“Where did you get your education?”
“USD and UCLA.”
“I’m impressed, you’ve got brains and beauty. You’re a real powerhouse.”
“Well, I don’t know about that, but I’ve got big goals and I’m working my butt off to achieve them.”
“Determination is good. You’re an eager beaver.”
Another snort from behind.
Ignore Nick. He can’t handle that Edward can see all my positive attributes and that he appreciates them.
Edward downed the rest of his tea and poured himself another cup from the pot on the table. “Would you like more?”
Kind and considerate. Appreciates what I’m doing.
“Not at the moment, thank you.” I pointed to my tea cup. “I drink pretty slowly.”
Another snort from behind. “Unless it’s wine.”
Edward glanced over my shoulder. “Did that man behind you just say something?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t hear anything.”
I was close to swinging around in my seat and strangling Nick.
Edward drank his tea in one gulp and poured himself another cup.
How was he not burning his mouth?
I could still see the steam coming off the tea as he drank it.
“Oops.” Edward stood all of a sudden. “Looks like I need to return to the bathroom for an encore. Be right back in a jiffy.” He took off his blazer and hung it on the back of his chair.
“Oh . . . okay.” I watched him walk toward the bathroom, expecting Nick to say something snarky, but I was wrong.
Nick didn’t come over and didn’t say a word.
Good. Let’s hope it stays that way.
I was just going to ignore him.
I needed to focus on my date and not let Nick get to me.
Fortunately, he was completely quiet, which was a nice change of pace.
Too quiet, actually.
What was he up to?
Had he left?
Maybe I got lucky.
I pulled my compact from my purse and flipped it open, angling it to see behind me in the mirror. I jumped when I saw Nick grinning back at me.
I swung around. “Spying on me again?”
“Says the woman looking for me in her mirror. And what’s this guy’s deal with all his visits to the bathroom?”
“If you’re really that concerned, why don’t you go see for yourself?”
“My guess is an enlarged prostate, unless he’s in the early stages of pregnancy.” Nick snorted.
I crossed my arms. “What’s with all the snorting? You sound like a pig.”
“Your date was contemplating drinking tea out of a urinal. Who’s the pig here?” Nick jumped up and came around to sit in Edward’s seat. “And worst of all, he’s the biggest butt-kisser west of the Mississippi.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s planting seeds in your head to make your ego happy right before he moves in for the kill.”
“My ego? You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I am. I’ve seen guys like this before. He pretends that he cares about every word coming out of your mouth, in the hope that you’ll think he’s kind and a good listener. He tells you everything you want to hear about yourself, to give you this warm fuzzy feeling of being accomplished and loved. And then he’s going to try to get you into his bed.”
I had one of the best BS detectors and I didn’t believe it for a moment. “That is absurd. Have you ever thought that maybe he’s just a good person and is being sincere?”
“It’s not sincerity when the words used are for personal gain. You’re a go-getter, a take-charge kind of woman, you don’t mess around, you’re an eager-beaver.” He chuckled. “I bet he’ll ask you back to his place before lunch even ends.”
“You’re delirious. Can you go now?”
“Tell me what he does for a living and I’ll leave you alone.”
I kept my mouth shut.
“Ruth?”
“Fine, he owns the Bathroom Remodel Warehouse over on Miramar Road. Now go.”
“The big toilet-shaped glass building with all the palm trees around it?”
“The very one.”
He swung around back toward the bathroom and then glanced back at me. “That explains it. The guy is sick and twisted. He’s probably lying naked on the bathroom floor right now. Ten bucks says he goes back to the bathroom again before you leave.”
“No bet. Get back to your table before he sees you.”
“I’m going.” He closed his hand into a fist and raised it. “Be strong, you powerhouse go-getter.”
“I’ve already started ignoring you.”
“I’m okay with that as long as you pay attention to your date and the con job he’s pulling over on you.”
Con job? Right. I wasn’t born yesterday.
I flipped back around and glanced over toward the sushi prep area, hoping the food would be coming soon.
Edward returned and sat, gesturing back to the bathroom like he had done before. “They have the best soap here. You have to smell my hands.” He held his hands in my direction.
I waved Edward off. “That’s quite all right. I believe you. You own the Bathroom Remodel Warehouse on Miramar Road?”
“Going on fifteen years now. I sell toilets, but business is nowhere close to being in the crapper.” He laughed. “I never get tired of that one. How long have you been doing corporate takeovers?”
“Ten years.”
He shook his head in amazement. “You’re really a dynamo.”
Nick snorted from behind. “And an eager beaver.”
“Not funny, Nick!” I threw my hand over my mouth.
Crap. I said that out loud. Not good.
“Nick?” Edward asked, leaning to the side to glance over my shoulder. “Who’s Nick?”
I moved my head to block his view. “That’s a good question. If we’re talking about Christmas, well then, Saint Nick is probably the answer you’re looking for. If you love boybands, there’s Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys and Nick Lachey from Ninety-Eight Degrees.”
Edward just stared at me.
“I kind of prefer Justin Timberlake, although he’s a Justin and not a Nick, obviously.”
It didn’t look like my load of bull was working, which was not a surprise. You can’t cover up crap with more crap and hope it smells like roses.
Edward stood and looked past me. “Are you Nick?”
“That would be me,” Nick said from behind.
I covered my face with my hands.
This can’t be happening.
Nick was ruining my date.
Edward’s gaze popped back and forth between me and Nick. “Are you on two dates at the same time?”
“What? No!”
“It certainly seems that way. What kind of sick game are you playing with me?”
“I’m sorry, Edward. I . . . uh . . . it’s not what it seems.”
“You could have at least had the decency of being a little more discreet and eating with him another time.”
Nick chuckled. “Believe me, we had dinner last night and she assured me it was a one-time thing.”
“Nick!”