“Hey, blondie,” Justin said as he took the seat across from her. “What kind of douchebag leaves a gorgeous woman alone?”
“The most boring kind on earth,” Chloe said, stealing a glance in the direction the guy had gone. She leaned across the table, eyes dancing with mischief, and said, “Any chance you want to pretend to be my jealous ex-boyfriend?”
Justin scoffed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is he being disrespectful? Because if he is—”
“No. He’s just a total dud, and I don’t want to sit here anymore.” She sighed and said, “I’ve ended so many dates before dinner, I’m starting to feel like a bitch.”
“Maybe it’s time you stop making those dates in the first place.”
“I’m not so sure you’re wrong about that.” She cocked a brow and said, “I’ll owe you big-time if you save me the notch in my bitch belt and be that jealous ex-boyfriend.”
“I’m not into debts. And trust me, babe. I will never be your ex-boyfriend. But I will be your last, because once you realize you’re meant to be with me, no other man will ever be enough.”
She rolled her eyes. “Never mind. I’ve got this.” She sat up straighter, readying for battle, and looked directly at the soon-to-be-ditched guy, who was now heading back to the table.
Justin knew damn well she could handle herself, but he’d take great pleasure getting rid of that asshole. “What’s the dude’s name?”
“Jeffrey.”
“Figures.” He pushed to his feet and strode over to the loser, planting himself between the guy and Chloe. “You Jeffrey?”
“Yes. And you are?” He tried to peer around Justin.
Justin moved with him, blocking his view. “I’m Chloe’s friend. She’s done with this date. It’s time for you to leave.”
Confusion riddled his brow. “What…?”
“Sorry, man, but she’s not into you. Now turn around and walk out of the bar.” Justin had at least twenty pounds of muscle on the guy. But it wouldn’t matter if Jeffrey was as big as a house. Justin was fearless, and he backed down for no one.
“But—”
Justin stepped closer.
Jeffrey uttered “bitch” and turned to leave. Justin grabbed his arm and spun him around, getting right in his face, fuming through clenched teeth, “Say one more word about the woman that you never should have been allowed near, and it will be your last.”
A bead of sweat appeared on Jeffrey’s forehead.
“Now get out of here.” Justin waited until the guy was out the door before returning to Chloe, who was shielding her face in embarrassment. “Come on, dollface. I’ll give you a ride home.”
“I told you I could handle it. You didn’t have to go all caveman on him.” She reached for her purse and said, “I have my car. I met him here.”
“Then I’ll walk you to your car.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you don’t need to.”
“No shit. But I’m not the kind of guy who lets a lady leave alone, so let’s go, sweet thing. Smile and head for the door.”
“You’re so pushy,” she said as they cut through the crowd.
She’d said it teasingly, but he knew little Miss Independent better than that. She was proud of being self-reliant. What he didn’t know was why she was dead set against letting anyone else take care of her.
“What did you say to him?” she asked.
“I told him the date was over.” He held the door open, scanning the lot as he followed her into the warm night. “Do you see his car?”
“No. He was parked over there.” She pointed to the far end of the lot. “He’s gone,” she said.
Justin put his arm protectively around her. As they walked to her car, he slid his hand to her waist and pulled her closer. She lifted her eyes to his and the temperature spiked. Her cheeks flushed, and he knew she felt the same soul-searing impact he did.
She jammed her hand into her purse, moving out of his grasp as she withdrew her keys. “I owe you one,” she said a little breathlessly.
“You’ll never owe me anything, baby. Why do you waste your time with losers like that?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “On nights like this, I have no idea.”
“A woman like you shouldn’t be screwing around with dating apps and Ken dolls when you’ve got a real man standing right in front of you.”
“Justin,” she said apologetically. “You know I swore off dating bad boys a long time ago.”
“That’s what you keep saying, but you have no idea how good bad can be.” He stepped closer, trailing his fingers along her arm, loving the hitch in her breath. “When you realize the error of your ways, you know where to find me.” He kissed her cheek and said, “’Night, hot lips. Be safe.”
Chapter Two
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, CHLOE was in her office gathering supplies for an orientation meeting while she spoke to her younger sister, Serena, via her Bluetooth earbuds. “What about the grass skirt and coconut top you wore to that Halloween party a few years ago? Do you think you can find it for me?”
“Sure, but let me just remind you how much you teased me for wearing it. I believe you said I shouldn’t strut my tatas for every Tom, Dick, and Harry.”
“Yeah, well, this is a book club meeting with the girls. I think I’m safe.” Chloe ran an online erotic romance book club with her friend Daphne. They were reading a romance novel set in Hawaii, and Chloe had spent weeks planning an island-themed night for their next meeting, which was taking place on Cahoon Hollow Beach a week from Friday.
“What about leis and that kind of thing?” Serena asked. “Do you need any of that stuff? I’m not sure I kept any, but I can look.”
“I already bought them and everything else. I even found an awesome drink hut with a grass roof that I can set up over my card table. It came with a grass-skirted tablecloth. I’m going to play tropical music, serve fruity drinks in coconut cups, and grill kebobs over the bonfire. I’m ridiculously excited. I mean, it’s a book club meeting, not a banquet.”
“It’s too bad Harper and Tegan are going to miss it.” Harper and Tegan were two of their friends. Tegan owned an amphitheater and she and Harper had recently started their own production company. They were too busy preparing for the opening to join them for the meeting.
“I’ll take lots of pictures. They’ll feel like they were there.”
“Maybe one day I’ll become a reader and join your club.” Serena sounded serious, but she’d never been one to sit still, and now that she was married to their childhood friend Drake Savage, her downtime was spoken for.
“I won’t hold my breath,” Chloe said as she opened her file cabinet drawer and fished out the files she needed. “You and Drake could probably write the erotic scenes.”
“We could write them better.” Serena laughed. “Hey, Mom called me this morning. Did she call you about going to her house Sunday morning to meet another new boyfriend? What is this, like number two thousand?”