Matching Mr. Right(52)
“Deal. I’ll call Greg tonight and tell him it’s strictly platonic for now. I’ll even tell him why. He’ll probably cancel our dinner date, but you’re right, Jo. I need to be fair to your brother.”
“Thank you.” Jo’s lips tilted into one of her trademark smirks. “And Nick?”
She sighed. “I’m so mad at him right now. We’ll have to see.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Hanky-panky can lead to big spankies!”
Chester is in Trouble Again
Later the next week, Shelby tapped on her laptop at the café as a big shadow cast over her. Nick. His scrumptious cologne gave him away. Or maybe it was those delectable pheromones of his. “Are you ready to meet your lunch date?”
“I guess. Are you still mad at me?” He sat across from her looking all remorseful, but he wasn’t getting off that easy.
“Yep.” She slid the Bluetooth that wasn’t charged across the table.
He popped it in. “I found something interesting I’d like to show you later if you’re free.”
“What is it?”
Nick leaned closer and smiled. “You’ll have to wait and see, because I think I might have just snagged a huge job. I need to get back to my office as soon as this meet and greet is over. If you weren’t already mad at me I would’ve canceled.”
“You’ll be glad you didn’t cancel. I really think this might be the one for you, Nick. And you know what they say about brunettes. Now go over to that far table and let’s do a sound check.”
“Okay.”
Shelby bit her lip to contain her smile as Nick made his way through the tables filled with diners. When he sat down and grinned at her, she struggled for a stern look.
Payback time.
She pretended to speak so Nick could see her mouth move. He tapped at his earpiece. Frowning, he took it out and examined it.
Finally he lifted it up and mouthed, “Not working.”
She stood and crossed to his table. She pretended to mess with it a bit and then said, “Shoot. Your date will be here any minute. I guess you’re on your own this time. Sorry.”
Nick shook his head. “You know what? Maybe it’d be best to cancel since I really don’t have time for this anyway.”
“Are you scared to do it alone?”
“No, of course not.” He huffed out a breath and glanced at his heavy gold watch. “But if she’s late I’m not waiting more than ten minutes for her.”
She patted his shoulder. “Okay. I need to talk to Jo about something. Remember your manners and make good choices.”
Nick scowled at her. “Make good choices? What are you talking about?”
“You’ll see. Bye.”
Shelby quickly disappeared into the kitchen. On the far wall in the back, two big flat-screens showed all the angles from their security cams, both inside and outside the café. Shelby grabbed a stool and waited for the show to begin.
Jo, wiping her hands on a towel, stood nearby. “Too bad we don’t have sound. That would’ve made this so much better.”
Jordan showed up, head swiveling looking for Nick. She’d given Jordan a description of Nick, so it didn’t take long before the very handsome Jordan headed Nick’s way and introduced himself. Jordan could model for GQ and had the best sense of humor of any of her friends.
The look on Nick’s face when he’d realized Jordan was his date—priceless. “See the way his jaw is slightly clenching, Jo? He’s livid.”
Jo’s chuckle was downright evil. “A vein in his forehead is popping. He’s definitely going to kill you. Or have a stroke.”
“Well, wait. It gets better.” Shelby turned her attention back to the screen. When Jordan reached out and laid a hand on Nick’s arm, Nick’s eyes shifted, as if looking for the fastest escape route.
Nick, clearly uncomfortable, stood to leave. Jordan laughed, held up a hand to stop him, and must have confessed it was a joke, just as Act Two came strolling in. A tall, beautiful blonde client who was also an actress who Shelby’d recruited to play a role in her payback plan.
Throwing an elbow into Jordan’s ribs in a “get lost” gesture, the blonde smiled sweetly at Nick.
Relief crossed Nick’s face as he shook her hand and pulled out a chair for her.
Jo said, “She’s gorgeous, Shelby. Aren’t you afraid he might go for her instead of you?”
“No. She’s perfect on the outside just like Nick originally ordered.” Shelby’s lips tilted in anticipation. “But you can’t always judge a book by its cover. If she doesn’t make him blow a gasket, nothing will.”