“He did say not to worry about it, but I still felt really bad. I basically called him a thief to his face and I don’t even know him.”
She waved a hand, leaning forward as her gaze caught on mine. “If he said not to worry, don’t worry. Besides, like you just said, you don’t even know him. He wouldn’t be in that industry if he hadn’t developed a thicker skin than us mere mortals have. What’s more interesting to me is why you’re blushing like that. All this happened hours ago, and this is me you’re talking to. You never blush when you talk to me.”
I took a large gulp of wine and swallowed slowly, licking my lips when I was done. “It’s just that I found him attractive, is all. I haven’t felt that way since… for a long time.”
She reached out to give my knee an affectionate squeeze, understanding warming her eyes. “I get it, honey, but it’s not a crime to notice a good-looking man.”
Sitting back again, she picked up her phone off the round metal table beside her. “What’s his name, though? I need to see the man who’s captured your interest.”
“Taydom,” I said, narrowing my eyes as I tried to remember his last name from the card.
As it turned out, Beth didn’t need me to tell her. Her eyes went wide and she stilled. “Taydom Gaines? I mean, it’s gotta be him. It’s not a common name.”
I snapped my fingers and nodded. “Gaines. Yeah, that was it. Do you know him?”
“Do I know him?” she muttered and gave me a look of exasperation and amusement. “I don’t know him personally, but I do know of him. Every female in the city who has a pulse knows of him.”
“Why?” I pointed at my chest with my glass. “Also, not true. I didn’t know of him.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been a bit out of it. For obvious and totally understandable reasons, but even so. He’s one of the richest guys in the city, El. He’s also one of the hottest, so I really wouldn’t worry about having been awkward in front of him. I’m sure he’s plenty used to it by now.”
“Wait. Back up. Has he become one of the richest and hottest guys in the city in the last month? Why haven’t I heard about him?”
She shrugged. “It’s not like you’ve ever really kept up with the who’s who of the city. Neither have I, to be honest. There was an article published last month in the Dallas Times that’s shone the spotlight on him again, though, and it’s lingering. I’ve known about him for a long time, but that’s only because he does what he does. You can’t be interested in real estate and not know who he is.”
“God, I can’t believe he’s some kind of real-estate superhero and I came out and basically called him a thief.” I groaned. “It’s a freaking wonder he gave me his card at all. He must have been so offended.”
“Wait.” She held up a finger and tucked her chin in. “He gave you his card?”
I nodded. “He said he’d love to help me find my first house.”
“I hope you took him up on his offer. He pretty much only deals in commercial property nowadays. If he was willing to help you find a place, he couldn’t have been too offended. Plus, you couldn’t have a better person helping you find a place.”
“I’m not even sure if I want to buy yet, though. I didn’t take him up on it right away because I didn’t want to waste his time, but now it feels like asking for his help would be an even bigger waste of his time. If he’s such a big deal, I shouldn’t bother him with this.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “He wouldn’t have offered if he thought it would be a waste of his time.”
“He’s a real-estate agent. It’s literally his job to help people find houses to buy. I’m sure he was just being nice.”
“He’s not exactly known for being nice.” She laughed, eyes crinkling in the corners. “And weren’t you listening? It’s not really his job to help people find houses anymore.”
As her laughter died down, she brought her fingers to her lips and drummed them as she wagged her brows at me. “You know, his card might be a good one to have, even if you don’t end up buying a house.”
“Very funny.” I pursed my lips and leaned back into the soft cushions in the oval seat before releasing a heavy sigh. “I’m not saying I’d be opposed to the idea, but I doubt he gave me his card so I could use it to make a booty call.”
She winked. “You won’t know if you never try, but I hear you. Hang onto his card, though. Like I said, there’s no one better to help you find a place to stay, and you never know when his number might come in useful.”
“Yeah, I’ll hang onto it.” If I was going to spend my inheritance on property, I really did need good help.
If this Taydom guy was the best there was, I had to consider asking him for help if it came down to it. No matter how hot he was, I’d have to suck it up, give him a call, and do my best not to insult him again.
Just not a booty call because that really wasn’t me.
Much later that night, after more teasing and tips from Beth and two movies during which I only drank coffee and water, I was ready to go home. It had occurred to me when we’d talked earlier about Taydom’s card that I didn’t know what I’d done with it, but I figured it had to be in my car somewhere.
When I climbed in, I searched for it everywhere but didn’t see it.
Great. Not only had I made a total dweeb of myself, but I’d also gone and misplaced perhaps the most important phone number I’d gotten in a long time.
Fuck.
Chapter 8
Taydom
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I muttered when Andrew opened his door shirtless and with his whole torso and face painted in the proud navy-and-gold colors of his favorite basketball team. “You look ridiculous.”
“Thank you.” He smirked at me and stepped aside to let me in. “I saved you some paint. You’re welcome.”
“Uh. No.” I walked into the renovated warehouse he called home and bypassed the art supplies in his living room without a second thought, opting for heading to the kitchen to grab a beer instead. “For the record, I’m not going out with you decked out like that.”
“We’re going to the game, bro. Fans are expected to be decked out like this, so I’ll repeat myself. I saved some paint for you. Get to it.”
“There’s no fucking way I’m going out with my face painted like a five-year-old.” I twisted the cap off the beer and tossed it in the trash, then leaned with my hip against the countertop and pointed the bottle at him. “I’m not going out with you looking like one either.”
Andrew’s blue eyes lit up with humor as he folded his arms defiantly. “Well then, we’re at an impasse, my friend. I’m not washing this off. It took me an hour to do.”
“An hour that would’ve been better spent doing literally anything else.” I shook my head as I took a long sip of my beer. I pushed off the counter and made my way to the couch. “Didn’t you want to hit up some club after the game?”