The Wrong Man (Alpha Men 3)

“Thanks, Thandiwe,” she said gratefully. The woman was very familiar with the McGregor sisters—she’d been interning at their father’s practice for the last few years and would be leaving for college soon to study veterinary medicine. She only rarely worked shifts at MJ’s anymore, concentrating on her studies instead, but Lia was grateful that she was here tonight. She’d been hovering for most of the night, clearly not caring much for Peter Baker.

They split the bill.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Peter said, and Lia shook her head. Seriously? How could this guy be so thick-skinned? She’d just told him they wouldn’t be seeing each other again.

“No, that’s fine. You go ahead. Thandiwe works with my father, and I need to get something from her for him.”

“I can wait,” he said.

“Oh yes, I have Inkululeko’s dog vaccination charts for you,” Thandiwe said, catching on quickly. “I have to ask you to wait five minutes, though. I just need to take table ten’s order.”

“Yes, of course, no problem,” Lia said with a smile. “I need to use the restroom.”

He still didn’t budge.

“Thandiwe, do you have a, uh . . . sanitary towel for me, please? I didn’t bring any,” Lia asked in a not quite lowered voice. In fact, her voice had just enough volume to swivel a few heads at the tables closest to theirs. But these were desperate times. She fought back a blush and ignored Peter, who shifted uncomfortably at her question.

“Oh, no sanitary towels,” Thandiwe said regretfully. “Only tampons, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, great, that’s . . .”

“Anyway, good night,” Peter said, surging to his feet. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

He left without looking back, and Lia face-palmed while Thandiwe burst into laughter.

“Oh, good grief! I thought he was never going to leave,” Lia lamented, which only made Thandiwe laugh louder. “I didn’t want him to walk me to my car, I figured he’d try to kiss me.”

“He had food in his beard,” Thandiwe said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

“I know.”

“Wait five minutes before leaving. Did you park right outside?”

“Yes, within sight of the door.”

“I’ll walk you to the door and watch you leave,” Thandiwe suggested, and Lia grinned.

“Thanks, Thandiwe, you’ve been an absolute star.”

She was in bed when her phone rang. A look at the screen confirmed that it was Brand.

“Brand. It’s late. I’m trying to get some sleep.”

“It’s barely ten. I’m surprised you’re at home already. Spencer mentioned that you had a date tonight.”

“Why are you and Spencer discussing—” Lia bit off the rest of the sentence and sighed. “You know what? Never mind. If you thought I’d still be out on my date, why are you calling me?”

Silence.

“Brand? Why are you calling?”

“I was just checking if you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ve seen all kinds of shit, Lia. I know what kind of dangerous losers are out there.”

“He was hardly dangerous,” Lia scoffed.

“But he was a loser?” he guessed astutely, and Lia grimaced.

“He lives with his mother.”

“You live with your parents,” he pointed out, and she laughed. Acknowledging the hit. Her comment had been hypocritical.

“I have plans to move out. He wants his mother to move in with us after we get married.”

“Wait, why are you discussing marriage with some arsehole you just met?” Brand asked, his voice dangerously low.

“Maybe it was love at first sight?” she suggested lightly. More silence. This time it thundered.

“How old is he?” Brand asked, ending the loaded silence.

“Thirty-nine. He’s an electrical engineer. He expects his wife to stay home and take care of the kids. His mom will help out, of course. He likes her cooking, so his wife will have to learn her recipes. He’s allergic to all animal fur. Even bird dander. So absolutely no pets. He likes a woman who takes care of her figure and who keeps her hair and nails—”

“Stop, for God’s sake! Don’t tell me you’ll be seeing this fucker again!”

“Not likely,” she said, laughing. “He wants this perfect wife but can’t even be bothered to keep his beard neat or wear a clean shirt on a date. And I plan to teach—it’s not something I’m willing to give up again. Not for anyone.”

“Sunshine, you’re turning me on with all this delicious assertiveness. I may be developing a librarian dominatrix fantasy right as we speak.”

“Shut up,” Lia said, rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some sleep.”

“You could come over and sleep next to me.”

“For heaven’s sake, Brand!”

“So that’s a no?”

“You know it is. Good night.”

“’Night, sunshine. See you in the morning.”

Paul West chewed with his mouth open . . . but that wasn’t the deal breaker. Chewing with an open mouth she could handle; watching bits of food being masticated was tolerable. She really wasn’t that picky. After the first civil half hour, she had relaxed and sent Billie Greenspan, the friend who had organized this particular date with one of her boyfriend’s cricketing buddies, a thumbs-up emoji. But that had been before the first course had been ordered, when Paul West had smiled sweetly and been charming. Before he had started chewing with his mouth open and before he had started in on his very favorite subject of conversation.