“I don’t need this crap.” Edward stood and yanked his jacket from his chair, practically knocking it over.
A couple of things fell from his jacket pocket onto the floor.
Nick jumped up and picked them up, handing them to Edward. “You dropped these ultra-ribbed condoms.”
Condoms? Seriously?
Edward eyed Nick up and down. “Don’t be ridiculous. Those aren’t mine.”
“Sure, they are. They fell out of your jacket pocket with this business card.” Nick held it closer to his eyes, analyzing it. “You’re not Edward Butts, President and CEO of Bathroom Remodel Warehouse?” Nick chuckled. “Wait, you sell toilets and your last name is Butts? That is classic. Do you mind if I keep the card? I want to show my friends. Good thing for you that your parents didn’t name you Harry or Seymour.”
“Give me that.” Edward yanked the business card from Nick’s hands. He walked behind me and grabbed the flowers from the chair next to me. “And you don’t deserve these. Enjoy the sushi and the bill.” He turned and walked out the door without another word.
My pulse pounded in my temples.
I was going to kill Nick.
I just needed to figure out how I was going to dispose of his body.
Chapter Sixteen
RUTH
A few seconds later, the waiter arrived with the giant sushi platter, placing it in the center of the table, then glancing back toward the door. “Your gentleman friend left?”
I nodded. “There’s been a change of plans.”
He gestured to Nick. “He will join you?”
I shook my head and flared my nostrils. “He is going back to his own table.”
“Yes, I am.” Nick walked behind me and sat down.
I pointed to the sushi. “Could you do me a big favor and wrap this up to go?”
The waiter bowed. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Oh . . . just one second.” I opened my purse, pulling out a credit card and handing it to the waiter. “Here you go.”
“Not a problem at all.” The waiter walked away with the platter of sushi and my credit card.
I sat there, shaking my head in disbelief, still thinking about what had just happened.
Luckily, Nick was smart and being quiet.
I pulled my phone from my purse and sent Dee a text.
Ruth: Did you eat yet?
Dee: Please don’t tell me your date is over.
Ruth: It is. And let it be known that this is the day that Nick is going to die. I have sushi I’m taking to go. Do you want to eat with me?
Dee: Whoa. Backup. What did Nick do this time? And why are you talking about him when you should be talking about Edward?
Ruth: Edward and Nick met at the restaurant.
Dee: Huh? Why do all your men run into each other?
Ruth: Because obviously my dating life is cursed.
Dee: Or it’s a sign. But remember, you can’t kill Nick, because if you do, you will effectively kill my love life! Hey, I have an idea and it’s something you’re really good at. What about just giving Nick a wedgie?
Ruth: Not funny.
Dee: Then why am I dying of laughter over here? Anyway, don’t worry about Edward because you’re going to meet the man of your dreams this evening.
Ruth: I told you, no dinner dates. It’s lunch first, and then if they’re worth my time, they can have a second date over dinner.
Dee: It’s not a date with a specific man. It’s speed dating.
Ruth: No, no, no, no. I’ve heard about speed dating and I’m not interested. Besides, I told you Edward was your last shot and now I’m going to find a man my way.
Dee: You said TODAY was my last shot and the day isn’t over yet. The speed dating is happening TODAY! And this is not your usual speed dating. The men have been prescreened, are all over 40 years old, and all are successful business professionals. You can meet up to 20 guys. That’s 20 dates in less than an hour!”
Ruth: Whoop-di-doo.
Dee: I prefer whoop-di-DEE, thank you very much. Anyway, the way you’re going about it now, 20 dates would take 20 days. I just thought this would be much more productive. One of those guys has got to be a keeper. Plus, it’s being held downtown, and you need to go over there to meet the CEO of Caltonic Industries at four thirty.
Ruth: I’ll think about it.
Dee: You’re going. I already paid the $150.00.
Ruth: $150.00 for one hour? Are you crazy?
Dee: That is debatable, but this is a high-end event. They get rid of the riffraff, so you don’t have to. I told you, this is way better than the average speed dating event.
Ruth: I said I’ll think about it.
Dee: You need to think A LOT about it. By the way, YES to the sushi. Are you coming by the office or should I meet you at home?
Ruth: Home. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.
I took a sip of my cold tea and set the cup down. It wasn’t worth topping off with hot tea because I would be leaving any minute.
The waiter returned with my check and the sushi in a bag.
“Thank you.” I signed the credit card slip and took my copy.
I stood and took two steps toward the door, but then paused in front of Nick’s table, wanting to say something. He hadn’t apologized for his behavior and I would give him the opportunity now.
He casually took a sip of his tea, looking calm, as usual.
Was it possible that he’d really eliminated stress from his life or was he just on Valium all the time? How could he be relaxed after what had happened? Where was the guilt? Where was the groveling?
I glanced down at his plate and froze.
To my surprise, he was eating one of my favorite things on the menu at any sushi restaurant, the Dragon Roll. Although some sushi places added their own creative touches, most Dragon Rolls had sticky rice, shrimp tempura, cucumber, and thinly sliced avocado on top resembling the scales of a dragon. And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the spicy mayo.
I had actually ordered some myself and had it in my bag to go but would now have to wait to get home to eat it. Also Nick’s fault.
“The sushi here is out of this world.” Nick grabbed a piece of the Dragon Roll off his plate and dipped it in the soy sauce with wasabi and ginger.
I glared at him. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, here’s something you should know . . . I was only trying to help. I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”
“If that was helping, I’d hate to see what happens when you try to cause problems.” I eyed the chair across from him, wondering if we should talk this out and clear the air. I didn’t want any awkward moments at the house when he got back to work.
“Have a seat,” he said, like the mind reader that he apparently was.
I hesitated, but then pulled out the chair across from him and sat. I placed the bag and my purse on the chair next to me, not sure where to start.
Nick didn’t look like he was in any hurry to talk about things. He popped the whole piece of the Dragon Roll into his mouth. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that he could fit the whole thing in there, since there was already sufficient evidence to prove Nick had the biggest mouth in town.
Okay, that wasn’t fair.
Honestly, I felt bad for even thinking it.