Page 30 of Playing Hard to Get

“It's fine, Frankie. Go.”

“Are you sure? Can we reschedule?”

“Go.”

“Mitch?” Frankie looked at him and he pushed his chair back and wrapped her up in a hug.

“Go, darlin’, take care of business. I'll take care of Vivian here.”

Frankie pulled back and gave me one last look before she turned on her heel and walked away. I watched after her, hating myself for not canceling in the first place. Mitch sat down again, and he was there, right there. Legs pressed up against mine, body leaning close.

“Looks like it's just you and me, darlin’.”

Reaching down, I grabbed my purse from under my chair. “Looks like it's just you. I'm leaving.”

“Why the hurry?”

“None of your damn business.”

Mitch put his hand on the back of my neck, sliding his thumb down my throat. And I was frozen, couldn’t move, could barely breathe.

“I know what you want, darlin’. Gave you a taste of it last night, didn't I?”

I forced a deep, shaky breath. “That can't happen again.”

“No? Why not?”

“Do I really need to tell you again?”

“You don’t want to hurt Frankie. But you’re fine with hurting yourself.”

“I’m not hurting one bit.” I pulled away from his touch and dug through my purse for my phone. Then, glancing back at him, I put a hand in front of his face, wiggling my fingers. “I have everything I could ever need or want right here.”

Mitch narrowed his eyes at me. “Tell me you didn't like it. Tell me you don't want me, and I'll leave you alone.”

Through narrowed eyes, I spit out, “I. Don't. Want. You.”

“I don’t believe you.”

I let out a long sigh. “You said you’d leave me alone last night. You’ve said it again just now. What will it take for you to actually do it?”

“Come home with me.”

“What?” I pulled my head back and stared at him with wide eyes.

“Come home with me, Viv. Let me give you what you need.” Mitch’s hand slid up my leg, but I was too shocked to move. He leaned in close, his eyes on mine, his breath brushing my face, his voice just a whisper. “Oh, the things I want to do to you, sweet girl. Wanna taste that sweet little pussy of yours. Wanna fuck you ‘til you’re screaming my name.”

My chest tightened as my face, neck, and ears went up in flames. I raised a shaky hand to my face, then dropped it to my purse and stood. “I have to go.”

“You running from me, darlin’?”

“I’m not your darlin’. Leave me alone, Mitch. I need you to leave me alone.” I rushed to the front of the restaurant, rushed out the door. I was halfway down the block before I put my phone to my ear and called my driver. I told him to meet me another three blocks from the restaurant. I needed to put space between me and Mitch. I needed to go home and pack. I needed to get out of town.

I needed to figure out what the hell I was going to do about Mitch.

8

Mitch