Chapter 2
(Evan)
At the restaurant, Evan sat across from Benji and Glenda, watching them without comment as they flitted and flirted through the courtship dance. His stomach turned and he couldn’t keep from rolling his eyes a few times.
While waiting for their entrées, Evan looked more closely at Glenda: the way she focused on Benji when he was paying attention and the way she scanned the room out of the corner of her eyes when he wasn’t, as if she were looking for something or someone and didn’t want Benji noticing.
While he was watching her odd behavior—her sneaky behavior—Evan realized that she was really very pretty. The up-curve of her full lips, the button nose with a slight uplift at the tip, the dainty chin, perfectly shaped face, and her blemish-free face. Even without an inch of makeup on her face, she was actually quite breathtaking.
Several times, she caught Evan staring at her intently. Every time, he smiled politely, but quickly, and averted his gaze as if interested in someth
ing in another part of the restaurant.
Benji was paying little attention to either one of them—he was glued to the screen of his phone. That was proof to Evan that having a sexy, devoted lover wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. If it was, Benji wouldn’t be ignoring Glenda to text someone else while they were on a date.
As if reading his thoughts, Glenda smiled broadly at Evan and put her forearms on the table, leaning toward him. “So, why don’t you have your phone out while we’re waiting? They said it would be at least twenty-five minutes.”
Leaned forward, she was nearly showing her tits. Evan could see enough of them to arouse his curiosity and his interest. He made no pretense about staring at what was exposed, either.
Benji, without looking away from his phone, answered for Evan. “Because he’s expecting all the big contracts to come his way with minimal effort on his part—just like they always seem to do. Right, Ev?” Benji chuckled dryly and shook his head a bit as he typed.
Wanting to snark back at Benjamin, Evan took a deep breath and averted his internal auto-responder instead. Glenda didn’t laugh, either. She looked at Evan with a mixture of shock and maybe some expectation. Most people who knew Evan would expect him to retort hotly, but tonight, Evan was becoming more interested in Glenda than in what smartass comment Benji tossed out there.
Looking directly at Glenda and smiling, Evan said, “Actually, I just have more manners and more respect for my dinner companions than to sit there oblivious.” He winked at Glenda.
She giggled and nibbled at her lower lip, but didn’t blush. Fingering the necklace pendant lying against her chest, Glenda smoothly lowered the already-plunging neckline of her dress as she leaned near Benji and tried to see what he was typing.
Shooting her a neutral look, Benji darkened the screen on his phone and gave her a quick kiss on the lips as he pushed his chair back and stood.
“Where are you going, Benji?” She pooched out her bottom lip in a pout and uncrossed her legs.
“If you two will excuse me, I have need of the men’s facility. I’ll return shortly.” He looked at Evan and said, “I take it that you can entertain the lady in my absence?” His grin and wink took Evan off guard.
Nodding, Evan answered, “Of course. No problem at all.” Indeed, it was no problem; it was exactly the opposite now that he’d had a glimpse of the goods.
Glenda stood to face Benjamin. “I have no say in much, do I, Benji?”
“I’ll be right back. I promise.” With one finger, he reached out and pulled her neckline down farther as he leaned in to kiss her again.
She didn’t bother to fix the neckline of her dress before sitting again. From the luscious bounce and jiggle, Evan knew she was not wearing a bra. As she situated in the chair, her nipples hardened against the filmy fabric.
Desire stirred in Evan’s midsection and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Should he also leave? No, that would be rude. He stayed at the table with Glenda, unsure how to start a conversation with her. That was unusual for him; he never had problem talking to any woman in any situation—and he’d been around semi-celebrities, CEOs, and models. Glenda was none of them, but he still couldn’t muster an idea for a conversation with her.
Looking over her shoulder, Glenda huffed and flapped her hand in the direction of the restaurant’s second entrance door at the side. Evan followed her gaze and saw Benjamin pass by the smaller window there, heading into the alleyway.
Taking a long drink of her wine, Glenda looked at Evan and said, “You know, if I didn’t love him so much, I would take that the wrong way and leave here with you.”
“Maybe he had to go back to the car for something. He’ll be back any minute.” Evan didn’t know if that was true or not, but he didn’t know what else to say to her. She looked miffed but not dejected or overly-angry by any means.
Smiling, she winked, and took another drink of wine. “That was sweet, Evan. But, when was the last time you knew Benji to forget something in his car—or anywhere, for that matter?” She studied him intently, still wearing that smile.
“I don’t know; I don’t usually keep that close of a tab on my buddy.” He chuckled and watched as Glenda traced the rim of her wine glass with one delicate finger.
The slow, somehow seductive circle she kept tracing held his attention as he wondered what that finger would feel like against his own bare skin.
Chapter 3