“I am not mimick…” His grip on her tightened. “Watch out for that puddle.”
“I am perfectly capable of avoiding puddles on my own,” she said, and silently cursed herself when she stomped straight through it. “You still have not told me how you got my address.”
“I remembered the name of the place. East Side Associates.”
“I did not tell you that.”
“No, you did not. Alessandra did. At dinner that night. Did you know that your speech changes when you’re upset?”
“I am not upset and my speech does not change.”
“Maybe upset’s the wrong word. It changes when you get emotional.”
“ And I do not get emotional, either.” She stopped walking and turned towards him. “We are here.”
“We are where?”
“What I meant was, I am here. I am where I am meeting someone.”
“A man.”
“A man, yes. Please let go of my wrist.”
Chay looked around him. They were standing outside a coffee shop. Cuppa Joe’s. The place he’d passed getting to her office building. It looked like a thousand other coffee shops, but it had one saving grace—an awning that extended the length of the window and ended over the door.
He drew Bianca under that awning, out of the rain.
“Who is he?”
“That is none of your business.”
“Why would you meet him here instead of giving him your address?”
“Because.”
“That’s a ten-year-old’s answer.”
Her head came up. “It is my answer.”
“How many times have you gone out with this guy?”
“I do not see any reason to continue this discussion.”
“You want a reason?” He stepped closer to her, so close she could feel the heat coming off his body. “Here’s one. I find it odd that a man you’re dating wouldn’t pick you up at your office.”
“I told you. He does not have—”
“The address. Right. Odder still.” His eyes focused on hers. “How many times have you and this loser gone out?”
“He is not a loser.”
“How many times?”
“Thr—four.”
“Thr—four.” Chay folded his arms over his chest. “Interesting number. What’s his name?”
“Dio! None of this is your—” She sighed. The best way to get rid of him was to answer his questions, but, dammit, what was the man’s name? A biblical name. “Jos…Noah.”