Page 8 of The Problem with Dating
“Oh,” she rushed out. “So, then, it’s a gift? It just comes naturally?”
I leaned back in my chair and cocked my head. “You’re offended? Really?” She had nerve. “Seems like I’m the one who should be offended, don’t you think?”
This time, she leaned forward and placed her arms on the table. “How doesyourmother offering up your helpmyfault?”
“Please,” I drawled out. “We both know what this is.”
Her big eyes got bigger before saying, “You think this is a blind date? You think…oh, God, you think your mother set you up on a blind date with me, don’t you?”
My silence was answer enough.
She shook her head, and her laugh held no warmth. “You know what? I hope you enjoy your evening, Mr. Hayes. But before I go, I’d like to make one thing clear. This-” Echo pointed to the table as she stood up “-was not a blind date. I recently bought a home and there might be possible flood damage. I met your mother at MacArthur’s Hardware Store, and we got to talking. When I mentioned I was looking for an honest contractor for an estimate, she suggested her son could help me out.” Planting her hands on the table and glaring at me, she said, “However, she forgot to mention her son was an asshole. And after meeting you, I’d rather deal with a contractor who is going to rob me blind than spend a minute more in your company.”
“Hey, I-”
Echo turned around and called out to the waiter. “Excuse me?”
He approached our table with another smile on his face. “Yes, ma’am?”
I watched in absolute horror as she pulled money from her purse and tossed a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill on the table. “Please, make sure Mr. Hayes has the best dinner you have to offer,” she told him. “The change is all yours.”
I stood up. “So help me God, you better pick up that money,” I growled. “I do not need you paying for my dinner.”
She turned those scornful brown eyes my way. “I’m not paying for your dinner, Mr. Hayes,” she announced. “I’m paying for the obvious inconvenience to your Friday night.”
My phone rang, interrupting our little battle of the wills, and when I pulled it out of my pocket to see who it was, Echo made her way around the waiter and took off.
Glancing at the phone, I saw it was my best friend, Allen Carter, and decided he could wait. I slipped my phone back in my pocket and stormed out of the restaurant, going after Echo.
If I was wrong…
I got to the parking lot, and a small, grey Saturn was screeching out of the parking lot. I had her number, but I seriously doubted that she’d answer my call.
Chapter 5
Echo~
Ishouldn’t be this upset.
I hadn’t done anything wrong.
But I’d reached my limit of stress for the day-my lifetime, actually-and Gideon Hayes had been the final straw.
Originally, I had planned on spending the night in my new house and just sleeping on a foldout cot, but I’d been so heated after meeting that asshole, Gideon Hayes, I drove the two hours back to Amsterdam just to give myself something to do.
Aunt Charmlee’s house was already completely packed up. The movers had come by yesterday morning and had packed up everything tight. After having sold everything but the sentimental items, there wasn’t really that much to move. I had the basics in furniture, but not a whole lot of knickknacks, or clothes, or things like that.
When I had left Marco, I literally had left with nothing but a few items of clothing and sentimental items that had belonged to my parents. And once I had moved in with Charmlee, I had still remained a minimalist. I knew I’d eventually move out of her house once I got my life back together, so it had seemed pointless to accumulate a bunch of unneeded excess.
The plan had been for me to spend the night at the new house and greet the movers when they arrived tomorrow, but anger made me decide to go back to Aunt Charmlee’s and greet the movers there. I could follow them back tomorrow, even though it was stupid.
Even thoughIwas being stupid.
But damn Gideon Hayes.
I’ve been around a lot of douchebags in my life, but I was pretty sure I’d never met a more arrogant man in all my life.
Never.
