Page 47 of Unofficial

Chapter Seventeen

Standing in the lobby of Jess's work wearing a suit jacket and a tie the next day, Kade looks like an idiot. Feels like one, too. But drastic times call for drastic measures.

Jess walked in on you going to town on Lena. If she turns you down and embarrasses you, you deserve it. Suck it up.

Jess looks at her phone as she walks into the lobby, ready to leave for the day, and doesn't seem to notice him at first. When she does see him, she stops so quickly she nearly falls over, her arm reaching out to keep her balance.

"What are you doing here?" Jess asks. "What's with the jacket and tie?"

Kade pastes a smile on his face, but his stomach feels like it's doing jumping jacks on a trampoline. "I'd like to ask you to join me for dinner tonight."

"What?"

"Will you go out with me tonight, Jessica Massey?"

She stares, blinking at him, but she says nothing. His entire body feels pins stabbing at his skin as he waits for her response.

"Do it!" the receptionist with large hair whispers behind Jess. "Go on, Jess!"

"I'm seeing someone, Kade. You know that."

He nods. "I also know he's waiting for you to make up your mind on who you want to date, and I want to make that decision as difficult as possible. You deserve to see firsthand how things have changed. How they'll be different if you decide to take the chance on me again."

"You're crazy, you know that, right?"

"Only about you."

"That's a good line!" the woman calls.

Jess turns and glares. "Shut up, Tiffany."

"I like Tiffany," Kade says and smirks. "She's on my side. It's also at the steakhouse. I know how hard it is for you to say no to a free seafood dinner at your favorite place."

Jess looks and stares at him for a moment, apparently thinking things over in her mind. "Fine."

"Yes?"

"I need to go home and change first."

"That's fine. Our reservation isn't until seven."

She sighs and walks outside to her car. Kade stares after her, appreciating her backside as she walks in black high heels and a tight, gray skirt. It actually worked. She's going on a date with him.

"Thank you, Tiffany," Kade says.

She nods to him. "Word of warning, Kade. If you hurt her again, I'll hire someone to break your kneecaps."

The threat catches him off-guard, and he stares in shock. "Excuse me?"

"That woman has been hurt enough by you. Walking in and seeing you screwing someone else is something that takes a long time to get over. If you're not serious, and this is just a game to you because she's moving on with someone else, I'll make you pay for it."

"You will?"

"My last name’s Tambino. My husband is Vinny Tambino."

Oh shit. Everyone in town knows the man heads up the largest organized crime ring in the city. Probably the state. "I'm serious, Tiff. I swear it."

"Good."

---