Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Fuck. Is this all going to be a waste of time?
No.
Coffee with a gorgeous, intelligent lady like Thea is never a waste of time.
“That’s fine. We can get some sandwiches. Do you have any recs since you come here often?”
She nods. “The caprese sandwich is divine.”
“Caprese? Like mozzarella, tomato, and basil?”
“Yep. But I add bacon to it.”
“That sounds more like it.” I laugh as I turn to the barista. “Two caprese sandwiches, bacon added. Extra for mine.” I look back to Thea. “Anything to drink?”
“Just a medium iced coffee. Black.”
I turn back to the girl at the register. “Same for me this time.”
“All right, sir. So that’s two caprese sandwiches with bacon and two medium iced coffees. Cash or card?”
“Card.” I pull my credit card back out of my wallet and tap it on the screen.
“Great. That’ll be just a few minutes.”
I gesture toward the tables. “Shall we sit?”
Thea nods. “There’s a cozy couch in the corner.”
I look over. I must have missed it when I first came in here.
It isn’t a couch. It’s a loveseat.
Nice. She wants to cozy up to me.
If she did get with Wick, she’s not looking for seconds.
We sit down and another employee—male with dark hair, tattoos, and black jeans—drops off our orders.
Thea watches him walk off and unwraps her sandwich, taking a quick bite. After she swallows, she turns to me. “I don’t know if you saw me leave last night…”
I did. But I don’t want her to think I’m obsessed.
“I didn’t. But I saw you sitting alone at the bar at East. Did your date not show?”
She looks down. “No. He didn’t. Asshole.”
“I’m sorry. What a dick.”
“No kidding. After I got all dolled up.” She looks at her sandwich and then back to me. “But… I mean, anyway… After he didn’t show up, one of your bartenders swung by to…keep me company. He bought me a drink.”
“Uh-huh,” I say as flatly as I can.
“Well…. That is to say…” She sighs. “If you happened to see me leave with him, I just want you to know I didn’t do anything with him. I’m not… I’m not that kind of girl.”
A flicker of light pierces the storm clouds in my heart.
Thea didn’t sleep with Wick.
And—bonus points—she wanted me to know.
Halle-freaking-lujah!
She clears her throat. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I told you that.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” I chuckle unevenly. “Wick is an oddball. I’m glad you didn’t go home with him.”
She looks up, her cheeks reddening. “I… I did go home with him.”
I lift an eyebrow. Am I supposed to say something? And if so…what?
My phone rings.
A distraction. God bless.
“Sorry, one moment.” I pull out my phone and look at the display. It’s Leo.
Why the hell is he calling in the middle of the day? We don’t open for several hours.
I’ll ignore it. I want to hear more of what Thea has to say. I send Leo to voicemail and place my phone back in my pocket. “I’m sorry, can you repeat what you just said?”
She bites her lip. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You’re a perfect stranger.”
I shrug. “A perfect stranger who’s not going to judge you.”
She exhales sharply. “I highly doubt that.”
“Anyway, you were saying…”
She sighs. “Long story short. I went home with him. I was drunk. Not thinking straight. But once I got to his house I…changed my mind.” She blinks several times. “I’m sorry, can we discuss something else?”
“Sure. Whatever you’d like.” I unwrap my sandwich, unsure of how I feel about this new information. It sounds like Thea didn’t sleep with Wick, so at least there’s that.
“I’m such a mess today.” She takes a sip of her iced coffee. “I haven’t even been home since last night. And I completely spaced this work thing I have to do later—” She looks back up at me. “Wait a minute. You don’t happen to be free tonight, do you?”
I lean in. “Free for what?”
“Oh, what am I thinking? You have to open the club tonight. It’s Friday. Probably one of your busiest nights.”
“It is, but we don’t open until ten p.m. on Fridays. Ever since I took over the club, we’ve brought in a younger, hipper clientele. They weren’t showing up until after ten on the weekends, so I adjusted our hours.” I take a bite of my sandwich. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, if you are free, I’ve got a plus-one to this gala for an animal rescue charity tonight. My coworker is an absolute bitch with this perfect family, and”—the red in her cheeks deepens—“it would be nice for me to have a good-looking gentleman on my arm for once.”
Okay. Here’s my in.
I lean in, offer a knowing smile. “I’d be honored to join you tonight, Thea.”
Her eyes brighten. “Great! I’ll send you the details.” She pulls out her phone. “Can I get your number?”