Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Propping my chin on my hand, I invited him with a “Tell me more…”
His phone vibrated on the table. He grimaced, and without letting go of my hand, flipped the phone over and tapped to send the call to voicemail.
“Do you need to take that?” I offered. After I’d given him grief about a supposed SOS call last night, I very carefully didn’t peek at the name on the screen.
“Not this time.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
See, I trust you. I am taking this flirtation at face value.
Jake shook his head though. Only, it seemed like he also was carefully not looking at the device. “If it’s urgent, my sisters always follow up with a text.”
On cue, the device buzzed against the tabletop in a short burst and the screen lit up with a text preview.
I didn’t want to look. But he’d just said “if it’s urgent” and those words repeated like a warning.
My gaze strayed for a second, catching a familiar image on Jake’s screen.
I recognized my old logo before I recognized myself. I tilted my head to make sure, to look at it from another angle, but I didn’t have time before Jake snagged the phone from the table.
I blinked in confusion, but then I connected all the dots. My stomach dropped and my blood chilled.
“Who is sending you my picture, Jake?”
His face said, “Oh, fuck.”
13
MANGO CAKE STANDOFF
Jake
Ruby leaned back in her chair as far as she could, clearly putting distance between us. Her face was bloodless and stricken, which shouldn’t bother me more than getting caught, but it did.
Before I could answer that question—who’s sending the pic—she asked another. “Did Duke send you? Are you here to get him ammo to use against me?”
“Who is Duke?” I asked in confusion. Was that another player in the game? Andrew hadn’t mentioned anyone with John Wayne’s nickname.
Ruby’s gaze flicked from me to the handful of other diners nibbling on fish tacos, drinking tropical drinks, passing the warm afternoon hours on the deck of the bar and grill, and finally to the door, as if debating whether or not she should leave.
Then we both stared at each other for a beat, neither one bending or giving an inch, when the waitress appeared, clapping her hands like she was announcing a prize. “How about some dessert? Tanice says it’s on the house if you want it.”
Way to read the room, lady.
Or maybe she had and was doing me a favor. Ruby looked blankly at the server, and I took advantage of the interruption. Glancing at the chalkboard menu with the day’s specials, I said as smoothly as I could, “How about a slice of mango cake with a scoop of coconut ice cream?” I flashed a smile. “I can’t resist anything with coconut.”
The woman looked at Ruby expectantly. “Anything for you?”
Ruby blinked again and then seemed to shake herself out of a fog. “We’ll share it,” she told the waitress.
“One mango cake coming right up!” the server chirped, then headed for the kitchen.
A few beats of silence passed, then Ruby folded her arms. “Seriously, who are you?”
“Who is Duke?” I countered. I didn’t want to give up information before she did—though I’d rather avoid giving any.
“If you have anything whatsoever to do with that asshole trolling my business and ruining my professional life…” With a tight jaw, Ruby pointed to the phone still in my hand. “Is that who sent that picture of me?”
I shook my head, grateful I had no clue who this jackass was who’d hurt her. “I don’t know who that is. Whoever he is, he didn’t send me your picture. It’s from my sister.” That was actually the truth, which helped me sound convincing while I searched for the rest of the excuse. “She’s always poking her nose into my business, and last night I mentioned I met a woman and was going to see her again today.”
Ruby gave me a dubious look. “Really.” It was hardly a question. It was a statement and it said she thought I was bullshitting her.
Running a hand through my hair, I called up my fond exasperation over Kate’s matchmaking. “She’s been texting and pestering me for details, so while you were in the ladies’, I told her your name, now that I know it.”
That was also true, though convincing Ruby wasn’t going to be easy. But in addition to asking Andrew for details, I’d also texted my sister Ruby’s name so she could check her background.
“Yeah?” Ruby’s arched eyebrow was slowly descending, along with her tension level.
“Yeah.” I waggled the phone, careful nothing showed but the lock screen. “So she googled you.”
“And found that pic on my website?”
“Must have.” I really hoped so. “She didn’t specify. Maybe Instagram?”
“Hmm…”
I scratched my nose, letting my chagrin come through. “Once I said you were smoking hot, Kate was like a terrier on the scent.” I reached across the table to again touch her hand. “I’m sorry it upset you. I blame my nosy, matchmaking sister.”