Page 77 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

He held up a hand to stop me speaking. “But on the other hand, she is very rich and her family is old Vancouver royalty. You don’t want to piss off someone like her with your usual pump and dumps.”

“Well, it is a pump and dump, butI’mthe one who got dumped. When I asked her out, she shut me down. And then this whole deal at work—” I stopped myself, realizing that I wasn’t supposed to talk about the rejected purchase of the team. “Um, on Monday, I got called back to the Millionaires, and now I don’t even get to see her anymore.”

“I don’t get this. What aren’t you telling me?”

“There’s a business part I can’t discuss. But you want to know one thing? She actually thinks that one of the reasons I asked her out was to pave the way for the sale of the team.”

“Wasn’t it? I thought we talked about this.”

“No! It’s why I went there, but everything’s changed since then. I’m really into Amanda. She’s different. She’s deep.” And she liked me, I was sure of that. Why had things changed so fast?

Jes looked puzzled. “Did you flame out in bed?”

“Very funny. Everything was great on the weekend. You saw us on Saturday. She was having a great time, right? But then she never called me back on Sunday, and she blew me off completely the next time I saw her.” I shook my head and tried to stretch out my sore shoulders. “I do not understand women.”

“Why do you want to see her again?”

“I don’t know. Why does anyone want to see someone again? I like hanging out with her.”

“Why?”

“You sound like a kid: why? why? why? I don’t know. She makes me feel good.” Well, it was more complicated than that. Amanda challenged me to be better, and that was exactly what I needed right now.

Jes scowled at me. “Dori and I really liked Amanda. She’s a real person, not snobby or anything. So don’t screw this up.”

“Get off my case. You just want to win your stupid bet.”

He shook his head. “I think the time’s run out on that. March is almost over and you don’t have a girlfriend yet. Thanks a ton. I was going to get breakfast in bed for a month if I won.”

I blew out a breath. “Hey, I’m trying. But maybe I’m not good enough for her.”

“Oh, come on. You’re not serious.”

“Look at Amanda. She’s got everything—brains, money, beauty. What do I have to offer her?”

He stared at me. “You are serious. Lucky, you’ve got everything to offer her.”

“I’m not a big deal hockey player anymore.”

“Yeah, but you’re a great guy, you’re smart and loyal, and—” He shook his head. “Don’t make me say it.”

I squinted at him. “Say what?”

“Oh crap.” He muttered something that I couldn’t understand.

“I can’t hear you.”

He made a face and then blurted, “I said, you’re a good-looking bastard! There, are you happy now?”

“I’mhappy,” said a middle-aged Asian woman who happened to be walking through the parking lot at that moment. She lowered her sunglasses and peered at me. “And he is cute.” She and her friend giggled as they started up the hiking trail.

“Oh tremendous. They think I’m your boyfriend now.” The disgusted look on Jes’s face made me laugh, and then he smiled too. “Well, at least I cheered you up.”

We drank water and sat there in silence for bit.

“You’re not a guy who gives up, Chris.”

I nodded. “But what should I do? What did you do for Dori when you really wanted to impress her?”

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