Page 71 of Mr. Flirt

“Is this the person you were waiting for?” Julien asked, glancing at Shep.

Horror settled deep into my bones at the sudden realization that this man had not been sent by Shep.

Julien looked up at Shep and smiled. “Hey, bro. She and I have something going here right now.”

Shep looked amused as I squirmed in the booth. “Oh, yeah? I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding,” I muttered quickly.

Julien scowled at Shep. “Seriously, man. We’re headed out soon.”

I shook my head. “No. No, we’re not. There’s been a huge misunderstanding.”

Shep chuckled. “Misunderstanding?”

Julien drew a deep breath. “What are you talking about? You were going to keep me warm tonight. Those very words rolled off your tongue.”

My entire head felt like a volcano was erupting as both men looked at me.

“I meant like... I mean...” I shifted in the seat.

Shep smirked and kept his eyes on me, which made my pulse soar.

“I thought...” I bit my bottom lip and let out a grunt. “I didn’t mean what I said.”

The bartender showed up with a drink for Julien, who shot up from the booth. “So, you’re one of those broads. Figures. All talk and no action.”

I grimaced. “Afraid so.”

Julien not only grabbed his drink, but he also grabbed the one he’d ordered for me, too, before sulking off to an empty table by the bar.

I refused to look at Shep, so I stared straight ahead and hummed a little song as I played with my napkin. I’d managed to turn the fabric into a swan and then into a cube before crumpling it into a mess of fabric.

“Keeping him warm?” Shep finally prodded, sliding into the seat across from me. “He doesn’t strike me as your type.”

I finally forced myself to look at the sexiest man alive, who looked far too amused with this entire debacle.

“I thought he was a test. I thought you sent him and were listening or something. I wanted to do my best at flirting for a one-night stand.” I smiled.

“I’m not that clever.”

I laughed, feeling the immediate chemistry I kept trying hard to shake. “Says the man who crashed a matchmaking event.”

“And how did that go for me?”

“Well, you’re here.”

Shep let out a deep breath but didn’t take the bait. “So, you offered to keep him warm tonight?”

I nodded, fidgeting with my napkin.

This was worse than interrogating my own client.

“But not for real,” I added.

Shep’s smile widened. “I don’t think he knew that.”

“Apparently not. Maybe lessons were a bad idea.”

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