Page 27 of Dirty Little Secret, Baby
"You didn't answer, Alex. We have a bet going, and it's not proper to leave the other person in the dark."
"And you're the one who sticks to the rules?" I asked, feeling my left eyebrow arch.
"I just want to let you know that I'm going to drive over there again today and then I'm going to..."
"You're staying right where you are. I'm in the game, and I'm taking her to dinner tonight," I cut him off, feeling a little bad at the same time for calling Beth a game, because... well, why exactly?
Damn it, could it be that I actually cared about her?
"Oh, if that's the case, I'd better head right over," Jake said, and I could practically hear the gloating in his voice.
"Are you the asshole who just reminded me of the rules of a bet and is now breaking them? Do I need to remind you that you leave your opponent alone when he has a shot? Those were our rules for any bet, even back when you still worked for me."
"As you can see, things change. I don't work for you anymore, and that shop on 4th Street and the little thing in it, they're mine and I..."
"You're an asshole, that's what you are," I snapped, glanced at the number on the display again, and slammed the phone down.
The number on the display was from his office. I know exactly where it is and estimated that it would take him about half an hour to get to Beth and her shop. And that's only with good traffic. I, on the other hand, could be there faster.
I skipped the detour home; it wouldn't be a dinner in a tuxedo, and my regular business suit would have to do. If it helped me get there before Jake and pick up Beth, that was fine by me.
******
"Who's the little golden boy? Who's the little golden boy?" I heard a woman say in a high-pitched voice to a baby she was rocking back and forth in her arms as I entered Beth's shop. Other than her, me, and the baby in her arms, no one was here.
She paused when she saw me and looked at me, bewildered and... could it be that she was trying to hide the baby, hastily placing it in the bassinet? What was the big deal about Beth's employee bringing her baby with her?
"Is... is it you?" she asked me, her cheeks seeming to turn red.
"I don't know who you mean, but yes, it's me," I said with a grin.
"I mean, are you Alex?" she asked, rubbing her eyes nervously.
"That I am. Did Beth tell you about me?" I asked, walking toward her and looking over the counter into the bassinet where the little baby—judging by the color of his onesie, a boy—was babbling to himself.
"You've got a cute kid there," I said, and had to grin because the little guy looked at me, smiled, and it seemed like he was holding his little hand out to me.
"Hey there, you," I said, extending my index finger so our hands touched. He was warm, and his skin felt wonderfully smooth.
"A golden boy, just like you said," I replied. "What's your name?"
"Veronica," she answered, looking almost as if she were in shock.
"It's all right. I'll stop touching your son. Excuse me," I returned. "And I won't tell your boss you brought your son to work, if that's what this is about."
"It's not that, it's..." then she paused and glanced toward the stairs where Beth had disappeared the first time. "Oh, there you are. He's already here," she said, her face bright red as she pointed at me.
Then Beth came into my field of vision. She was wearing a black dress, and my world stood still for a moment. She was...
Beautiful.
And the dress fit her perfectly. The neckline was classic, not too sexy, showing a little something but not too much, and it accentuated her curves in an elegant way. And her styled black curls were... incredible.
"Hey," I said, sounding almost like an insecure teenager, and cleared my throat. "You look amazing."
"You too," Beth said, looking a little uncertainly between me, Veronica, and the baby.
"I'm early, but do you mind if we leave right away?" I asked, breaking the silence.
