“Yeah, maybe.” That was actually really nice of him to have my back. Even if I didn’t plan on taking him up on his offer. “Thanks, man.”
“That’s what best friends are for.”
I laughed. “You’re just trying to one up Rob?”
Tanner shrugged. “Well, I don’t see him offering to go visit your almost father-in-law with you. Classic best friend duty if you ask me.” He shook his head like he thought Rob was the most ridiculous person he’d ever met.
Which was funny. Because they were both ridiculous. It was probably why they didn’t get along.
I wanted to just drop the Mr. Pruitt thing. But it was still weighing on me. I needed to talk to James about Poppy’s threat. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t talk to Tanner about my plans. “I actually have a better idea than going to see him. I’ve been trying to dig up dirt on his business dealings. If I could just have some leverage…”
“Consider it done,” Tanner said. He slid off his stool and pulled on his coat. “All you had to do was ask.”
Wait, what?
“I’ll call you with the details.” He turned to walk away.
Where was he going? What details? “Tanner!” I called after him.
But he was already gone.
Chapter 15
Saturday
Those big blue eyes. I could drown in those eyes. But no matter what I did today, I couldn’t capture the color. The size, the shape, the love they held…everything else was right. But not the color. It wasn’t quite her. I was usually good at painting Brooklyn’s eyes. But it was like the memory of her was drifting away.
I swirled more green into the paint and tried again. No, that isn’t right either. I closed my eyes and tried to remember. I pictured her laughing, the cool autumn breeze blowing a strand of hair into her face. I reached out to brush it away and the back of my hand collided with wet paint.
My eyes flew open. Crap. I grabbed a paper towel off the roll and wiped off my hand as I stared at the smeared paint. It looked like some kind of abstract portrait of Brooklyn crying. My fingers paused on the paper towel. How many times had I made her cry versus smile? Was it weighted in the wrong direction? Because this picture looked more like her than my others now. Brooklyn crying. I tried to swallow down the lump in my throat.
I just wanted to go back and do everything differently. I wanted to meet her when I wasn’t a dumb kid. I wanted another chance. Just one more freaking chance.
My cell phone buzzed, pulling my attention away from the canvas. I grabbed my phone with my hand that wasn’t covered in paint. There was a text from Penny wishing me luck on my date.
My date? I looked at the time. Shit! I’d completely forgotten about the stupid blind date.
I hurried out of the room and closed the door behind me. I tried to scrub the stupid paint off my hand but it wouldn’t come off. Shit, shit, shit. I didn’t have time for this. I was going to be late. Being late for any kind of meeting was rude. And it seemed especially rude for a date. Not that I cared about making a good impression. I was only doing this so I could keep hanging out with Penny.
Another text came through from Penny: “I really think you’re going to like her. Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Good luck!”
I looked at the time again. I only had 15 minutes to get across town. Which wasn’t possible. I didn’t bother responding to Penny as I changed into a pair of dress pants and a white button-down. I was out the door in a matter of minutes, without having bothered to shower or get the rest of the paint off the back of my hand.
***
I had no idea what my date looked like. I didn’t even know her name. But I still found myself looking around the restaurant instead of going to the hostess stand. There was a brunette in the far corner that was alone…nope. A man had just joined her with a kiss. If that was my date, we weren’t off to a great start.
My eyes kept scanning the restaurant. Everyone was paired off. It was like flourishing couples came here in droves. There were candles on each white-tableclothed table, giving the restaurant a romantic glow. Why had Penny chosen such an intimate restaurant for a first date? Or maybe my blind date had chosen it.
Either way, I didn’t see anyone else seated alone. Wait. I leaned forward to see a girl with mousey brown hair reading at a table. That had to be her. Penny loved reading. It would make sense for her to choose someone else who enjoyed it too. But I didn’t want to walk over, just in case I was wrong. I walked up to the hostess stand. “Hi. I have a reservation under Matthew…”
“Matthew Caldwell,” the hostess said. “Yes, I know.” She gave me a smile that I could only describe as seductive.
I smiled back. She was exactly the kind of girl I’d invite to spend the night in a hotel. She knew who I was. Or had at least heard about me. It was an easy win. An easy distraction. Part of me wanted to just steal her away now and skip this date that would most likely be terrible. I didn’t date. I flirted and hooked up. There was a huge difference. One that Penny definitely wouldn’t understand. I doubted the woman with mousey brown hair would understand either.
“I’m Tamara,” the hostess said. “And if there’s anything at all you need tonight, I’m your girl.”
I bet you are. Tamara got me.
Her smile quickly turned into a frown when she looked down at her chart. “Oh, it says you reserved a table for two.” She cleared her throat. “Your other party isn’t here yet, would you like to wait at the bar or be seated?”
I looked over my shoulder at the girl with brown hair. So that wasn’t her? I glanced down at my watch. I was 15 minutes late. Where the heck was my date? “Are you sure about that?” I asked. I wanted to ask her about the girl sitting alone reading, but I felt like it wouldn’t be well received. If she was my date, Tamara would have taken me over there.
“Positive.”
Huh. “I’ll just sit at the table to wait.”
“Very well. Right this way.”
I followed her to the table and she handed me a menu. She took a step back and then took a step forward. Her cheeks turned rosy like she was embarrassed. “If your date ends up being a no-show, you know where to find me.” And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Not embarrassed. Bold. My eyes landed on her ass as she walked back to the hostess stand. All I had to do was get through this terrible date and then I could take Tamara up on her offer.
I ordered a scotch. And then another. I checked my watch one more time. Maybe my date had come, scoped the place out, and left already. Or she was just a no-show. I looked over at the girl who had been reading. She’d been joined by her date. I was the last one alone in this restaurant, looking like a damned idiot.
And I wasn’t going to tell the waiter to wait any longer. I was about to wave him down to pay for my drinks when I saw someone running through the restaurant. She had bright, wavy red hair, and her face was bright red too. She looked around the restaurant feverishly. And for just a second, I was worried she was going to try to rob the place or something. Or burst into tears. Or…do something else that she really shouldn’t.
Tamara went up to her and they started talking. The redhead waved her hands around as she talked, still trying to peer around the restaurant. And then they both turned to me.