Page 24 of Getting the Grinder
“Carter and Suki got home. Hallie said she had fun.”
He nods. “Carter looks like he’s been on a monthlong tropical getaway.”
“Yeah, Suki had a little color, too. But she’s so fair she doesn’t really tan.”
“You like Neptune’s? For dinner?”
I’ve only been to the upscale restaurant once, when Carter and Suki invited me for dinner to celebrate Olivia’s birthday. On my salary, the closest I get to seafood is usually a Filet-O-Fish.
“I don’t care where we go. I’m good with bar food.”
“Well, I’m buying, so we’re going to Neptune’s.”
I look down at my fitted gray pants and black flats. With the red silky cami and black cardigan I’m also wearing, it’s dressy enough, I suppose. On the rare occasions when I go to nice restaurants, I like to wear dresses and heels.
But this isn’t a date. It’s just a weird, impromptu dinner with Leo, whom I mostly dislike.
“Just tell me what it is,” I blurt. “I can’t stand not knowing.”
“I want you to hear me out.”
“And you think I won’t do that if we’re in the car?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “I think if you have a nice glass of wine on the way, you’re less likely to blow up and leave.”
“Okay.” I shake my head, aggravated. “I can buy my own wine and drink it at home if I want to. Out with it.”
He shifts in his seat, looking uncomfortable. “So it starts with my teammate Anson. He’s a good guy, but he’s hairier than a fucking gorilla. He’s very masculine-looking, you know?”
“And this relates to me how?”
He sighs heavily. “He has a twin sister. And apparently she has a thing for me.”
“Aw, she’s blind?” I cover my mouth with my hand. “I’m sorry. That just slipped out.”
He flicks a glare at me. “She’s his twin sister, and she’s coming here for New Year’s Eve. He wants to fix me up with her, and when he mentioned it at dinner yesterday, I sort of told him I’m already seeing someone.”
“There you go. Problem solved. No hurt feelings.”
He nods, not saying anything. I just look at him for a few seconds, waiting.
“Are you going to get to the part where this has anything to do with me?”
“Just a sec ...” The light we’re at turns green and he accelerates. “Just let me get up to a speed where you can’t jump out of the car ... okay, surely this is fast enough. I, uh ... said I’m dating you.”
Chapter Nine
Leo
* * *
Mara just gapes at me for a couple of seconds. Then she laughs.
“Are you joking?”
I grip the steering wheel tighter, annoyed. “Why would I joke about this? It’s not remotely funny.”
Her smile slides away. “But why me? Aren’t there like ... a thousand other women in your phone you could have asked?”
