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“So, you think that you and I looking like we are dating will deflect some of the attention away from JD?” I asked.
“Exactly. The only thing people like more than a breakup is a love story, and you and I can give them that love story. Kind of like a one-two punch. If everyone is concentrating on us and not JD, then they’ll forget about him and Lizbeth. Which is exactly what we want people to do. One that can be handled by you and I having dinner together.”
“Is this your way of telling me that you agree with Faith and I about the best way to handle this?” I asked.
“I learned a long time ago to never question the wisdom of a woman, much less two.”
“Smart man. Okay. It sounds like this will be the best thing for everyone. Let’s do this. What do you have in mind?”
“We should get out in front of this as soon as possible. Can you be ready around 6:30 tomorrow?”
“I think I can make that work.”
“Good. Then I’ll see you then. Have a good rest of your night.”
“You too,” I said.
I ended the call, and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. The conversation had gone better than I would have thought. I had expected Mac would be somewhat open to us dating but I had never imagined that things would have gone so well. I liked knowing that while going out together was good for us, it was good for JD and his family as well. It made it easier to be okay with everything. I was excited about the idea of seeing Mac again even if he hadn’t told me what we were doing. I had a feeling that whatever he decided to do, it would be a memorable night and one I was very much looking forward to.
Chapter 9
Mac
I was still on the high from talking to Hope when I walked into JD’s restaurant the next afternoon. Work was a little busy with Morgan leaving and I probably shouldn’t have left the office in the middle of the day, but I needed to see JD. I wanted to talk to him about what was going on with him and Lizbeth but I also wanted to discuss my date with Hope.
The restaurant was relatively quiet as most of the construction was completed. There was still more work that needed to be done, but I could see it shaping up. It was unusual for it to be so quiet, but it allowed me to hear JD practically yelling his frustration about Lizbeth from his office.
“She’s not allowed in the restaurant. If I had my way, she wouldn’t be allowed within a hundred feet of me. If she comes looking for me again, tell her I’m not here, I’m permanently unavailable. I don’t care, you can tell her I died.”
“That would only cause more of a shit storm,” I said from the doorway of his office.
Rosie, JD’s assistant and right-hand person, looked over her shoulder and nodded at me. She and JD had been friends in high school and had kept the friendship going. She was the only one who could keep JD in line, or at least she could tell it to him like it was and he didn’t yell at her.
“My thoughts exactly. However, if you want a media blitz before the restaurant opens we could start that rumor. Could help with the opening,” Rosie looked down at the tablet she always seemed to be carrying as if to write the idea down.
“Don’t. Our mother would have your head if you did that. From an emotional and legal standpoint,” I said, looking at first JD and then Rosie.
“I have seriously considered going to such extremes just to get Lizbeth to leave me alone. I’m not returning any of her calls or allowing her in the restaurant. I’ve unfollowed her on all social media platforms. I would even delete my own accounts, but I need them to help promote the restaurant. I wish she would just go away,” JD said and leaned his head against his chair.
“Leave the country, that seemed to work the last time,” I said.
“You aren’t helping,” JD said to me and then turned to Rosie. “Do what you can but don’t spend too much time on her, she isn’t worth it.”
“No problem, Boss,” Rosie said and with a smile at me walked out of the office.
“I came by to see how things were going, I guess I got my answer,” I said as I walked the rest of the way into his office and leaned up against the wall. It wasn’t a very big office, it only had enough room for his desk, a small filing cabinet, and two chairs. Though the two chairs were currently as full as his desk with paperwork and there was no place to sit.
“The woman is a thorn in my side. She’s convinced she and I are going to be together, forever. I told her I don’t want anything to do with her, but she just won’t take no for an answer. It’s beyond frustrating.”
“You could just sleep with another woman, that usually works,” I suggested.
“I tried that, but it didn't. It was like Lizbeth could see I wasn’t serious about the woman and thought I was doing it to make her jealous.”
“Resulting only making her go after you harder.”
“Exactly. I’ve tried talking to her. No luck. I tried moving on from her, but she didn’t. I’m going to try ignoring her and see how that works. I would even try a restraining order, but I know they won’t give it to me, and it would only make her happy that I tried.”
“You know how to pick them don’t you?”
