Page 31 of One Bossy Date
Zoe tried to hold back a laugh. So did I. The guy was hilarious. The line? It could actually work.
“Jim!”
“What?”
“Kindly fuck off now,thanks.” She gave him a “You’re not helping, you’re making thingsworse—but I still love you” stare.
He closed his mouth, pulling his lips inward as if he would never speak again, and backed off into the entryway where he stood behind the security gate, watching us with the expression of a proud mother sending her daughter to prom.
I met Zoe halfway.
“Zoe,” I held my hand out for her, “you look wonderful.”
The word didn’t even begin to do her justice, but I’d never been the type of man who charmed women with words. Instead, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her, and she felt it. And she liked it. I noticed it in the rosy-colored blush that spread down her neck.
“Thank you. I think Jim complimented you enough for the both of us.” She seemed embarrassed, and the corner of my mouth lifted a fraction.
“You said I was handsome,” I rumbled.
“Oh, my God, youdidhear it. How much did you hear just now?”
“Every word.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of her glossy pink lips. “Oh, no!”
“Oh, yes.” I chuckled. “Including the perfectly tailored pick-up line.”
“Oh, my God.” She fully laughed now. “Okay, can you do me a favor? Please act as if that’s not what you heard. Act as if you heard nothing at all. All right?”
“Sure, can do.” I helped her into the limo, then turned and gave Jim a small nod, after which he pretended to almost faint.
Once on the road, I rotated to face Zoe. “So, are you ready for this?”
“I guess so.” She inhaled a deep breath which pushed her breasts up. “I told my gran that I’d be bringing a date, and she said she’d believe it when she saw it.”
Her head dropped into her hand out of familial frustration, and I understood completely. Except, I couldn’t see why there was this belief that Zoe couldn’t get her own date. It truly baffled me. The woman sitting next to me right now could have any man she wanted. And tonight, she would pretend that that man was me—and I was ready for it. I felt lucky.
“Well, she’s in for something, isn’t she?” I gave her a nod.
Zoe’s eyes, sparkling with glitter sprinkled lightly over the lids, lifted to mine. “She certainly is. But…” Her confidence wavered. “You know what? Now I’m not so sure I’m up for all the attention.”
“Attention?”
“My whole family likes to irritate me about being the last single one. It’s why my gran doesn’t believe I’m bringing anyone—I’ve never brought dates to family events. So, I have no doubt that tonight there will be alotof attention, and alotof questions.”
“Well, that’s why I’m here.”
“Thank God!” She assessed me for a moment. “Do you sometimes hate being the center of attention, too?”
“I don’t mind it,” I answered vaguely.
She smiled at that, not pushing the topic. “Oh, I almost forgot. Do you think your mom will make it?”
“I called, she’s still at her gala. She said she’d try her best to come by later.”
“I’d love to see her again.” Zoe nodded politely before shifting to face the window and watching the city go by.
My gaze lingered on the reflection of her face in the glass, a second longer than it should have. Something inside me warmed at her words. More than that. Something inside was reaching out to be acknowledged—something maddening I’d felt the day I’d leaned in to kiss her—that while she wasn’t the type of woman I would usually date, she’d definitely turned out to be a rare beauty, nonetheless.