Page 12 of One and Only

I cleared my throat and walked around the corner. The server’s eyes widened to a comical degree. Greer choked on the bite of pasta.

“Have a minute?” I said smoothly.

She swallowed, eyes darting to Rocco.

“Up to you,” he said quietly.

Greer’s eyes fell shut, then she nodded.

“Can you tell him I got a phone call and I’ll be right there?” she asked.

Rocco gave her a friendly pat on her shoulder and left us alone.

“What are you doing?” I asked her. “Because I know this is not normal date behavior.”

Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine.

All my instincts were screaming that something was off.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

Greer slicked her tongue over her teeth, a mighty internal battle waging on her face. I’d heard what she told Rocco, but I needed to hear it from her.

“I’m just …” She paused, glancing down at the ground as she shook her head. When her head lifted, determination was stamped all over her face. “I’m looking for someone to do something for me, but it can’t be anyone I know.”

I gaped at her. “That is wildly unhelpful.”

She huffed. “Listen, you didn’t want to tell me your story either.”

My jaw ticked. “You’re not in trouble, though?”

Greer rolled her shoulders. “No.”

“Is it illegal?”

“No?”

The way she said it had me staring her down.

“It’s not.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t think,” she finished in a slightly more tentative voice.

I glanced back at the living Ken doll sitting in the booth. “He looks like an asshole.”

“I don’t need him to be—” She stopped abruptly. “I don’t need to explain this to you. I’ve known you for five minutes.”

“I’ll be able to face down your brother with a clear conscience when I see him next week? I’m not walking away while you’re about to get trafficked or something, am I?”

“Please,” she said. “I have a taser in my purse, and I’m wearing five-inch heels. He wouldn’t get very far if he tried.”

“Greer. This isn’t a joke.”

She faced me square on. “I need a husband, okay?” she hissed. “And I’m trying to … find one,” she finished miserably.

I wiped a hand over my mouth as I tried very, very hard to process what she’d just told me.

“A husband,” I said.

Her cheeks blushed furiously.

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