To My Arrogant Boss (The Inappropriate Bachelors #2) - J. S. Cooper Page 0,42
grinned. “We’re a bit busy tonight, but we should have you inside in about twenty minutes.”
“How’s about five?” Tate opened his wallet, pulled out some bills, and handed them to the guy.
“For this donation, I think we can get you seated now, sir.” The guy was beaming now.
“Baller.” Jagger swatted Tate on the back.
“Takes one to know one.” Tate’s eyes found mine and he winked at me. I couldn’t repress a little smile in return.
“He wants you so badly,” Millie whispered in my ear and giggled. I shook my head but didn’t say anything in response. Yes, it was clear that Tate was attracted to me, but what did that really mean? It didn’t mean he was my soulmate. It didn’t mean that he was The One. It just meant that he wanted to sleep with me; it didn’t make me that special. Tate Howard probably slept with every woman that he found attractive. I would just be the next one on his list.
“Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for your pawnshop experience?” The goofy guy came from behind the counter and held his hands up in the air like he was a conductor about to start a symphony.
“Let’s do it!” Millie shouted, and he grinned at her.
“I like the loud ones.” He licked his lips and then turned to the wall. He tapped on a stack of books three times, and to my amazement, the wall swung open and an attractive woman with purple hair stepped out from behind it.
“Hi, guys, follow me,” she instructed, and we all walked through the hidden door and into a secret room that was packed with people eating and drinking.
“So, what do you think?” Tate slowed down so that he could walk next to me.
“This is amazing,” I said as the purple-haired woman showed us to our seats. “How did you know about this place?”
“When I lived in New York, I used to love going to speakeasies, so I’m always on the lookout for spots in the Bay Area.”
“Well, you did good. This is so cool.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He smiled. “We haven’t had a chance to talk all night.”
“Well, we’re talking now.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were avoiding me?” He looked into my eyes, but I decided to treat his comment as a rhetorical question.
“Do you miss New York?” I asked him, genuinely curious.
“Yeah, sometimes.” He nodded. “I went to school for computer programming and business. I always thought I’d end up in San Francisco, but it’s very different from New York and from what I expected.”
“Different good or different bad?”
“Just different,” he said as we sat down. “Jagger, you pick the shots, okay?” Jagger nodded and Tate turned his attention back to me. “New York City was always bustling, no matter the time of day. There was more going on, more foods, more people.” He shrugged. “It was a different lifestyle. This is cool, too. I like the nature here. I like to go hiking in the Redwoods and I like to go kayaking in Pointe Reyes.”
“Oh, that’s cool. I didn’t know you were that into nature.”
“You’re talking to a boy from the South.” He laughed. “The outdoors was my back yard. Growing up, I’d go fishing, camping, hiking, and boating all the time.’’ His eyes softened with nostalgia. “There’s nothing better than playing in some dirt.”
“Did you ride? I always feel like everyone in the South rides horses and does rodeos.”
“I’m not from Texas.’’ He laughed. “But yes, I grew up riding horses. My granddaddy had a farm, and he had horses. We would go and ride almost every weekend in the summers. My sister Rose and I used to love it. She was a really good equestrian.”
“That’s your sister’s name?”
“Yeah, Rose is my sister who’s getting married.” He made a face. “She’s younger than me, but I guess she knows what she’s doing.”
“Aren’t you excited for her?” I studied his expression, but I couldn’t get a read on what he was thinking.
“I don’t think she’s really ready to get married.” He shook his head. “I don’t know that she’s getting married for the right reasons.”
“Oh?”
“I think she’s marrying Sam because he’s a Democrat.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think she loves him.’’ He fiddled with a cocktail napkin. “I think she’s rebelling against our parents and trying to make them mad.”
“Oh, no.” I grimaced sympathetically. “Are your parents that bad?”