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My stomach twists. Woman code says I should walk away, but I had RJ first and he's the man I'm meant to be with forever.
"Sorry, honey," I mutter. "He's mine."
I push back my shoulders and study them. I need to figure out a way to get between them. It has to be subtle or RJ will get annoyed and blame me like he always does. I need to prove to him I'm not the girl he dumped.
What I need is a strat sesh with my girls. It's because of our romance book club I'm even here in the first place.
I shoot a quick text off to my cousins, Peach and Blue, succinctly explaining the situation. Like me, they're named after fruit because our mothers are fruitcakes who thought it would be adorable to give us matching names. We've chosen to own our names rather than legally change them as soon as we could.
Peach responds first:In the books, you have to be friends with him first.
I was the one who decided I was tired of reading romance and wanted to make my happy ever after happen, but Peach is the one who believes most thoroughly that the romance novel knows best.
Even though it takes over ten minutes for Blue to text me back, I wait to make a move until I hear from her. I adore both my cousins, but Blue is the more pragmatic, down-to-earth one. She doesn't always have the best advice, but she's wise beyond her years.
Blue:Fuck that. You don't have the funds to spend a month waiting until RJ notices you and remembers you're the love of his life.
She's not wrong. Me:Got an actionable plan?
I wait, but it's Peach who texts back first:Love can't be rushed. Remember Gold as Fall Leaves? You can't force this or it won't be true love.
I sigh.Gold as Fall Leavesis an incredibly slow burn romance. The main character gave up on her second-chance romance and moved away from town. It was only after she'd left that her ex realized how much he loved her. I do not have time for a slow burn with RJ.
Me:Not sure RJ is as smart as Nathan Banks from GFL.
Blue's text is a link to a news article. I click it and read about a foreign culture where people will pay for someone to seduce away their spouse's lover.
I'm not sure I'd want a husband back who'd cheated on me, but this idea is brilliant. RJ doesn't even have to know I'm in town until I get his girlfriend out of the picture. When he's sad, not heartbroken because he can't possibly be in love with her, I'll swoop in and be his comfort. In no time, he'll fall in love with me again.
I shoot off a text telling Blue she's a genius, ignore Peach's texts suggesting such a plan won't be a good way to start an honest, loving relationship, and scan the bar for the perfect candidate to woo RJ's girlfriend away from him.
How is every man here with a woman? Or way too old? Or with a group of guys and acting like an ass? I don't see a single man here who could—
Cold air hits my back and makes me shiver as the door to the bar opens.
I turn and have to look up to see the face of the man in the tux who just walked through the door. He's clean-shaven, with the brightest, bluest eyes I've ever seen and dark hair styled to perfection. He's scowling, but somehow that only makes him more attractive.
My lady parts wake up and do a little happy dance, but my brain stays on task because he is perfection.
For my ex's girlfriend, not for me.
He looks my way and his eyes flare, his scowl getting a bit less scowly. I flutter my lashes and smile sweetly. I am a shy maiden just looking for a big, strong man to save me.
He doesn't hesitate before striding over like a big cat on the prowl. Or a grizzly bear. I look him up and down, tall, built, strong thighs. More like a grizzly bear stalking his prey. On two legs instead of four, of course.
He moves fast like a cat though and, before I'm ready, he's standing so close that I have to crane my neck to look up at him.
"Where are you from?" he asks, his voice gruff and deep.
"How do you know I'm not a local?" I twist my face into a look that relays adorable confusion. Men love a dumb, sweet woman.
He chuckles. "Honey, I would have noticed you." He points above us. "Did you realize you're standing under mistletoe? Are you looking for someone to kiss?"
I look up and, sure enough, there's mistletoe hanging from the ceiling above us. I giggle and swat at him. "I don't kiss before I even know a man's name." That's a lie, but men also prefer their women innocent in my experience.
He doesn't quite smile, but his eyes sparkle in the lights from the tree. "How about I buy you a drink and get to know you?"
As much as I'd like to let this man liquor me up and take me home, I have a more important task tonight. "Actually, I need your help with something."
