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She takes off down the aisle in a hurry. Maybe I’ll need Date Crashers after all. Kevin didn’t strike me as the player type. Not like Nate. But when it comes to men, maybe I’m not the best judge of character.
Needing a distraction, I text Willow.
Harley: Can you believe this jerk isn’t here. The hotel manager had to escort me to his “usual” table.
Willow: Gross. Either cut and run or use Date Crashers.
Harley: So much for him being one of the good ones.
Willow: Mr. Darcy doesn’t exist in real life, babe.
Harley: Yes, he does. I just haven’t found him yet.
Willow: Tinder is always an option.
Harley: No way!
Willow: You could use a proper dicking. It’s been WAY too long.
I shake my head, blushing ten shades of red at her words. Like I need a reminder of my sexless, loveless life. Willow is a free spirit who wants to experience everything life has to offer, while I want nothing more than to settle down and have some security in my life.
I’ll never stop believing in true love.
Jane Austen taught me that men are complicated but also capable of real love, the kind of love my parents never had. I think that’s why I want it so much. When it comes to relationships, I believe there is someone for everyone. Every woman has a Mr. Darcy, and he’s waiting to find her, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
A shadow appears above me as I send my last text to Willow. I peek up at Kevin, who bends down to press a kiss on my cheek. His spicy aftershave fills my nostrils as his lips brush my ear.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” His voice is so smooth and sexy a shiver rolls down my arms.
I glance up at him, entranced by his beauty. An adorable dimple pops against his golden skin as his eyes lock with mine. He fixes his dark blue tie and takes his place on the bench across from me.
“My phone call with China went over,” he says, lifting the menu from the table.
It’s morning in China, so maybe he’s telling the truth.
“It’s fine,” I lie. “I understand.”
Is it really, though?
“The steak here is phenomenal.”
“I’m not much of a steak eater.”
Kevin narrows his eyes at me. “You haven’t tasted the right steak, then.”
I roll my shoulders and glance at the menu. “Yeah, I guess.”
He removes a roll from the breadbasket at the center of the table. “You should try one. They bake their onion rolls fresh daily.”
I hope he doesn’t expect a kiss at the end of the night. I don’t have any gum in my purse, and an onion roll will give me dragon breath. But, since he doesn’t seem to care, I butter a roll and stuff half of it into my mouth.
“You okay?” He slides his hand across the table to cover mine. “Sorry, I was late. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”
Before tonight, I thought Kevin was different, unlike the men in my life. I must be a human magnet for self-absorbed assholes.
“I’ve spent most of my life waiting around for important men,” I say without hesitation. “You can’t get more time on this earth, and I don’t like having mine wasted.”
He lowers his gaze and sighs. “Harley, I can’t promise it won’t happen again. But I swear I will try. My business—”
“Is more important,” I finish for him. “I get it.”
My cell phone rings, and I frown when I see DAD flashing on the screen. He never calls me after normal business hours. After the conversation we had this morning, this must be about the future of our company.
I hold up the phone and slide out of the booth. “I’m sorry, but I have to take this.”
I walk away before he has the chance to respond, raising the phone to my ear. “Hey, Dad.” I head toward the bathroom at the end of the balcony to get some privacy. “What’s up?”
“Harley, I need you to come home.” His tone is severe, demanding. “This situation with Nate needs a certain touch, and I need all hands on deck.”
“How can I help?”
He breathes loudly into the phone. “I need you on the red-eye tonight.”
“Sure, whatever you need.”
“Come straight to my office.” He sounds relieved. “I’ll order breakfast from your favorite place.”
I’m surprised he remembers what I like to eat. After years of only seeing each other for holidays and company-related events, we barely know each other anymore.
“Sounds good,” I say after a long pause. “I’ll see you then.”
He’s never asked me to come back to Philly on short notice. I guess he wants to tell me I’m out of a job in person. Unless we can find another investor to replace Titan Tech, I don’t see a way out of our financial mess.
After we hang up, I return to the table and lift my purse from the bench. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
