AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Leila looked between Adler and this pretty blond. She could not miss how her face lit up when she talked to Adler, or how Adler’s brow ticked up and a small smile played at his lips. “Hi, Becca. How you been?”
“Oh, you know. Been busy with work and waiting to hear from you.” The giggle that escaped her made Leila’s stomach churn.
“Yeah, well, I have a reservation for two.” He pulled Leila next to him and wrapped his arm around her waist.
The hostess—Becca—raised one brow and took a quick glance at Leila before turning back to Adler. “Yes, right this way.” She placed her hand on Adler’s arm as she passed him and winked.
Seriously! Leila couldn’t believe this woman was openly flirting with Adler while it was obvious he was on a date.
Adler's eyes met hers. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“No problem,” Leila answered with more confidence than she felt. She couldn’t help feeling inadequate in the wake of this woman. Becca wore a little black dress that fell just above her knee and was tight enough to show off her perfect body that Leila was sure saw a lot of hours in a gym and had never had a baby. Her skin was porcelain perfect, and even Leila couldn’t deny she was drop-dead gorgeous. Every muscle in Leila’s body tensed up.
She let out a sigh as she pulled out a chair.
“Can I get you a drink? A Manhattan, or your favorite—a Cape Codder?” Becca asked as she placed their menus on the table and never took her eyes from Adler. Was Leila invisible?
“Nope, I think we’ll take a bottle of . . .” He glanced at Leila. “Chardonnay.” He raised his brow in question, and Leila nodded.
“Really? You don’t usually drink wine.” Becca batted her eyes.
“We’re the customers; it’s what we want. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” He laid his hands on the table palms up, and his attention turned to Leila.
Becca was dismissed. A jolt of happiness shot through Leila, and she placed her hands in Adlers. His warmth washed away the uncomfortable feeling Becca’s flirting had caused.
He squeezed her hands. “Don’t let that get to you.”
“What? It didn’t.”
He raised a brow. “Really? You tensed up as we walked to the table.” His thumbs traced circles on her palms. “Becca was no one special. She had a hard time when I never called her back.”
She smiled what she hoped was a believable smile. Becca was no one special. Did that mean they just went out, or did they sleep together? Did she have the right to ask, or should she just brush it off?
Just then, Becca came back with the bottle of wine and two glasses of water. She was the hostess. Did she always deliver the drinks?
“Here you go.” Again, Becca smiled widely at Adler and ignored Leila. Adler pulled his hands from hers and took the glasses.
This was crazy. Leila cleared her throat as Becca grabbed for the bottle, and Leila caught the woman’s arm. “You know what, we can handle this on our own. I think you need to get back to the hostess stand.” She gestured where a group of customers stood waiting. “Thanks for your help, Becca, but I’d like to spend some private time with my boyfriend.” She shot her a grin, then turned away to dismiss her. Becca got the message, turned abruptly, and stormed away.
Leila poured them both wine, and Adler snickered and raised his glass. “Here’s to the most beautiful girlfriend who is even more beautiful when jealous.”
“I’m not jealous,” she said as she clinked her glass against his. “I was just finished with her ignoring me and flirting with you. I think you’d react the same way.”
Adler sipped his wine. “Nope. I would not act that way.”
“Really?” Maybe she’d gotten the wrong impression about what being Adler’s girlfriend meant to him.
“Yep. You were calm. I would have been rude and probably used some cuss words to get my point across.”
“Yeah, I remember how you acted when William showed interest in me, and I didn’t even like you then.”
“Really? Come on. You felt something, I think you just didn’t want to admit to it.”
She thought back to her feelings that night when Adler was jealous and acting like a jerk. He’d really annoyed her. Maybe it was because she had feelings she was ignoring. She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. We’re here together now.”
She enjoyed dinner, and their time together, though she continued to question how serious he had been with Becca.
Finally, they left the restaurant. There was a coffee shop in the next shopping center, and Leila loved their caramel macchiato. “Could we run over to the Roasted Bean? They have great coffee.”
