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But the reality is that I will probably never move on from this man. Especially with his baby. How am I supposed to look at this baby every single day, this baby who I already know is going to be Hendrick’s exact replica, and not think about him? Not wonder what it would be like to be with him? As a family. To not still be absolutely in love with him?
It’s an impossible feat.
As I make my way toward my car, I feel like someone is watching me. Turning my head from side to side, I try to see if I can find the source. But there is nothing. Everyone around me seems to be minding their own business.
Shaking my head, I decide I’m just driving myself crazy because I’m the one who’s been watching Hendrick, and I’m projecting that on me. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I shift my car into Drive and pull out on the street. Instead of going home, I decide to head to a café.
I don’t want to go home, at least not yet.
I pull into the parking lot of a café between Brenda’s office and my place, exit, and make my way inside. It’s busy, and I’m not surprised there is a line that is almost out the door.
Stepping up, I take a menu from the little card holder that is every few feet in line and peruse the options. It looks amazing. Panini sandwiches and chips. I’m sold. And I decide on a strawberry-peach iced tea.
Staying in line, I continue to study the menu and decide I am going to have to come back because I need to try everything that is listed.
“Have you made a decision? I’m completely stumped,” a deep voice murmurs behind me.
Turning my head, I look at him. I don’t know why I expected to recognize the man behind me, but I don’t. Giving him a smile, I laugh softly and shrug a shoulder. “I’m choosing something, but I’ll have to come back because I want to try it all.”
He smirks, and he looks so kind. His expression is sweet as he watches me. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I’ve never been here before, but I was down here for a meeting, and this was suggested.”
Silence passes between us, and I consider looking straight ahead again but decide against it. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m supposed to meet this man.
Turning around to face him fully, I decide to continue the conversation. “Are you from here?” I ask.
“Dallas?” Dipping my chin in a single nod, I keep my gaze on his. “I live out in Houston, but I come to Dallas for one full week every month for work, and I ask for a new restaurant recommendation for at least one meal during my trip.”
“I love that. It’s pretty adventurous,” I say.
He chuckles. “I try to do something new and exciting every now and again.”
Then he does something that takes me aback. He lifts his hand and extends his finger beneath my chin for just a split moment. “Let me do my one adventurous thing this month and buy your dinner.”
I start to say no, but then I decide I’m going to be adventurous, too. My world has been flipped upside down, turned inside out, and it’s just going to get crazier, so I decide I’m going to let this handsome man buy me dinner.
“Okay,” I exhale.
And that’s what happens.
That’s what we do. He buys me dinner, and we sit at a bistro table together in the corner of the café. And it’s odd, but at the same time, it’s one of the best nondinner dates I’ve ever had before… aside from any moment with Hendrick.
Chapter
Twenty-One
HENDRICK
Anger slides through my entire being. I should be in my office working, but I knew I needed to get some air, and with the air, I decided I needed to see her. I needed to get my fix. When I looked up her location and found her at my mother’s office, I went there, then I watched her climb in her car and drive to a café.
What I see next has me seeing absolute red.
She turns and smiles at the man behind her. They talk, he lifts his hand, touching her chin, and I swear to fuck I’m going to cut that goddamn finger off him. Then they sit at a table and talk. Both of them smiling at one another. With each second that passes, I become angrier. I know I don’t have the right to be jealous, but knowing it doesn’t make that feeling go away.
I am jealous as fuck.
Every second they spend together makes me think of all the ways I could kill this fucker. And there are a lot of ways I could come up with. I have no issues being creative. They have dinner together for an hour until they finally separate, and I don’t miss the way he watches her ass as she walks to her car.
I should probably follow her home, but right now, my focus is on this guy. He’s parked just a few spots away, and I watch as he gets into his vehicle and drives toward McKinney. I tail him because I’m going to beat the fuck out of him. I’ve already decided.
