Page 3 of Rude Boss' Secret Baby
“Actually, I think I have to be getting home.”
I blinked. “What was that?”
She gathered her purse from the seat beside her and slid to her feet. “I have to be getting home. It’s later than I figured it was, and I have some things I need to tend to.”
I looked down at my watch. “It’s only ten o’clock.”
She cursed beneath her breath. “Yeah, I needed to be home half an hour ago.”
“Well, let me at least walk you out to your—”
She cut me off. “Bartender? Just charge my card you have on file, please?”
I waved my hand in the air. “Put her drinks on my tab. Are you sure you don’t want me to at least give you a ride?”
She shook her head and started for the exit door. “Really, I’m good. But thank you. It was nice talking with you tonight.”
I started scrambling for last-minute tactics. “Can I at least get your number?”
“Have a good evening!” she called out from the door.
And just as quickly as she had fluttered into my life on the wings of an angel, she wafted away. Soaring into the distance through the exit doors and dumping out onto a bustling sidewalk as people flooded the bar.
I sat there, dumbfounded at what just happened.
Had I seriously been turned down?
Women never turn me down.
As the bar flooded with a bunch of stupid college kids, I eased myself off the barstool. I felt stunned to my core as I mindlessly paid for both of our tabs and made my way back out into the parking lot. Was it something I had said? Surely, it wasn’t because of what I looked like. I kept myself up well, my grooming tactics always kept up with modern standards, and I never cheaped out on a fucking suit. I paid well for the clothes I wore and the cologne I spritzed onto my skin every morning.
But, as I nonchalantly dropped the bartender a Benjamin for his troubles, I found myself leaving the bar.
Alone.
After being bought a drink by the most gorgeous woman I’d ever set my sights on.
Leslie
I opened my townhouse door and heard Suri yelling for me. “It’s about damn time you got home!”
I almost couldn’t think straight; I was so riled up. I closed the door behind me and locked it as my best friend of all time came waltzing around the corner. She had her disapproving glare on with her hands cocked against both of her hips, and I knew I owed her a serious apology.
Mostly, because I was supposed to be home an hour ago. “Thank you so much for watching Aurora,” I said with a sigh.
Suri narrowed her eyes. “You met someone tonight, didn’t you?”
I scoffed. “Yeah, a little too late as well, I might add.”
She threw her hands into the air. “Then, why didn’t you text me? I would’ve stayed here and hung out. Probably crashed in your guest bedroom down here or something.”
I walked toward her and enveloped her in a big hug. “I didn’t want to leave you here longer than I needed to, especially since I can’t pay you for the overtime.”
She wrapped me up tightly. “There’s no overtime when I’m watching my goddaughter. Got it?”
I closed my eyes. “I love you so much.”
“That hot, huh?”
