mean, I knew a little about him from the article I’d read – rich doctor, ambitious as hell, handsome as they came. But I hadn’t been ready for the effect he had on me. He was confident and kind and attentive, the exact sort of man I wasn’t sure still existed.
Was there a catch? Was he going to tell me something like he didn’t believe in monogamy? That I reminded him of his mother? Some other weird deal breaker?
Nothing like that came. What did was wonderful conversation peppered with some flirting. I couldn’t believe how much I was getting wrapped up in Duncan, how incredible he was. The cynical part of me told me something had to be up, that there had to be some kind of catch. Was he planning on taking me home and showing me his basement S&M dungeon?
Actually, that might be kind of hot. Like something out of a trashy romance novel, but still pretty hot.
“How was the crème brule?” he asked, watching me polish off our dessert.
“Incredible. Simple but perfect.” And the rest of dinner had been the same – the best meal I’d had in God-only-knew how long.
“Glad to hear.”
“OK,” I said, glancing down at my purse. “Do you want to split the check here, or can I Venmo you later?”
He responded with a chuckle.
“What?”
“It’s all taken care of. Don’t worry about paying.”
“Oh, so not big on the independent woman thing?” I asked with a challenging smile to my face.
“Not at all – I love women who can stand on their own two feet. Consider it my thanks for the pleasure of our company.”
“Alright,” I said, playfully wagging my finger. “But you’d better let me get the next one.”
“As long as there is a next one.”
And just like that, I’d agreed to a second date. I could’ve played it a little cooler with Duncan. But something about him made me want to blow past all the games. After all, how often did a man like him just drop into my life?
We both took our last sips of wine and rose from the table.
“Well,” he said, checking his watch. “It’s been a lovely evening, but I’ve got a conference call at an ungodly hour tomorrow morning.”
“Oh,” I said, disappointed the evening was about to come to an end. “Back to White Pines, then?”
“I’m afraid so. But we’ll have a sequel to tonight – don’t you worry about that.”
“I can’t wait.”
He took my arm again and we were off. But as we made our way through the restaurant, weaving through the tables and around the servers who silently moved out of our way, I saw something at the bar that caused me to hesitate briefly. Someone, to be specific. Someone I most definitely didn’t want to see on a date with someone new.
Andrew.
At first, I thought I might’ve been imagining things. It was a crowded place, full of wealthy professionals like him. He was handsome, sure, but in a generic sort of way, with one of those faces people who met him were always certain they’d seen before. But as we drew closer and I craned my neck to see his face among the rest of the people clustered at the bar, I saw the watch on his wrist.
The watch wasn’t anything fancy – just a standard leather band with a blue face. I’d bought him the watch as a gift after he’d passed the bar, a little professional accessory I thought might come in handy.
And there it was, staring right back at me, confirming that the man I was looking at, whose face I couldn’t see behind the other customers, was my ex. When he leaned back enough for me to catch a sliver of his profile, the suspicion was confirmed.
“Shit,” I hissed under my breath.
“Something wrong?” Duncan asked, glancing over his shoulder.
I quickly and internally debated telling him. But my nerves were so jangled I could hardly think straight. “It’s my ex,” I said. “He’s here.”
Duncan arched his eyebrows. “Your ex? Where?”
“That guy at the bar, the one with the blue watch and the dark hair. Pinstripe suit.”
He put his hand on my hip and gently led me out of the path of restaurant traffic. Then he sneakily glanced at the bar. I wasn’t sure what reaction to expect – maybe amusement – but it certainly wasn’t the one I saw. Once he realized who I was referring to, his expression tightened.
“OK. Let’s get out of here.”
His hand still on my hip, he led