Page 28 of Deal Takers

“Wow, that must be some really impressive sausage.”

“I’ll show you a really impressive sausage.” I waggle my eyebrows.

Okay, so my inner thirteen-year-old couldn’t resist that one.

Rainey laughs. “I walked right into that, didn’t I?”

I bump her shoulder with a smile. “Perfect setup.”

I hold the door open when we reach our destination. “Ladies first.”

I place my hand on her lower back and guide her to the hostess station. I do a little victory dance in my head when she doesn’t remove it.

Maddie, the hostess, smiles when she sees me. “Hey, Brody. Table for two tonight, huh? That’s new.”

“Well, this lovely lady has never eaten here before, and I couldn’t possibly let her go another day without experiencing the finest Italian in the state.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rainey smirking.

“Head on back,” Maddie says. “Charlotte held your regular table for you. I’ll have one of the guys bring over some vino and another place setting in just a few.”

I grab a menu from behind the stand and begin leading Rainey through the restaurant. Pistorio’s is small—only twenty tables or so—and they’re always packed, so Charlee holds one for me whenever I tell her to expect me. It’s right next to the kitchen, which is normally theleast desired location in the joint, but I prefer it because it’s easier for my big sis to pop her head out and talk to me.

“So, they just let you make yourself at home here, huh?”

“They do,” I reply. “Charlotte is an extension of the Pistorio family, therefore, I’m awarded that honor through her. I hope the owner, Mama P, is here tonight. You’d love her.”

“Charlotte’s your sister, I presume. Younger or older?”

“Charlee’s only three years older, although she’d like to tell you there’s a much wider gap if you’re measuring by maturity.”

Rainey chuckles. “I think I’m going to like your sister.”

“I think you w?—”

I lose my train of thought when I see a familiar face sitting at a romantic table for two. Someone who shouldn’t be here according to the woman on my left. Someone who’sclearlyon a date.

Fuck.

“Um, Rainey…”

A crease forms between her eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”

I don’t even have to answer because half a second later, she follows my gaze. A loud gasp leaves her lips as she takes in the scene. Dr. Douchebag,Rainey’s fiancé, is sitting across from a much younger, surgically enhanced blonde, gazing lovingly into her eyes as he places a kiss on her knuckles.

“Adam?!” Rainey manages to choke out.

Adam looks away from his date at the sound of her voice and visibly tenses when he sees Rainey. My fists clench when obvious guilt mixed with anoh fuckflashes across his face.

“R-Rainey,” he stutters, dropping the woman’s hand like a hot coal. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” she shrieks. “What areyoudoing here? I thought you were working.”

Adam blanches. “Uh…no. I’m not.”

The blonde speaks up. “Honey, are you going to introduce me?”

“Honey?” Rainey repeats. “Adam, what’s going on?”

I gently tug on her arm. “Rainey, maybe you two should take this outside?”

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