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Jesus. Easy now.
“Right, sorry. Rake Danson,” I repeat.
“Hanson. His last name isHanson.”
I toss my head back with a laugh. This guy needs to loosen the fuck up. “Right. Thanks. Yup, I’m the lucky one, aren’t I?”
“Do you mind if I grab this seat next to you, Miss Parker?” he asks, not waiting for my answer.
I glance around. I really want to get the hell out of here.
“Let me get right to the point,” he says. “I am the public relations rep for the San Francisco Aftershocks, and I’m here with Rake, whom you bid on and won in the auction.”
I wave my hands in dismissal. “Oh that. Yeah, I didn’t really bid on him. I was just trying to kill a fly,” I interrupt.
“Nevertheless, Miss Parker?—”
“You can call me Petal.”
He sucks in his breath. “Yes. Petal. As I was saying, whether you meant to or not, you won a date with the Aftershocks’ star player. I’m here to make sure you two connect, so we can follow your progress.”
Progress? What progress?
“Oh look, Vince.” I lean closer and lower my voice. “I don’t want a date with that guy. This is all just some kind of misunderstanding. You can have him back. I mean, I’ll pay the two grand, no problem. I always support my mother’s… hobbies. But give Ralph to some other girl. There are still a few left here, just look around. I’m sure they’d be super-excited about meeting him?—”
He drums his fingers on the white banquet tablecloth as servers clean up around us. “It’s Rake. Not Ralph.”
“Got it, sorry. Look, Mr. Vince, I have a lot on my mind. You see, I went through a very public breakup just a few months ago, and I’m not ready to date anyone, much less your man. Nor do I need to give people in San Francisco anything else to gossip about. You catch my meaning?”
“Petal, you need to go on a date with this man. You are legally obligated, if you really want me to be a stickler. Plus, it would be bad publicity for the Aftershocks, were this to fall apart before it even gets started.”
For what to fall apart? A silly date?
“And Vince is myfirstname. I’m Vince Vincent.”
“Right, Vince,” I say with emphasis. This guy needs tolistenbetter. “Give Rake to someone else. If he’s as great as you say he is, I’m sure women are lining up?—”
“Here he is!” Vince exclaims, cutting me off. “Petal Parker, I’d like for you to meet Rake Hanson.”
I turn toward the behemoth of a red-headed man I saw from across the room and crane my neck up. And up.
Jesus, he’s big. I didn’t realize that from so far away.
“Oh hello, Rake. I was just telling Vince here that I’ll gladly give you to another woman. I’m not into going out much these days. Just spending a lot of time at home with my girlfriends. That sort of thing. In fact, I’ll be leaving for a big trip soon. Well, as soon as I plan it.”
Okay, that’s sort of a lie. After my wedding fell apart, I quit my accounting job with the intention of going to Mexico for a few weeks to lie on the beach, do yoga, and work on my tan. But I haven’t gotten around to going yet, and instead, have holed up at the guest cottage at my mother’s winery. I’m lying low. Like, real low.
The blank expression Rake is wearing gives nothing away, as if he doesn’t care whether I go on the date with him or not.
Or, live or die, for that matter.
We’re on the same page. Cool.
“Vince, we gotta go. I have practice soon,” Rake says.
With his lips pressed together, Vince looks between the two of us like we’re naughty children. “We’ll leave in a minute, Rake.And listen, both of you, this datemusthappen. It’s a done deal. PR has already put out a release.”
PR? A release?
