Was this guy out of his freaking mind? There was no way I was getting sucked into his mess. “Please! Like I owe you any favors. Maybe I’ll run over to Maya and point you out. Give her a little nudge in your direction.”

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to find the ultimate floppy-haired, striped tie former frat boy grinning at me.

“Well hey there, Piper! Your daddy told me you’re quite the little lady golfer! I’m Beck Huntsman, by the way.”

He shoved his hand at me, and I gave it a quick shake while trying to hold back my gagging. Meanwhile, I could feel Vincent watching from behind me.

“Prentiss is married to my mother, he’s not my father,” I corrected.

“Right, right. Anyway, I’m a single digit handicap myself, but I won’t brag and tell you what it is,” Beck guffawed.

If I didn’t hate him the moment he opened his mouth, I did now.

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