Page 33 of One Bossy Date

The truth was that I was, indeed, lucky to have met him, but the circumstances weren’t exactly what we portrayed. It was less “love at first sight,” more “Who the hell do you think you are?” kind of circumstances.

“Honeys,” she looked over her shoulder, “we’ll pick this up a bit later. I have guests to greet!”

We sent her off with our congratulations and took our seats again. I plucked my wine glass from the table and took a steadying gulp, before noticing that Anders’s glass was empty. “You aren’t drinking?” I asked quietly.

Without looking at me, he leaned his head in and said softly, “I don’t drink.”

What?I frowned. “Any particular reason why?”

This time he shifted to face me. “I just never really have. Prefer a clear mind, especially in situations like this.”

Situations like this? Did he expect something to go wrong? No, it was more likely that this evening was part of our deal. He spoke as if it was just business—which I supposed, it was. It was all a pretense. Had I been falling for his scheme as well? Because he seemed so natural with it.

“But you tasted the wine for the waiter…”

“Yes, I did. It’s a pretty good wine. You’ll enjoy it.”

“Should we order you something else from the bar?” I asked him.

“Sure.”

There was an open bar tonight. Granny Dotty had not held back—she and her siblings had been raised wealthy and had each created their own empires to pass down. My gran’s empire was built from investment strategy, started by her husband but shouldered by her when he died at the young age of forty-five. She was an intensely independent woman, and it showed. My cousin Greg had taken over the company ten years ago when she’d decided to retire.

We were standing waiting for Anders’s Rock Shandy when Brody approached us. I felt his sticky eyes even before I heard his voice.Shit.

“Well, well. I heard there was a new man in your life, but it takes seeing to believe it.”

I turned toward the voice and felt Anders standing taller.

“Brody, how are you?” I smiled tightly. I couldn’t make a scene at my granny’s birthday party, especially not without justification. What would I say? That his looks felt kind of slimy? “This is Anders.”

I peered up at the man by my side. Instantly Anders picked up his arm to allow my hand in (that moment alone made my breath quicken), then held it firmly against his side, where it pressed against his thick, hard bicep (that moment made my breath quicken even more, and for a moment I completely forgot about Brody). When Anders looked at me for a second, the memory of our near-kiss welled up inside me and made my knees go weak.

Almost imperceptibly, he gave me a nod before turning to Brody.

“Anders.” Brody narrowed his eyes. “Anders Windham, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Correct.”

He didn’t say anything else, making two things clear: One, he had no idea who Brody was. Two, he was absolutely fine with that and had no intention of changing it.

“Brody Phillips. I’m a…a friend of the family. A very close friend.” He looked at me, then back at Anders, who returned his gaze without any visible emotion.

There was an incredibly awkward silence—at least as far as Brody and I were concerned. Anders seemed completely immune to the bad vibes—which was interrupted by the bartender sliding Anders’s Rock Shandy over to him.

“Thank you.” Anders took his drink, without letting me go. Oh God, I wanted to kiss him. I would’ve given him anything for it: my firstborn, a year of free dog sitting—anything. “Brody,” Anders said, giving him a slight, professional smile, “it was good to meet you.”

It was a dismissal, and Anders led me away by the hand I still had clasped around his defined, steely arm. We made our way through the tables, nodding and smiling when appropriate. Slowly, I started to relax. Even my appetite, which I had lost at the sight of Brody, returned. I was about to lean into Anders and ask if he wanted to get some appetizers when I heard my name.

“Zoe! Over here!”

It was one of my cousins, Lou-Ann, who sat at a table with her husband and a few more of my relatives. We were invited to sit down and gladly took up the offer. Lou-Ann was a curious one. She’d definitely have a lot of questions—especially about how we’d met.

All right.I knew I was about to be put on the spot, and I buckled up for the ride.

14

ZOE