Page 45 of Accidentally Ours

“Here we are!” Chloe pulls open the door to the restaurant and we follow her in.

The host seats us at a four top where Emma loads the extra seat with her shopping bags. The waitress stops by to take our drink order. My head is buried in the menu, trying to decide which decadent pasta dish I want, when I hear a male voice beside our table.

“Ladies.”

I drop my menu to find the guy from Hunter’s dinner party last night standing at our table. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a button-down shirt.

“Hi,” I say, my mind blanking on his name.

Emma saves me. “Hi, Andrew. Good to see you again.”

“Emma, it’s my pleasure.”

That’s right. Andrew. He was funny and sweet and we were having a conversation about the condo he sold before I got distracted with Hunter in the bathroom.

“Chloe Anderson, well, St. Clair.” Chloe waves the giant rock on her left hand, “Just haven’t gotten to all the paperwork yet.”

“That’s right. You’re Barrett St. Clair’s wife. I saw your wedding announcement. Nice to meet you, Chloe.”

Andrew turns his attention to me.

“Sophie, I’m sorry you had to leave early last night.”

“I wasn’t feeling well.” I give him a small smile.

“I hope it wasn’t the tequila shot.”

“No, I think I was just tired with it being my first week at my new job.”

“Well, you missed a fun night.” Andrew pauses for a moment, eyeing Emma before returning to me. “Sophie, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime? Grab dinner? Maybe a show?”

I can feel Emma and Chloe’s eyes on me and my cheeks warm. I have no idea how to respond. Only hours ago, Hunter and I had sex, and agreed to have a no-strings-attached sexual relationship, and while we did voice that we wouldn’t be sleeping with other people, we didn’t address whether we could go on a date with anyone else. There’s a difference, right? And if there isn’t, if I’ll need to choose, do I want to go out with Andrew more than I want to have sex with Hunter? Andrew’s nice, but being in his presence doesn’t make me deliciously horny in the best possible way. It’s not like being near Hunter where every cell in my body vibrates. Hunter makes my palms sweaty and my heart race out of my chest. Not to mention the way my ovaries swoon every time his lips pull into one of those devastating smiles.

I don’t want to embarrass him in front of the other ladies by saying no, but I don’t know that saying yes is right either. He must pick up on my hesitation.

“Sorry to put you on the spot.” Andrew reaches into his wallet and pulls out a business card. “Think about it and let me know.”

“Of course,” I say, taking his card and safely tucking it into my purse.

“Enjoy your lunch, ladies.” He steps back from the table.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Bye, Andrew.” Emma gives him an enthusiastic wave before he departs.

When he’s gone, Emma’s brows raise as she reaches for her water glass. “That was interesting.”

I shrug, trying to figure out a way to explain the situation withoutexplainingthe situation.

“He’s handsome and seems sweet,” Chloe says. “Are you not into him?”

“He’s nice. I just don’t know if I want to date right now. Being new to the city and my job, I think focusing on my career is probably best.”

“But you could still have some fun.” I swear Emma has hearts in her eyes. She thinks she’s witnessing the start of a romance to be. That with her encouragement, Andrew and I could be the next great love story. “And you said you want to see the city. What could be more fun than exploring the city with a hot guy?”

She’s right. I do want to explore my new city. I was already in love with New York before I moved here, and I’ve only been a handful of places so far. Mainly work and the subway. I know I have time to do everything, but it would be nice to have someone show me around.

“He’s nice. I think we could be friends.”

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