muttered and applied another layer of lip gloss, then stood back to inspect the result.
What was I doing? Making an effort for a fake husband?
“Just stupid.” I wiped my thumb over my red lips in an effort to wipe off the color.
A rap at the door.
My head snapped toward the hallway.
Someone was banging at my door. I glanced at the watch.
Chase was here, though a minute late.
“Coming,” I called out and retrieved my handbag from a nearby chair.
I reached the door in a few, hasty strides. My heart was racing but not from the effort. My stomach twisted slightly at the thought of spending more time with him.
Truth be told, I was more looking forward to it than I should have been.
Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I swept my hair sideways and grabbed the doorknob. When I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat.
Standing in front of me wasn’t Chase. It was the guy I had asked out on a date the night before. Dressed in a suit, he looked like he was headed to an important meeting. He looked serious, completely different. The change threw me off. It was safe to say I wouldn’t have recognized him if it weren’t for the stupid black sunglasses he was wearing.
“Oh…Hi?” I cocked my head in surprise, unsure what else to say.
What do you say to someone who didn’t turn up to a date?
He nodded approvingly as he checked me out, or at least that’s what I believe he was doing.
“You look nice.” He pushed the glasses to the top of his head, and his warm brown eyes met mine.
“Thank you?” I shifted uncomfortably, my hands fiddling with the doorknob. “Did we arrange something for today?”
“No, that’s why I’m here.” He smiled. “I wanted to apologize for standing you up.”
“It’s not a big deal.” I shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “I understand you forgot, or whatever.”
He shook his head, his eyes penetrating. “No, I didn’t forget. An emergency came up.”
An emergency during his vacation?
Seriously?
That was the crappiest excuse I had ever heard.
What the hell was wrong with my stars? Why did they keep sending me guys who found it so easy to lie to me, stood me up or deceived me? And most importantly, what the hell had I been thinking going out on a date with some random guy whose name I didn’t know?
“It’s fine.” I said, forcing another smile to my lips. “It can happen to anyone.”
“I would have called you if I had your number,” he continued.
He even looked sincere as he said it.
“Honestly, it’s fine,” I repeated. “I had plans anyway.”
Yeah, getting locked up.
“I want to repay you with dinner. What about tonight?” His smile morphed into a grin. “Or now. Special treat. Best place in town?”
“Um…” My hand tightened on the doorknob. Obviously, I couldn’t meet him now, even if I wanted to. Not when Chase could be here any minute, and my trip so far had been anything but fun. I wet my lips nervously, deciding to stick to the truth.
“Now isn’t a good time. Maybe another day.”
He got the hint.
I could tell from the way his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but his smile didn’t vanish.
“You know what? Let me give you my number and you can call me anytime if you have a change of heart.”
“Um, sure.” I held up my phone and swiped my thumb over the screen to unlock it.
“What the fuck!” a male voice boomed behind us. My hand froze. In fact, my whole body did. I turned my head and saw Chase striding toward us, his face a mask of fury. Come to think of it, he looked like a raging bull. I frowned.
Whoa!
Was he jealous? It couldn’t be, and yet, the moment he reached me, his hand went possessively around my waist, almost cutting off my air supply.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was so cold every vein in my body froze.
I frowned at him. “It’s none of your business. I can do whatever I want.”
“I’m not talking with you,” he mumbled at me as he turned to the other guy. “What are you doing here?”
I stared at Chase, then at the guy who had stood me up, my glance going back and forth between them. My heartbeat sped up as a sense of dread nestled in my stomach.
Judging from their tense postures and how close they were standing to each other, I sensed they knew each other. The other guy’s lips