Want Me (Mess with Me 4)

My snort of laughter draws the attention of the diners around us and I press my hand to my lips trying to contain it.

“Don’t make me laugh in this fancy place. They’re going to throw me out.”

Just then a waiter appears to refill our water glasses. “Monsieur Barrington. Are you ready for an aperitif?”

Seth clears his throat. “Actually I believe the lady is interested in today’s special. Do you recommend it? I want to be sure it’s good.”

The waiter’s spine stiffens. “We only serve the best, I assure you. Our chickens are organic and free range. Chef Rousseau earned his second Michelin star after perfecting this recipe and Washington Gourmand declared it the best on the east coast.”

“Did you hear that, baby? It’s the best cock in the city.”

Of course that only sends us into another fit of laughter. The waiter watches with judgmental eyes, clearly insulted by our lack of decorum.

“I will return momentarily,” he huffs, before flouncing off.

“Oh god, I’m going to need to leave a monster tip after this.” Seth swipes a hand over his face before regarding me with amusement. “Have I mentioned I’m really glad you came?”

With a little sigh, I think about everything that happened earlier. When I told Law that he had to be ready for the day when I moved on, I hadn’t considered that the opposite was true, as well. Maybe his ex-wife can give him the non-committal type of relationship he desires. Or maybe he’s just a single guy who is happy to have a one-night stand with an old flame. Either way, it’s none of my business.

The day I made the decision to move on from our not-relationship, two different forks in the road appeared. I’m on one path and now Law is on another.

“I’m glad I came, too. This is exactly what I needed.” I pull my phone out of my purse and switch it off so I can give Seth my full attention.

It’s time I take the first steps.

Conversation flows easily and after an hour, I forget why I was ever nervous in the first place. Despite his rarefied lifestyle, Seth is very down-to-earth and has endless questions about my childhood and what it was like growing up bilingual.

“I feel like I’m talking so much,” I comment after I finish explaining the rules behind the card game I’d played with my father earlier. “I’m sure you don’t care about Russian card games.”

“No. Please, this is fascinating. I’m adopted so I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have that connection. Not that my parents aren’t amazing. They are. But there’s still a part of me that wonders, you know?”

“Yeah. I understand.”

His eyes move over my shoulder and he suddenly breaks into a big smile. “I apologize in advance for whatever happens next. Also, don’t believe anything he says about me.”

A man stops next to our table and claps Seth on the shoulder. “He emerges! Good to see you out of your cave.”

Seth hangs his head slightly. “Ignore him, Anya. That’s what I do. This is Cooper Vane. Coop, this is Anya.”

We shake hands and the instant our fingers touch, I have the urge to yank my hand back. Cooper raises my hand to his lips. There’s nothing particularly weird about it but the interaction leaves me feeling slightly slimy. After he releases my hand, Cooper turns to Seth and smiles. It doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I’ll leave you kids to your dinner. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

He moves on, joining a group at another table, but I can’t stop watching him.

“Who was that?”

“One of my business partners.”

My mouth falls open slightly. I’m not sure what I was expecting him to say but that wasn’t it. The vibes coming off that guy were definitely not friendly, so to hear that they are supposedly on the same team is a little strange.

“You know him well?”

“I do. We’ve done a lot of projects together. He’s one of my best friends.”

“When he looked at you, I didn’t get friend vibes. I hope I’m wrong but just be careful.”

He puts his fork down. “I can’t figure you out. You didn’t respond to my text for so long that I assumed you were ignoring me. Now you’re worried about me?”