Page 16 of The P Arrangement

She pursed her lips. “We’ll be fine.” A smile replaced her frown. “Besides, I want you to enjoy yourself tonight.”

“I’ll try,” I muttered and walked out the door.

But when I got to the restaurant and met my date, it confirmed what I’d already suspected. Anna seemed like a perfectly nice lady, but she wasn’t the one I wanted.

EIGHT

DELANEY

I tried notto nod off as I listened to my date, Clint, drone on and on about his job as a tech engineer. I was sure he found his career interesting, but unfortunately, I did not.

To be honest, I didn’t find anything about him interesting. I had completely forgotten I was even supposed to go to dinner that night until my friend messaged me with a reminder this afternoon. And since said friend was the mayor of Minneapolis, I couldn’t possibly tell her that I wanted to cancel because I had slept with my ex-husband the night before. Nadine and I weren’t that close, and I had zero desire or need to involve her in my sex life. She also had a lot of power in the city, and I didn’t need to risk getting on her bad side.

So, I’d gritted my teeth and met her husband’s cousin with a fake smile as I counted down the minutes until I could go home, put on my most comfortable pajamas, and go to bed.

I felt like a bitch, but didn’t this dude do anything for fun? Didn’t he have any hobbies he could tell me about? We hadn’t even ordered our food yet, and I already wanted this evening to be over.

Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any worse, movement toward the front of the restaurant caught my eye. I stopped breathing and did a double take in disbelief. It was Preston. He was with a beautiful and elegant woman, and they were being seated at a table for two.

Trying to not let it bother me since I was on my own date, I looked away. But the pinch in my chest was back, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from finding him again.

I thought back to Vivian’s St. Patrick’s Day party when my ex had dropped by. He’d left soon after, saying he had other plans. Was this the person he’d had other plans with that night? How often did they see each other? Had I had sex with Preston while he was seeing someone else?

I didn’t realize I was still staring in his direction until he turned his head toward the back of the restaurant. Quickly, I lifted my menu up from where it had been sitting open in front of me.

Shit. I really hoped he hadn’t seen me.

I didn’t know what the chances were that the two of us would be on dates at the same restaurant the night after we slept together. I must have done something to piss off fate because I couldn’t believe this was my life.

“Did you need something?”

Turning back to Clint, I furrowed my brow. “What?”

“You were looking off into the distance, and now, you’re really staring at your menu. Do you have a question for our server?”

Chuckling, I shook my head. I didn’t have a question for our server, but it wasn’t a bad idea to try and get her attention. The sooner we ordered our food, the sooner we’d get it, and the sooner we’d eat and this whole night would be over.

“I guess I was wondering when she was coming to take our order.”

“They seem busy tonight.”

Not busy enough that Preston had gone somewhere else to eat.

“Yes, I’m sure she’ll come back soon.”

“Anyway, what was I talking about?”

“I…” Had no idea.

“Never mind.” My date smiled, waving his hand in front of him. “I remember.”

That was a relief because I sure didn’t, and I felt bad for not paying closer attention.

Checking to see if Preston was facing away from me, I put my menu back down.

I was still fighting to listen to the conversation without a single sighting of our server when my phone vibrated in my purse a few minutes later. And even though I knew it was rude, I snuck my cell out and onto my lap.

My eyes widened when I caught a glance at the person who’d texted me.

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