“You know what I’ll have,” Dash says and hands over his menu.
I don’t know why, but it bugs me that he brings all his dates to the same place. I don’t understand—if he hates dating so much, why do it? I’d ask him but I’m trying to be rude so I’m not doing small talk. I reach into my purse and pull out my phone to text the girls an update. I can feel his eyes on me the whole time as I fire off one text after another.
“Is something wrong?” he says, and I look up from my phone. Suddenly it starts going off like crazy in my hand.
“Checking some stuff.” His chiseled jaw flexes and I can see I’m getting to him. I look back at my phone and continue to text the group chat about what’s going on.
Cherry: He’s trying to get some.
Blair: Damn, he’s talking?!
Harlow: Yep! Totally trying to get laid.
Me: Wait. Did any of you sleep with him?
A bunch of nos come through with reminders of how they all ditched him.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” he asks again, staring at my phone. “Are you checking the dating app? Do you have another date after this one?” His nose flares.
“Depends on how this one goes,” I say dryly, then pick up my wine and take a long sip. “Are you picking up the tab? I saw creme brûlée on the dessert tray.”
By the way his eyes widen, I wonder if maybe I went too far.
Chapter Four
Dash
For the first time since I can remember, and maybe ever, a woman has knocked me speechless.
The way she keeps playing on her phone is not only annoying, but it’s making me jealous of a piece of technology. Why is she giving it her complete focus instead of me? What did I do wrong?
Flashes of me sitting in this very same restaurant with other women hit me like a jolt of electricity. Me on my phone ignoring them completely, and then me getting up and walking out without so much as a backwards glance. Jesus, could she potentially do this to me?
The second I saw her, something was different and now I’m beginning to second-guess every decision I make. Should I try and push for more conversation, or should I just let her talk? Do I tell them to bring the dessert cart around now, or does she want to wait? Doubt is something I’m not familiar with and I don’t fucking like it.
Every time I see her tuck her dark hair behind her ear, I ache to be the one to do it. The delicate movement of her fingers as she texts on her phone makes we wonder what that would feel like on my chest. The way she bites her bottom lip when she’s self-conscious is driving me crazy and if she doesn’t turn those big brown eyes on me in the next two seconds, I’m going to flip this table over.
My blood boils the longer she taps on her phone and sips her wine like I’m not even here. If this is the game she wants to play then she’s going to be upset, because I won’t take a gamble. Not when I’ve finally found her.
“Put your phone down,” I say, my voice low and laced with an order.
She looks up and raises an eyebrow at me. “Excuse me?”
I lean close and speak in a punctuated sentence so she doesn't miss it this time. “I said. Put. Your. Phone. Down.” Her mouth closes and she audibly swallows as she lowers her phone to the table. When I look up, the waiter is standing close by and I point to him. “You, we’re taking our food to go.”
I push away from the table and he runs off quickly; I assume it’s to do as I’ve told him.
“Wait, what’s happening?” She looks at me and I hold my hand out.
“You’re coming with me.”
“B-but…wait.” She looks around the crowded restaurant and I’m sure there are people watching, but I don’t give a shit.
I grab her phone and lean in close to her. “You are going to get your cute ass up and come on a real date with me. We’re going to start over, and you’re going to like it.”
She stares at me with wide eyes as I swipe open her phone and see the group text she was on going crazy. I sigh as I type out my message.
Me: This is Dash Belmont and this is my number. I’m taking Brooklyn to dinner, and then I’m bringing her home at midnight. I’m sharing her location and mine too. She’s going to be with me until I bring her home and then she can respond to you. Until then, have a good night.
I turn her phone on silent and tuck it into my pocket with my own cell.
“Get up.” I hold out my hand once again and she blinks a few times. “Now.”
With that one word she pops out of her chair like she sat on a porcupine and slips her small hand in mine. Without a word I pull her behind me as I make my way through the now-silent restaurant. No doubt we put on quite the show for them, but I’m hoping everyone got a look at the stunning woman on my arm. Now they’ll all remember she’s with me, and that puts a smile on my face.
My driver is by the curb, and when he sees me he comes running around to the side of the car. I hold my hand up and shake him off.
“We’re going to walk,” I say as I nod back to the restaurant.
