Page 2 of Bad Boy for Hire
May swiped at her eyes, feeling the mist from a tear that must have escaped without permission. “I’m fine. I’m just emotional about fall. You know how it is. Summer’s almost over. No more pool parties or boat days or wine nights on the patio.” And fall represented change—more change that she had no control over.
“Yes, but fall is also campfires and hot cocoa and cozy sweaters.” Lisa curled her shoulders and smiled, her hangover forgotten.
“All I know is it’s going to be cold,” May hedged. “I don’t like to be cold.”
Lisa dropped her shoulders and gave May an impatient look. “Please open it? Get it over with. Stop torturing yourself.”
“I will. But not until I decide how to RSVP.”
“You’re going to say no. Obviously.”
“It’s a yes. It has to be. But I don’t want to go alone.” She scrunched her face. She didn’t have any prospects that excited her, but she would rather not show up to the wedding alone. “And I’m not asking William.”
“How many times do I have to apologize for setting you up with him?”
“Just one more.” May winked.
“I’m sorry. He seemed nice. And he’s very smart and wealthy.”
Xavier was all of those, May thought automatically. Everyone in the Cove had recently learned that Xavier was a millionaire, having turned his degree in computer science into a highly coveted app called Tipsy, where users could track and rate the wine and beer they tasted. And, when a passing waitress spilled a beer, it’d been Xavier, not William, who had rushed to make sure she was okay. And it’d been Xavier who had told William to “fuck off” when it was clear her date wasn’t going to behave himself.
“What are you smiling about?” Lisa asked, eyes narrowed.
“Nothing. You’re forgiven.”
“I’ll be your date to the wedding. Pencil me in as your plus-one.”
“You do recall offering yourself up last night as well, don’t you?”
“I did?” Lisa frowned for a second before shrugging. “I must mean it if I’m offering again.”
“I’ll think about it.” But showing up with her friend instead of a date was too much like admitting she couldn’t handle her ex alone. And she could. She just…didn’t want to.
“What time am I picking you up tonight for the party?”
May’s heart skipped a beat and then kicked her ribcage in the same way she might excitedly punch the air. Brady’s birthday party was tonight, which meant Xavier would be there. She tried to sound cool when she said, “Whenever. What are you wearing?”
“Jeans. Xavier’s house has that great fire bowl near the water.”
“Xavier’s house? Not Brady and Elliott’s?” May didn’t successfully hide her shock. In addition to owning Salty Dog, Xavier owned a mansion on a private part of the Cove. That setting sounded much more intimate, even with their friends milling around.
“Xavier moved the party to his house. Does that make you want to go more or less?” Lisa lifted and dropped her eyebrows suggestively.
“It’s no big deal,” she lied. “I’ve been there before.”
“Exactly. No reason to worry. I don’t think he noticed you staring him down last night.”
“Shut up. I did not.” Had she? She remembered sitting with her friends, half listening, half enjoying her food, and yeah, okay…watching nearly every move that Xavier made. Lou had joked, “You’re drooling,” and Elliott had noted that Xavier looked at May whenever she looked away. That’d made May nervous. Her “harmless” crush seemed to be gaining steam.
“Take me to your closet,” Lisa said. “We’ll pick out the perfect party dress.”
“I work for a fashion company, Lisa. I am capable of choosing the perfect party dress.”
“No, you’re capable of picking out seven perfect party dresses, each with its own meandering list of pros and cons. I am capable of narrowing that list down to a lean two and giving you a this-or-that option.”
That was true. May overthought like it was a sport and she’d won a gold medal. She clucked her tongue. “Fine, but you have to wait while I brew more coffee.”
Lisa brightened. “Hey, while you’re in the kitchen, you can open that invitation.”
