Page 46 of Taming You

He adjusts the watch on his wrist, pulling my attention to it before he reaches his hand out. I shake it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zoey.”

“Likewise.”

He looks around the restaurant, his gaze moving over everything. “This place is—charming.” There it is again, that tone that feels akin sandpaper on my skin.

“It’s one of my favourite local spots,” I say.

He nods, not offering anything else.

We look at the menus in silence, though I already know what I’m getting. I decided well before I left the house, so there was one less thing to make me anxious.

Charles closes his menu and places it in front of him, folding his hands together on top of it. Our server comes and takes our orders, and then Charles’s focus comes to me.

“Hannah tells me you went to law school.”

I take a sip of my water, putting off answering. “I did.”

“Law school is a worthy pursuit.” The way he says worthy pisses me off, like he doesn’t think it’s good enough for him.

“Hannah didn’t tell me much about you. I’m assuming you work in the hospital.”

As soon as the conversation moves to him, his entire demeanour changes. He straightens slightly. “I’m a surgeon. Cardiothoracics. Top of my department.”

Pompous much?Who needs to tell someone they’re on a first date with they’re the top of their department?

“Must be challenging but rewarding work. Holding someone’s life in your hands.”

“It is. There’s nothing like the feeling when you first cut open a patient and know you’re what stands between them and death. You know, cardiothoracics is the toughest specialty. Your heart is one organ you can’t live without.”

Gag.The ego on this man knows no bounds, apparently. Why does he think this is what I want to talk about on a first date? Our food is delivered, and he continues to talk about himself. I would give anything for a fake emergency right now so I could get as far away from this date as possible. As if someone above could hear my prayer, I hear my name being called just before Matt, with Jayden strapped to his chest, is standing beside me. My heart rate picks up. He’s a sight for sore eyes.

“Hey, Zo.”

“Matt,” I breathe out.

“How are you?”

Before I can even answer, Charles speaks up. “Hello. Can’t you see we’re kind of on a date right now?”

It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. This is probably the worst first date I’ve ever been on.

Matt turns and offers his hand to Charles. “Hey, man. I’m Matt, Zoey’s friend.”

Charles shakes it but looks obviously pissed off as his eyes bounce between the two of us. “Charles, I’m her date.”

Matt looks at me, and I plead with my eyes for him to give me some reason to leave. Anything. He nods slightly, and I hope that means he understands.

“Sorry. My sister sent me to collect Zoey. Something about flooding at Zoey’s place.”

I plaster on a look of shock. “Oh, no. Did she say what happened?”

Matt shakes his head, and I see the mirth in his eyes. He’s enjoying this. “No, just said I should get you over there as soon as possible.”

Jayden starts reaching for me, and I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face.

“Hey, little munchkin.”

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