Page 36 of Walk on the Wilde Side
"Well, the enchiladas were amazing."
She laughs. "Fuck, at least I didn't humiliate myself there."
sixteen
Nev
I park in front of Dane's rental house because aside from Dane's car, there are two other cars in the driveway, both shabby and old. He never mentioned a dinner party. I'm expecting a quiet, romantic evening. I've been ready for two hours. Dane called to move dinner from seven to nine because he had some work issues to take care of. Now I'm starved and tired and whatever caused him to delay the date is still parked in the driveway. I pull out my phone to text him and let him know we should just take a rain check on the whole thing. Before I can send off the text, three men come lumbering out of the house. Dane is behind them. He stands on the front stoop with his jaw set squarely and his arms crossed defensively. The men climbing into the cars are definitely not subcontractors or architects or real estate agents or any of the kinds of people who would be working on a residential development. They look more like the type of men working on some shady underground business. One of them looks my way for a long moment, staring at me suspiciously. His long, hard glare brings Dane's attention my direction.
Dane says something sharply to the men, and they get into their cars and take off. Dane walks over to my parked car. I'm reluctant to get out. He knocks playfully on the passenger window. I'm not in a playful mood, but I'm very curious.
I step out of the car and look over the top at him. "Who the hell were those men?" I ask.
Dane gives me a confused look, as if he has no idea what I'm talking about.
"Don't pretend, Dane. I was sitting right here when they walked out. You delayed dinner because it had something to do with work. Those guys did not look like residential developers."
"Well, they might not have looked it, but that's exactly who they were. Investors, in fact."
I laugh once and sharply. "Your investors drive an ancient Toyota and a Camaro with more rust than paint?"
"They're frugal. I'm done with this topic. You've never held any interest in my business. No need to start now. I never got dinner in the oven, but I'll call and order something from Ming's Chinese Food."
I shake my head. "You know what? It's late. I'm going to head back home."
Dane circles briskly around the car to my side. He takes hold of my hand, but I leave my hand limp. I don't grasp back. "Don't leave, Nev. I've got the wine chilling, and we don't have to have Chinese takeout. I'll fix us a couple omelets. C'mon, I've been waiting to see you all night."
"No, Dane, really, I'm tired. I've been ready for two hours thinking we were getting together at seven. Then you postponed it two hours, and now, I just want to go to bed. I've got to be at work early."
Dane's sigh sounds like a growl. "Yes, the fucking sandwich shop yet again."
I reach for my door handle. He presses a hand against the window to keep me from opening it. It's the first time I've felt truly uncomfortable with the man, and I'm questioning where my natural instincts have been. I'm usually much better at judging people.
I keep my hand on the door, and I stare down at it, avoiding eye contact. "Please, Dane, I need to go home," I say firmly.
He holds his hand there longer and then pulls it away. "Fine. Just go. You're too fucking high-maintenance anyway. Moody bitch."
I open the car, jump in and start it up.
"I'm sorry, Nev. I didn't mean it. Let's go inside and talk."
I give him a "you've got to be kidding" look. He has to jump back as I pull away from the curb and drive off. I glance in the mirror. Dane is standing in the middle of the road, scowling at me.
"Good fucking riddance, asshole." I head home.
Kinsley is watching television as I walk inside. She immediately grabs the remote and pauses the movie when she sees me. "That was the world's fastest dinner date," she says.
"No dinner, no date, no more Dane."
"That's for the best. You guys weren't a good match." Kinsley picks up the half-eaten bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and holds it up. "You look hungry."
"I'm starved." I grab a handful of popcorn but don't sit down. I'm ready to change into pajamas and crawl into bed with a book.
"I knew he wasn't right for you." Kinsley sits back with a satisfied smirk.
I raise my brow at her. "Uh, you literally said 'don't let this one go, Nev. He's rich and handsome. What else do you need?'"
Kinsley tugs at the hem of her crop top. "Not sure if I said exactly that."
