Page 22 of The Mistletoe Trap
Undo, undo. Let’s pretend I didn’t ask that question.
Kory did glance back now, and Gavin rubbed at his cheek in case there was any lipstick. Then he went to lift his right hand before remembering that side of his body wasn’t functioning properly at the moment, so waving meant using his left arm instead.
“Hey, fancy seeing you here. Kory, right?” Without waiting for an answer, Gavin popped a squat across from him.
“Oh. Yeah. I’m here with Julie actually.”
“Right. You guys made plans last night. I came to grab some dinner myself.”
Kory’s phone buzzed on the table, and he flipped it over suspiciously fast. Right then and there, Gavin decided he wasn’t a fan. If a fling was Julie’s goal, he supposed it wouldn’t much matter in the long run, but he hated the idea of her having sex with anyone who might not take care of her needs. Anyone who might not take care of her in general.
In his ear, he heard the flush of the toilet, the rush of water, and then Julie’s voice, quiet with a slight echo. “Okay, no more shop talk. My fun facts aren’t fun for most people,” she said, and Gavin stifled a laugh, sure she’d forgotten he was still on the other end of the call. “You can do this.”
Unlike Julie, Gavin understood responding to her aloud would blow his cover, so he didn’t verbally assure her that she could. He’d have to make do with body language once she returned to the table.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted her heading back this way.
An elderly couple he couldn’t quite place stopped her, and she lit up. Her eyes sparkled; her dimples popped. Then she resumed her walk, her hips swaying with each step.
The instant their gazes locked, her smile spread, leaving everything inside of him fuzzy and light. He wished there weren’t so many shallow guys out there. If they would give Julie a chance, they’d be blown away by how smart and sexy she was. Not to mention hilarious. Maybe a bit TMI sometimes, but he’d take that any day over cryptic and complicated.
“Hello, boys.”
Kory beamed, and Gavin fought the urge to kick him under the table. Perhaps he should eat something—his grumpy mood likely stemmed from hunger.
That was his theory and he was sticking to it.
Thanks to his “revelation,” he didn’t immediately notice that the two of them were gaping at him like he was the third wheel on this bicycle meant for two. “Right.” He tapped the top of the table with his hand and then pushed to his feet. “I’ll let you two finish your date.”
As he started into the aisle to switch places with Julie, the Serranos, one of the prominent families in town, happened to be walking by. Add in the hostess showing them to their table, and they suddenly found themselves in a bit of a traffic jam.
“Why, if it isn’t our famous football star.” Mrs. Serrano hugged him before turning to Julie to embrace her, while Mr. Serrano shook Gavin’s hand. Mrs. Serrano stepped back and hooked her arm through her husband’s. “It’s so nice to see you two together. We always knew you’d end up together, didn’t we, Bob?”
“Oh,” Julie said, casting a glance at Kory. “Gavin and I are just friends.”
Mrs. Serrano winked, making it clear she didn’t believe them, and awkwardness settled over the table as the Serranos moved on to have their dinner.
“That happens a lot,” Julie said with a nervous laugh. “No one in this town believes us.”
Kory’s expression remained unchanged, no flicker of emotion over her statement. Before Gavin could figure out what—if anything—that meant, their food arrived, providing the perfect excuse for him to leave. He whispered in Julie’s ear that she had this, squeezed her hand, and then guided her into her seat. With that settled, he headed to the bar.
Once there, he advised Julie, “Just be flirty, smile a lot, touch his hand here and there, and let him meet you in the middle. The guy’s gotta at least do some of the work. All you have to do is give him a strong signal that you’d be into it—but remember, hints don’t always work on dudes.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her repeat the move he’d instructed her to do earlier. Elbow on the table, cheek on the fist, and when she opened her mouth, Gavin held his breath.
“Just thought you should know that you look a lot like this guy I’m going to hook up with later.”
Kory choked on the water he’d been sipping—in hindsight, Gavin probably should’ve mentioned a line like that shouldn’t be used while someone was eating or drinking. It was far too powerful.
After the guy recovered, he cast her a goofy smile that left no doubt he was into the idea of getting in her pants. And Gavin ran a hand across his jaw and reminded himself it was what she wanted. Fling or one-night stand or what-the-hell-ever, Kory had better treat her with respect or he’d be getting a follow-up visit.
With her well on her way, and his irritation growing fangs that longed to be used, it was time to sign off. “Great job. You’ve hooked him, and I’m going to leave the rest to you. Over and out—don’t respond verbally. A nod will do.”
Part of him didn’t want Julie to bob her head, yet the idea of eavesdropping on the entire date also seemed akin to torture. But as Kory began to tell her about his job, and she laughed at all the right places, Gavin went ahead and turned off his ear pod and slipped it into his pocket.
He ordered a drink and considered it a win that he glanced at Julie only a handful of times.
And only two of those times did he experience that weird pinch of jealousy.
