Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother #4) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,37

waitress bring them over for you.”

“Do you have Bowmore Darkest?”

“We do.”

“I’ll have one, please, and my friend will have an orange juice.”

“Right away,” she tells him, before leaving us alone.

I curl my lip. “I must have missed me telling you what I wanted to drink.”

He lets out a tiresome sigh. “Let’s not argue. I knew you’d be driving, so you weren’t going to be drinking alcohol. You litter the offices with Ribena cartons, so I knew you liked sweet drinks. From experience, I can’t see them having your choice of drink on the menu, so to save time and the embarrassment of going through the drink’s menu, I ordered for you.”

Well shit, how could I argue with that? I should be stunned that he noticed my addiction to Ribena, but all I heard was that I littered.

“Okay then,” I reply stubbornly, needing the last word.

“Let’s get on with this, shall we.”

“Let’s.”

“As you know, we have screened all applicants Date Night matched you with. It was down to three.”

“Did you Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo it?”

“Did we what?”

“Never mind. Continue,” I tell him, waving off his confusion.

“As for the date as a whole, you’ll introduce yourselves and go from there. Do what you would do normally. From Chrissy’s notes, you’ll be pleased with who we picked.”

He doesn’t seem pleased.

“What is his name?”

He slides his finger across the screen of the tablet he pulls out of his pocket, his forehead creasing with frown lines. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t look like Chrissy sent over the documents stating his name.”

“Tell me about him. I’m guessing he’s read my file, so it’s only fair.”

He clears his throat. “He owns a successful business, and has recently shared his duties with another member of his staff so he isn’t working the long hours anymore.

“Family is important to him, which is what you put on your questionnaire. He spends a lot of time with them so his match will need to be okay with a big family. Some of his answers pretty much match yours,” he comments, his lips twisted like he’s tasted something sour.

“He donates his time to looking after animals. It’s even noted here that there was a photo uploaded with him holding a piglet.

“He’s also big on sporting activities,” he tells me, finishing off reading from the list.

“Sounds awesome,” I reply bitterly. Because as much as I love the stuff I do with my family when we take our trips, I’m not really someone who would describe running as a hobby or fun. I wish people would call it for what it is. Torture.

He places the tablet onto the table before crossing his arms, leaning against the white linen tablecloth. “Now that is done, why don’t you explain to me why you told my father I said you dressed like a slut?”

A boisterous laugh slips free, drawing attention from the other diners. “You basically wrote in the contract that clothing worn couldn’t reveal too much skin and to make sure it was appropriate for work.”

“I did no such thing,” he snaps, yet keeps his tone low so others won’t overhear.

“You did, but that wasn’t why I exaggerated.”

He scans my face, waiting for an answer, but I remain quiet. “I’ve got nothing. I don’t get you sometimes,” he groans, throwing his hands up. “Why on earth would you say that to him? Now he thinks he has to worry that I’m being unprofessional.” He gives the waitress a curt nod when she sets our drinks down.

I thank her before answering. “Because you knew I was coming back for those truffles and cream cakes when I got a break. Your dad gave them to me, not you.”

“I was hungry,” he defends, but he’s forgetting who I am. I can detect a lie a mile away.

“Really? Then why did your sister tell me you took the rest home with you?”

“Damn Mia and her big mouth.”

I glare. I was looking forward to those damn truffles, since Sally made sure all the residents knew to hide their treat supplies. “Spill.”

“I forgot.”

“Try again.”

“All right, I wanted to get a reaction out of you, but only because you told that nurse I was gay.”

“She was flirting with you.”

His mouth opens, then closes, before he thinks on what to say. “And? Does that bother you?”

I roll my eyes. “I was doing you a favour if you must know. She’s been broody ever since Miss Wilma’s granddaughter brought her baby in a few months ago. She’s been wanting someone to get her pregnant. I’ve