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Chapter 7
Grace
“Sowhatexactlyareyou looking for in a man?” I ask as I sit across from Cat at dinner. I was surprised when she called. She’d been putting off our meetings for the last few weeks and I figured she’d gotten Jonathan to agree to drop this. But according to her message, the merger had just taken more of her time than she expected and now she was ready to focus on our project. I was shocked when she asked if we could meet at a restaurant rather than at my office. I thought for sure she’d avoid spending any more time with me than necessary. After arriving, we both ordered dirty martinis, and it’s cutting the awkwardness. Marginally.
Cat picks up the toothpick with the blue cheese olives on it and spins it between her fingers before taking a bite. Then she tilts her head in thought. “Honestly?”
I laugh. “Yeah, I mean unless you want me to pair you with the devil, you should give me some direction.”
Cat throws back her head and laughs loudly. Men and women turn to stare. She has that effect everywhere she goes. There’s an air about her. A sensuality. I’ve never been attracted to women but it’s her essence. She oozes it. I would not be remotely surprised to learn that she’s dabbled with both men and women. And probably enjoyed it.
“The devil would probably be what I deserve after how I treated you. And better than what I’ve dated in the past.”
Her eyes shine with fire. She has passion and poise, and had her poker stick not been aimed in my direction for the last few months, I probably would have liked her. A lot.
“Like you said, it’s in the past. I’m happy to move forward.”
I take another sip of my martini as I study her. Cat’s red nails match her lipstick perfectly, and her dark black hair has been recently cut into a stylish bob. I try to avoid looking too closely into her eyes though. They only remind me of the man who broke my heart.
“I tried talking to him,” she says as her eyes meet mine, forcing me to deal with the pang of loss all over again.
I laugh dryly. “I’m sure that went over wonderfully.”
She rolls her eyes. “He’s spiraling. Drinking all the time. He’s miserable without you. But he has too much pride to hear he was wrong.”
Angel, loving me isn’t a risk because me not loving you is an impossibility.
Cash’s voice breaks into my thoughts, and I close my eyes to expel the memory. It stings knowing that he knows the truth and still hasn’t reached out. It’s brutally painful knowing the man who told me that loving him wasn’t a risk lied through his teeth.
I truly believed he was the love of my life.
I shake my head with a tense smile. “There’s no going back.” Shrugging my shoulders, I try to feign indifference. “We’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you. So seriously, Cat, what are you looking for in a man? What attributes do you find attractive?”
Around us, the restaurant buzzes with people wanting to be seen. Businessmen looking at women like they are on the menu, women dressed in low-cut tops, short skirts, and made up like the low hanging fruit they want to be for the night. But not Cat. She holds herself above everyone else. She looks around the room, her eyes focused and determined. I follow her gaze when she takes the toothpick which is now empty of olives, bites it and points to a man who stands at the bar with a woman by his side. “Him,” she says.
He has a strong jaw, an expensive suit, and his gaze is locked on his companion.
“Hm.” I turn back to Cat. “Why him?”
Her lips turn up in a smile. “He’s looking at her like my brother looked at you. Not a woman in this room could tear his gaze away. I want to be that for someone. I want someone tofeelthat way about me. But I want him to almost lose control in his thirst for me. I want him hungry. Desperate for me. Find me that, Grace. Anything less isn’t worth my time.”
A chill runs through my body. She has the same passion as Cash. The same desire for love. Desperation.
Although, I think using Cash and me as an example is dooming her hopes before we even start.
“Got it. One insanely hot, narcissistic asshole coming up.”
She laughs loudly, drawing attention again.
Behind me, I hear a familiar voice, reply, “Did someone summon me?”
I turn around to spot Jonathan standing over me.
Cat shakes her head, but the smile remains on her face. I watch as their eyes meet and feel a zap. Literal fireworks. I shake my head and look again. No…I must be seeing things. Jonathan looks at women like they’re play toys, not with that intensity. And Cat, she wants someone who will give her everything. Jonathan’s incapable of that.
“You ladies enjoying dinner?” he says with a twinkle in his eye as he squeezes my shoulder. He lowers his mouth to my ear and whispers as he kisses me hello, “Is she playing nice?”
I laugh and motion to the chair beside me. “We’re fine. Join us for dinner? Or do you have a date tonight?” I look around him to see if anyone is trailing him or staring after him. It’s not unlike Jonathan to leave a woman he’s with if he sees something more enjoyable. I’d unfortunately been on the wrong end of that scenario years ago.
