His best friend, Phil, recently mentioned an article he’d read, touting matchmakers for the ultra-wealthy. But Sam wasn’t that desperate. Yet.
He didn’t like sleeping with women he didn’t care about. His mother raised him better than that, but holding out for true love would mean a life of celibacy. And that wasn’t a sacrifice he was willing to make. He’d landed somewhere in between and maintained a few friends-with-benefits relationships. Mostly very wealthy women who were in the same boat he was—waiting to find someone more interested in love than money.
Jake returned a little out of breath. “Hey, so, Sherry really wants to see my patrol car. I’m gonna take her back to my place, so she can check it out.” He said it with a straight face, which made Sam laugh out loud.
“Your patrol car? Do chicks actually fall for that?”
Jake winked but was unfazed.
“Well, you’re predictable, if nothing else. How am I supposed to get home, jackass?” Sam asked.
“Call a cab. Love you, bro!” Jake punched him in the shoulder and turned to go.
“Be safe,” Sam admonished. Jake gave him a thumbs-up as he walked away.
Sherry was waiting by the door, fluffing her hair and applying more lipstick. Sam just hoped she didn’t charge Jake in the morning.
He glanced back to the table where Sherry’s friend had been sitting, but it was empty. A quick scan of the crowd found her at the bar trying, in vain, to get the bartender’s attention. It was a busy night. She’d need to show a lot more cleavage to have any hope.
He took a final swig of his beer and set the glass on the table. What the hell? he thought and got up.
CHAPTER TWO
Sam approached the woman from behind. “Are you trying to get another drink?” he asked, leaning in to be heard over the noise.
She turned to face him, and her eyebrows shot up. “Are you talking to me?”
He nodded.
“Oh, um, no. I’m trying to ask for a phone. Mine’s dead, and my cousin couldn’t be bothered to let me use hers before she ran out of here. Ugh, I didn’t want to come here in the first place, and then she ditches me the first chance she gets. So rude!” She plowed a hand through her hair and gave a loud huff.
“I know the feeling,” Sam said. “Here, use mine.” He pulled out his phone, punched in the code to unlock it, and handed it to her. She stared at it blankly.
“I guess I need a phone number, huh?” She laughed. “Could you find me a number for a cab company? I don’t want to go searching around on your phone.” She handed it back with a smile, her straight, white teeth gleaming in the dim light.
She didn’t seem to recognize him, but he’d fallen for that trick before.
“You have a preference?”
“No. I just got into town yesterday and don’t know anything about the area. In fact, it just dawned on me, I don’t even know Sherry’s address. I’m staying with her until my place is ready. How the fuck am I supposed to get home?” Her pale skin immediately turned red.
Sam laughed. So, classy, but down to earth. He liked it.
“Do you know what the neighborhood’s called?” He almost offered to call his driver, but decided not to play that card just yet. If she was from out of town, maybe she really didn’t know who he was, and he could get to know her on his own terms.
“Does Redmond sound right? No, wait. That’s the city. I know it’s down the street from a big grocery store and close to a school. Oh, God. What a nightmare.”
“Well, Redmond is a city and a pretty big one at that. Hold on.” He pushed a button on his phone and waited. “Hey, dumbass, Sherry’s cousin needs her address to get home. Call me as soon as you get this.” He clicked off and then texted the same message.
“My brother’s not answering. You want me to try Sherry?”
She shook her head. “Everything’s on my phone. I don’t even know her phone number. I guess I need a charger more than a phone.”
“Have you eaten dinner?”
“Huh?”
“Food. Have you eaten yet?”
“Oh. No. We hadn’t gotten around to ordering before your friend hijacked my cousin.”
“He’s actually my brother, but don’t hold that against me. Let’s eat while we wait for Jake to call back. I’m starving.”
“Well, all right. Thanks for helping me.”
“Not a problem. My brother can be an idiot.”
“He’ll get along great with my cousin then,” she mumbled.
Placing his hand on her back to guide her through the crowd, he was pleased to learn he’d been right about the softness of her hair. It was silky smooth under his fingers. He grabbed a couple of menus from an empty table and handed her one as they sat. She made a sour face at the salad side, but her eyes lit up when she flipped it over to the burger side. He chuckled.
“Hey, what’s your name?” he asked.
“Annie.” She went back to studying the menu.
“I’m Sam.” The omission of his last name was intentional.
“Nice to meet you, Sam.” She went right back to the menu, indifferent to his attempt at conversation.
“So, where are you from?” He was a little surprised she hadn’t recognized him. She must’ve lived somewhere remote.
“San Francisco.”
San Francisco? And she didn’t know who he was? Impossible. Half of his company was situated there. He spent several weeks a year there. He wasn’t a vain person, but he was a realist.
He, his partner, and their company were in the news constantly and had been for years. Nine out of every ten homes in the U.S. used the software programs his company produced. And, as much as he hated it, he was a household name. That she didn’t seem to know him was suspicious.
Doubt crept in.
