The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

“I wasn’t. I haven’t let a man touch me in years, so don’t flatter yourself.”

“I won’t,” he said, filling his mouth again with the tender meat and fueling my new distaste for his arrogance. My blood boiled as the air around him remained the same.

Ignoring the urge to cover him in bourbon, I spent the next few minutes devouring my food in an attempt to ignore his eyes that were still on me.

“That’s impressive,” he noted as I took my last bite of steak.

“It’s my only party trick,” I said with a little too much bite in my voice. Jack reached over and lifted my chin with his fingertips, commanding my attention.

“What is it, Rose?”

I really didn’t have a right to be indignant about the fact that he wasn’t going to make a move on me. He’d been nothing but a true gentleman to me since I’d met him, and I had no reason to hold a grudge. Although in the last hour he’d acted like an arrogant ass, I really didn’t see the harm in his game. If he were attempting to date me, I’d shot him down the first five minutes of dinner, and the fault was mine. If anything, I was just as relieved as I was disheartened by his hesitation because I was scared. I let my irritation slide off of my shoulders. The truth was, he was right. I had no idea what I wanted from him, if anything at all, and was still too unsure to do anything about it.

“I’m just tired,” I said, pulling my chin away.

“That’s not it at all. I’m not a beat around the bush type of guy. Talk to me.”

“Nothing to say. I’m fine, really.”

He took my hand in his and waited for my eyes patiently. “Then know I’m here as a friend.” Realization struck and I jerked slightly and pulled my hand away.

“He told you?”

“Who? And told me what?”

“My father told you?”

“I’m not following,” Jack said, truly confused. I couldn’t help but think more of him for his genuine concern for me. I’d assumed my dad told Jack about Grant, but it seemed it wasn’t the case. What I was sure about was that I didn’t want Jack to know. In just those few seconds I’d thought he’d felt pity for me, it felt like the whole dynamic had changed, and I hated it. I didn’t want that, not from Jack.

“It’s nothing. I have a long day tomorrow. Would you mind taking me home now? I’m just going to use the restroom.”

Jack gave me a careful nod with unanswered questions in his eyes. I quickly made my way past the bar and to the bathroom. Washing my hands, I refused to face my reflection. I had let myself down in a way and refused to admit it, even to myself. With a sigh, I exited the restroom, intent on ending the night on a decent note with Jack when I heard my name called as I passed the bar.

“Rose.”

I froze, the voice alone causing dread to race through my veins. Turning to the source, I let my eyes roam over his disheveled appearance. It took me years to get over him, years I would never get back.

“David,” I said as I attempted to make my way past him. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t make it easy. He stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm. I pulled my lip in with my teeth in annoyance.

“Rose, come on, give me a minute. It’s been a long time.” My patience drained as I stood and took in his expensive suit I assumed a successful attorney would wear. His dark brown hair was styled back neatly, but the circles beneath his hazel eyes and his posture gave him away. David had always been one for keeping up his appearance, and though at one time I’d thought him the sexiest man in the world, I couldn’t for the life of me remember why.

“You had plenty of minutes with me, David. I’m with company. I don’t want to be rude.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, uninterested, “well, they can give me one more.”

“It’s late, David. Don’t you have a family to get home to?”

“Yeah,” he said as he gripped his tumbler, his wedding ring absent.

Pig.

He looked me over with appreciation I was all too familiar with. It disgusted me.

“We’re not together anymore.”

“That’s a shame. It was a beautiful wedding,” I said, surprising myself with the lack of contempt in my voice. I’d watched him marry someone only months after ending our five-year relationship. Though I remembered it as painful, the truth was, he was wasted time. I’d stopped caring about his rejection long ago and hadn’t looked back.

“Are you…attached?”