Page 31 of Smoke

Business meeting?

I don’t say a word and try desperately to keep my internal shock from showing on my face or in my body language. Why would he pass me off as a mere colleague rather than his date for the night?

“Not a problem at all,” Danny responds. “If you’d like to follow me, I have the perfect table for you.”

“Perfect,” Paddy echoes back. When Danny gestures for us to follow him, Paddy moves forward, leaving me to tail behind. The connection between us quickly dispersed, leaving me with a sense of rejection.

“How’s your mammy doing, Danny?” Paddy asks him as we negotiate through the tables already filled with diners, some eating, some checking out the menus.

“She’s doing much better, sir,” he replies over his shoulder. “Our Noni and Moira have moved in with her for the time being, until she’s fully back on her feet.”

What’s with this sir nonsense? The firsttime I just thought it was maître d’ etiquette or something, still, it’s obvious they’re not just casual acquaintances. Who is Paddy to Danny, for him to be calling him sir and holding him in such high regard? Yet, the next minute, they're discussing family like he’s known him for some time.

“Ah, that’s good,” he responds. “Especially with your sister, Noni, being a nurse and all that. She’ll take good care of her.”

“She will that. That’s as long as they don’t kill each other first, mind yah,” he snickers. “Here you go sir, is this table acceptable?”

The table he’s brought us to is tucked into a secluded area in the back of the room that’s partially screened by lush green leaf plants, making it less open than most of the dining area. The table is set for two. Rich, gold napkins and crystal-clear glassware perfectly displayed across the crisp white, linen cloth. Two leather-bound menu’s sit between the shiny array of cutlery.

“Grand,” Paddy acknowledges him with a swift nod. Danny pulls back one of the high-backed chairs, sweeping his hand towards it for me to sit, while Paddy takes the other directly opposite. “Thank you, Danny, and when you speak to your mammy, make sure you tell her I’m pleased that she’s on the mend.”

“That’s very kind of you, sir. I’m flying home tomorrow, so I’ll be able to tell her in person.” With another swift nod, Danny backs away from the table, leaving us in the hands of one of the servers.

Chapter

Twenty

Tenley

Iwatch Paddy over the top of my open menu while he talks wine with the server. Several crazy thoughts are whizzing around in my head. To be honest, the way he was so dismissive towards me only minutes after being downright flirty and suggestive has me wondering if he has a dual personality. His persona switched so quickly I damn near got whiplash. I’m pissed, hence why I’m currently hiding behind the menu. I’m trying to hold it in but if circumstance had been different, I’d have tossed his ass to the curb, and I’d be halfway home with a takeout pizza. I don’t care how fucking good looking he is, that kind of behavior is a major red flag in my book.

It could be a good thing and exactly what I need to help me put things into perspective and get my head back in the game. Because that’s exactly what this is; a game, albeit adangerous one.

In my head, I remind myself precisely what this is.

This is a fake date. A means to an end. Keep your eye on the endgame, Ten. An explosive, exclusive story that will elevate my career and set me on a path that will only lead to great things.

“Tenley?”

“Yeah.” Shaking my head clear, I snap back into the now, realizing that Paddy had been trying to get my attention.

“You okay? I think I lost you for a minute, then.”

“Sorry, was trying to decide what to order.” I drop the menu slightly and give him my best fake smile. “It all looks so good.”

“I can recommend the Bison Tenderloin,” he offers. “But to start with, if you don’t have any problems with shellfish, why don’t we get the Seafood Tower sharing platter? It has a few unique items on it, including lobster, so if you’ve not had them before, it’s the perfect way to try it and see if you like.”

“I’m happy to go with that.”

“Then allow me to order for both of us.”

I can’t denythe food is out of this world. The lobster? Oh my God, each morsel is heaven to my tastebuds. The oyster, however, yuk. I ate two, thank the lord there were only four in total on the plate, but that was only because I was determined to look like a hard ass rather than a wimp by refusing.

The conversation continues to flow and theflirtatious man is back, although it quickly disappears anytime the server comes close.

By the time I’d demolished the delicious main course, I was full to bursting, and despite the menu having a choice of lip-smacking cocktails and desserts, I gracefully decline. I’d already had a little too much wine and was buzzed. The last thing I needed was to make any decisions that could easily come back and bite me in the ass.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to order another bottle of wine? He asks. His hand, palm down, slides across the table towards where mine is, playing with the edge of my discarded napkin. It stops, leaving the tiniest space between them. A slight movement of his little finger is all it takes, and it is slowly, discreetly stroking over my thumb.

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