Need Me (Mess with Me 3)

“It’s just us now, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to bring you back a treat from dinner.”

She grumbles in satisfaction as I scratch behind her ears. Her black and white fur made her stand out immediately when I went to the shelter looking for a dog five years ago. She’s some kind of Pomeranian mix and when they found her she’d clearly been abused.

For the first year I had her, she wouldn’t bark at all, almost like she was scared to draw attention to herself. Remembering that time makes my throat feel like it’s closing up. Oreo gave me someone to care for when I had no one else. This was right before I met Mya and back then I truly was all alone.

This adorable little pup saved my life just as much as I saved hers.

“I won’t be out late. It’s taking a little longer to get rid of this one. But he’ll disappear just like all the others. Mama’s bringing out the big guns tonight.”

6

Pressure is a part of business. Working with Fortune 500 companies and some of the wealthiest and most demanding people in the world have made me no stranger to thinking on my feet.

But tonight, this date, feels like the most critical interview of my life. My goal is to convince the most amazing woman I’ve ever met to give me a chance.

As I approach the restaurant, I look down at the navigation on my phone in confusion. There’s a huge neon sign that looks like a pig right where…

Of course. My hand falls to my side before I glance down at the exquisitely tailored, hand-embroidered linen suit I’m wearing. Inwardly I groan. Andre is going to kill me if I ruin this. It’s a sample from next season’s line.

“You got me, my little troublemaker.”

She’s probably somewhere getting quite a kick out of the thought of me eating barbecue in a fancy suit. Little does she know I’ve eaten worse things while wearing fancy clothes. I can only wonder if she plans to laugh at my predicament from afar or if she even plans to show up tonight.

Nothing about this girl is predictable and even though I’m the target of her little prank, I can’t deny I love it.

I see her coming and quickly school my expression into one of indifference. The quickest way to lose our little game is to let her know that anything she’s done has actually gotten under my skin.

As she gets closer, my pulse elevates. Her long blond hair falls around her shoulders in natural waves and she appears to have no makeup on at all. Maybe she thought that would matter but seeing her barefaced just makes me want the same view on the pillow next to me tomorrow morning.

Her hazel eyes flash as she stops. “Here we are!”

“Yes. Here we are.”

I was so focused on her laughing eyes that I hadn’t had time to catalogue anything else about her appearance. But when she arches her back, pushing her chest out my attention is naturally drawn to the baby carrier on her chest.

Wait, she has a baby?

“You’re a mom? I didn’t realize. I mean, I p-probably should have asked.”

There’s no hiding my stammer and the triumphant look in her eyes tells me she’s thrilled at finally cracking my resolve.

But I’m not that easily cowed and I actually like kids. Not that I expected her to bring a baby on our first date but we’re already here. We might as well make the best of it.

“Who is this?” I lean closer to peer at the infant and she moves slightly so I can see.

Her movement shifts the child until his head pops out of the carrier like a jack-in-the-box. It has a scrunched up furry face and a mouth full of fangs.

“Holy shit!”

The people around us stop at my loud exclamation and I clap a hand over my mouth.

Ariana smiles prettily. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. Of course. I just meant to say… hello baby. What’s his name?”

“This is Edward.”

As she moves, the baby shifts in the carrier once again so even more of his face is visible.