Page 72 of Double or Nothing

“Don’t bother. What’s done is done, but if you ever pull a fucking stunt like that again, you’re fired.”

Mac nods, knowing full well I would never fire him, despite his stupid stunt. A moment later, a smile spreads across his face.

“You’re glad I did it, though, aren’t you?”

I shake my head and laugh.

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“If she shows for dinner tonight.”

It’s time for a little payback, and I know just the strings to pull to wind him tighter than a virgin at a prison rodeo.

“So, how’s Liz?” The question is innocent enough, but asking him rather than Kat, or even hell, Liz, makes him jumpy. It also turns the big buffoon’s cheeks bright red.

“How should I know?”

“You’re crushing on her pretty hard.”

“Am not.”

“Really, bud? You look all giddy and goofy just at the sound of her name. You should have seen what you looked like when you laid eyes on her the other night.”

“What? What do you mean? What did I look like?”

Insert payback now. Without warning, I change the subject.

“You’re going to make sure Kat and I are alone, right? No fans. None of her clients interrupting us?”

“I know my job, Sut. Now, what were you saying about the other night?”

“Glad we had this talk.” I slap him on the shoulder as I get up from the couch. “I’m going to take a shower.”

I can hear him shouting after me as I walk away quietly, laughing. This is the least the fucker deserves after what he pulled. Between tricking me with the contract and forcing Kat’s hand, he’s skating on thin ice. Leaving him hanging eases the frustration.

***

Stepping into the restaurant, I’m a jumbled ball of nerves. I arrived early to make sure everything was right—The flowers, the wine. I can’t leave anything to chance. Not tonight.

With everything set, I sit at the table, sipping my whiskey. Usually, I’m a beer guy. My dad drank the hard shit, and something about being like him or fear of turning into him typically makes me steer clear of it. Not tonight. Tonight warrants something a little stronger than beer.

My eyes drop to glance at my phone to check the time. She should be here any minute. I’ll be damned if I don’t feel like a teenager on a first date—anticipation, hope, and blinding fear.

Once I see her, all of it will ease. It always does. My eyes gravitate toward the entrance. Like kismet, Kat steps into the restaurant. Not only does the sight of her relieve any anxiety, but it also knocks the wind right out of me.

Nothing in the world has ever looked as beautiful as she does at this moment. Her dress is stunning in my favorite shade of blue, and her dark hair falls in loose waves. My favorite part is when her eyes find me, and she smiles.

I rise from my seat as she approaches, following the hostess. I may not have learned shit from my parents, but my grandmother made sure that if I knew nothing else, I knew how to have manners.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her, completely at a loss for words. Sweet, beautiful perfection.

“Thanks.” Her cheeks flush a pale pink. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”

Both of us reach for the chair, but when she feels my hand on hers, she slides it out and allows me to pull the chair out for her. “Thank you. Got to love Grandma Virginia and her manner lessons.”

I chuckle as I help guide her chair back in. “That’s because you’re not the one who had to sit through them.”

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