Page 27 of Imperfections Seduced
“I don’t mind at all. I’m a lawyer on the upper east side.”
“You must really like the food here; it would take you at least forty-five minutes to get here.”
“When I find something I like, it doesn’t matter how far I have to go to get to it. I’m a man who knows what he wants and what he likes. If I can’t get it to come to me, I’m going to go get it.”
With that he turns his head and looks directly at me—and so does everyone else. He is not subtle at all. I’ve been ignoring his calls. After Kate and I had the talk about Ava, I didn’t feel like talking to him. I didn’t even tell Ava about it yet.
“If you’re this passionate about your food, you must beequally, if not more, passionate about everything else you do,” Chloe says, pulling her hair behind her ears.
Here she goes. She’s my girl, and I know if I needed her, she would be right by my side, but damn, back off, you have plenty of men to pick and choose from. This one’s taken.
“Yes, without a doubt. I’m passionate in everything I do. I like to be satisfied, and I aim to satisfy.” He looks at Chloe, putting one strong capable hand on the table.
Chloe runs her finger across the top of her exposed breast, speaking huskily. “I think I might need legal representation in the near future. If I do, could I call on you for a consultation?”
Ava sets her glass on the table, looking at Chloe. “For what? Sexual harassment?” I am now calling on all my strength not to fall over in the floor laughing.
Nick clears his throat and smiles at Chloe while she glares at Ava. “Anytime you’re ready. Ava has my number, you can get it from her.”
“Yeah, sure, I’ll do that,” Ava drawls.
Ava’s not going to give Chloe anything except a piece of her mind. Nick’s phone rings, and he looks down at it. When he looks up, he’s smiling at me.
“What?” I snap, irritated with him. Everyone looks at me, and I feel the need to explain myself. “Both of you can stop looking at me, I’m not being rude. Nick and I have actually known each other for years. He likes to push my buttons.”
“Cat and I actually do go way back. So please excuse her rudeness,” he says smoothly.
Isabelle and Chloe look at each other. Ava takes a bite of her chicken salad and smiles at them. He does this to me every time. One minute all I want to do is stare into hiseyes, the next minute I want to throw my drink at him for getting to me.
“The last time we talked, you said you had some job interviews lined up. How’s that going?”
I clear my throat, put my napkin on the table, and fold my hands in my lap to answer his question. I’m acutely aware that my friends, quiet as mice, are taking a keen interest in what Nick and I are saying to each other.
“Fine. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the position I interviewed for yesterday. It’s a Catholic school, and I’ll be taking over for the kindergarten teacher when she goes on maternity leave.”
“That’s great.” He looks down at his phone and taps the screen a few times.
Ava asks, “Is it the second teaching position you applied for?”
I nod my head. Nick’s phone rings, and he holds a finger up and answers it.
“What’s up? Yeah, I can make it tonight. I’m at lunch with Ava and your sister. Yourothersister. You know those two wouldn’t be caught dead together. Yeah, I’ll let her know.” He puts his phone down and turns to me. “That was Chris. We’re going to meet up with some friends at a club in the city tonight, you should come.”
“I don’t know.” I’m not sure I want to spend all night staring at him, and who said my brother wants me hanging with him and his friends while they pick up girls? There’s no doubt in my mind that’s what they’d be doing once the drinks kicked in.
“I would love to come!” Ava clasps her hands together on the table and beams at Nick.
The corner of his lip turns up when he looks at her. “I’m sure Chris would love that.”
“I’m sure he will,” Ava says primly. “I’m a delight.”
He turns to Chloe and Isabelle. “If you ladies don’t have plans tonight, you’re more than welcome to join us. There is nothing a man likes more than to be surrounded by beautiful women.”
They both smile at him like two school girls with their first crush.
“Thank you, but I can’t. I have to go home and make dinner for my husband and baby boy who I miss already,” Isabelle says.
Chloe pushes out her bottom lip in an attempt to make a sexy pout, which looks ridiculous. “Thank you, but I can’t either. I already have plans for tonight. Bummer, but I’ll take a rain check.”
