“Because that’s what it took for me to say yes.”
It feels strange to hear his words coming out of my own mouth. I can’t say them without reliving every electrically charged moment we’ve shared these past few days since Daniel’s reckless loss at Jared’s game table.
No more than I can help wondering how things might have been different if Jared and I had met under different circumstances. I must be crazy to even consider it, especially after yesterday, never mind all the troubling things Paige has confirmed about him today.
Not that my halo is without tarnish. After all, it’s not as if he forced himself on me. I kissed him willingly, welcomed his touch without reservation. I took off my clothes to pose for him on my own volition, and I signed his contract despite every instinct warning me that my life would never look the same again afterward.
Whether I want to deny it or not, everything female in me has been buzzing with an intense kind of electricity from the instant I walked into Jared Rush’s study the night of that poker game.
Even knowing he’s likely the worst man I could ever want doesn’t make the craving any less strong.
I’m not sure what that says about my relationship with Daniel. What that says about me as a person, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know.
“Ladies, how are we doing today?” The Australian-accented, deep voice that interrupts my slide into self-inflicted misery belongs to Gavin Castille, the celebrity chef and owner of the eponymous GC restaurant. “I trust lunch was to everyone’s satisfaction?”
“Superb,” Paige purrs, leaning forward to give the handsome Aussie her full attention, along with that of her breasts, which are shown off to their best advantage in a pretty push-up bra worn beneath the gauzy material of a low-cut boho top.
Gavin’s dimpled grin says he appreciates the effort, though his professionalism remains intact. “Excellent. Glad you enjoyed.” He glances at Evelyn with a warm smile. “Nice to see you again. You know, I still appreciate you lending a hand with the catering station at the Baine charity event at the zoo last month.”
“It was my pleasure, Gavin.”
“Zoo catering?” Paige asks. “Have you picked up a new hobby we don’t know about?”
Evelyn laughs. “Avery invited me to the event when we were reviewing my lingerie designs for her upcoming wedding to Nick. Since I was there anyway, I thought I might as well make myself useful and help out.”
Gavin gives her a knowing look. “I have a feeling you had another reason to stick around that day. I ran into Gabe at the Baine Building last week. He told me you two are engaged.”
“We are.” She flashes the diamond solitaire on her left hand, beaming with unrestrained joy. “We haven’t set a date or anything yet, but I hope it’s soon.”
“Congratulations,” Gavin says. “He seems like a great guy.”
She nods. “He’s the best. I’ve never been happier.”
“Glad to hear it. When the time comes for menu planning, let me know if you’d like help. I’m sure I could come up with something special for your big day.”
“Are you serious?”
“It’d be my honor,” he says, those dimples back for a return performance as he smiles at Evelyn, then nods at Paige and me. He pauses then, his brows furrowing as his gaze lights on me. “You were here a few nights ago at dinner.”
“I was.” God, that date with Daniel seems like it happened months ago.
“Well, it’s nice to see you here again. I must be doing something right in the kitchen to bring you back so soon,” Gavin says, pride making his bright green eyes gleam.
Paige lets go of a saucy laugh. “I’ll bet you do everything right. In the kitchen and elsewhere.”
I roll my eyes, even though he seems unfazed by my friend’s blatant objectification. “Ignore her, please. Lunch was delicious.”
“I aim to please.” He taps the edge of our table. “Have a great day, ladies.”
“Oh. My. God,” Paige says once he’s gone. “Talk about delicious. Which reminds me, I really need to get laid.”
Evelyn nearly chokes on her white wine. “You’re unbelievable. Are you going for a world record, or something? I think what you really need is to find a good man and settle down.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Eve. You found yours.”
I thought I’d found mine in Daniel, too. Or maybe I wanted to believe that so much, I had myself convinced he was everything I could possibly want in a man.
Those illusions began to crack the night he brought me here for dinner, then on to Jared Rush’s poker game. As hurtful as it was to learn about Daniel’s gambling problems the way I did, it isn’t fair for me to pretend any longer that things between us can ever be what they were before.
Meeting Jared Rush changed all of that, in more ways than I want to consider.
17
MELANIE
My thoughts are still churning after we’ve finished lunch and paid the bill. As we wait for the valet to bring Evelyn’s Volvo around, a white SUV rolls up to the curb outside the restaurant. A group of three men dressed in suits on a Saturday afternoon climb out of the vehicle with another, more casually attired group wearing khakis and pastel-colored polo shirts. They’re engaged in animated conversation, lots of grins and chuckling as they gather next to the SUV while a valet jogs over to assist them.
I might only give them a passing glance, but then I notice the Crowne & Merritt Architects logo on the passenger door of the SUV. One of the suited men is Daniel. I quickly turn my head away from him, an impulse I can neither control nor explain.
All I know is I don’t want to see him right now. I’m not ready to deal with—
“Melanie?” His voice cuts through the traffic noise and chatter of his companions, impossible to
