Page 86 of Love Is an Art
“No, you didn’t. I saw that guy cut in front of you, and I spoke to you first.” He leans back in his chair.
“Yes. But I set that up. Have you ever seen the movieThe Lady Eve?”
“The 1940s Barbara Stanwyck movie?”
“You know your movies.” I’m impressed.
“It’s a classic. Friday was family movie night, and we rotated who picked. My mom always chose a romantic comedy or those old screwball comedies.”
His mom raised such a good son.
“I saw you across the room and thought you were attractive. But I also saw you reject three women before me. Similar toThe Lady Eve.”
“But she trips him.”
“Well, that seems a bit extreme, as a first approach anyway. Instead, I asked William, Miranda’s boyfriend, to cut in front of me so it would give you an opening if you were interested.”
Zeke stares at me, his mouth slightly open. “You knew the guy who cut in front of you? You arranged all of that?”
I nod. That’s a look of horror. I shouldn’t have brought this up. I knew this wouldn’t go well, but I definitely wanted to get it out before he somehow meets William. Given our luck so far, that’s only a matter of time. And better now while he has to continue working with me. “But I mean, I guess you did have to take the initiative to start a conversation. I take back that I picked you up. You did pick me up.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t even know what to say. Do all women do this?”
“I can’t speak for all women, but I would say that for sure, some of my friends can come up with quite intricate plots to ‘coincidentally bump’ into the guy they like. My college roommate memorized her crush’s class schedule so she could randomly run into him. Another friend pretended that the coffee shop was having a two-for-one sale so she had an extra coffee that she gave him. And I actually first joined the sailing club because I’d met this guy at a party, and he mentioned that he was a member. I joined, hoping to run into him. But at least I could sail.”
“Yeah.” The corners of his mouth tip up. “Did that work? Did you run into him?”
“Not once. But there were a lot of other hot men sailing, so all was not lost.” Did he growl? I think Zeke may have growled. He looks away.
Outside the hotel room door, some guests converse in Spanish as they pass our room.
“I had to actually call that guy to see him,” I say. “But I don’t think he was looking for a long-term relationship. He seemed like more of a free spirit. He was the guy I liked before Wyatt. Wyatt was definitely looking for a serious relationship—that was probably part of his appeal.” I shouldn’t feel the need to defend my dating Wyatt, but I do. Although frankly, Paisley was not someone I’d want to date.
“Having your friend cut in front of you is quite elaborate. But I guess I’m kind of flattered that you went to all that trouble.”
I smile. “You should be. I don’t do that for everybody.”
His eyes narrow. “You’ve done it for other guys too? Gosh, I feel so commonplace.” He makes this adorable pout.
I cough. Damn. I stuck my foot in my mouth again. “I’ve done it twice before,” I admit softly. “But once, it didn’t work. There has to be a certain spark for it to work.”
“And what happened with the previous guy with whom it worked?”
“He was the sailing guy. Nothing. And now you. I guess I should retire it as a method, given its track record.”
“You should definitely retire it.” And the way he says it, it’s like there’s an underlying, frustrated, possessive growl, and I feel this shiver deep in my gut. Like he’s saying I need to retire it because he is the guy for me.
And I think he may be.
But until we’re back together, he’s not. I stick my chin up. “You’re right. I definitely need to come up with a better method.”
He stares at me, and there’s something in his gaze I can’t read.
“Let’s focus on the case. I’m relieved we have some leads,” he says dryly. “I’ve highlighted the most recent restaurants that joined the app that are all close together. Let’s meet them tomorrow at lunch. They’re in an area called Romita.”
“That sounds good,” I say.
We look at each other. Suddenly, I am very conscious that it is late at night, and we are in a hotel room with one bed.
