A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,14

shouldn’t have.”

“Gotcha.” A dimple surfaced in Slade’s cheek that Erika hadn’t noticed before.

“And I did find Penny. I can see why you were led astray. She’s gorgeous.”

Slade cocked his head, and his eyes stayed on hers. “Not as pretty as you.”

Erika blushed, but after seeing the photos online, she wasn’t about to fall for it.

“Likely story there, Slade.” Erika looked over at her son. He was happily piling his plate with bacon, sausage, and whatever else his tongs could reach. “But from the looks of it, you have a knack for surrounding yourself with lots of beautiful women.” Erika brought her gaze back to Slade’s. “All at once.”

“It may look like that, but it was all for work.” He took a sip of coffee.

“What a tough job,” Erika teased. “It’s not my business. Besides, my stomach is about to growl. I need to eat.”

Slade stood and nodded. “Okay, but I swear it looks worse than it is.”

Erika hopped up from her chair and placed her napkin on the table. “It’s not my business. I’ve only just met you, and I shouldn’t have been snooping.”

“I say snoop away.” Slade touched the small of her back as they moved toward the buffet table just as her son and his friend were headed back to the table.

“Is that because you’ve been doing your own snooping?” Erika turned to see his expression, which looked full of mischief. “What is it you do for a living, anyway? Sell adult beverages? Own a modeling agency?”

He laughed and shook his head. “It may have looked that way, but that was a client.”

“Do you have an ad agency?” Erika asked as she grabbed an empty plate.

“No, I’m kind of like a fixer,” Slade explained.

He glanced around the restaurant and brought his eyes back to hers.

“That sounds very mafia-esque,” Erika joked.

Slade scooped diced potatoes onto his plate before looking at her. Her stomach fluttered when his gaze landed on hers, which only annoyed her.

Of course, he was good-looking, but he was here temporarily. He also had a bit of an issue with a woman from his dating past. Not any kind of trouble that Erika needed or wanted in her life.

“My firm helps to clean up online profiles. We focus on social media for businesses and individuals.”

Erika couldn’t hide her surprise, but she continued to find room for buckwheat pancakes.

“So, you’re pretty savvy with social media and yet . . .”

He let out a low, gravelly laugh. “Yes. I’m well aware of the irony of my current situation.”

“So, all those ladies in their swimsuits?” Erika didn’t really want to form the question fully.

“They were models for a swimwear company that had an onslaught of bad reviews from a competitor. We helped them out and they threw a party for us once their business went back to where it had been before everything happened.”

“Sounds innocent.”

Slade smiled and nodded. “But it makes for a good photo op when you’re a single guy.”

Erika rolled her eyes before placing two breakfast sausages onto her plate. “So predictable.”

“Am I?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious about her thoughts on the matter.

She didn’t answer his question. Instead, she walked back to the table to see her son’s nearly empty plate.

“What are you getting for round two?” Erika asked him.

Scott beamed, ran his hand over his belly, and groaned. “Prime rib, ham, and . . . some shrimp.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Slade sat down, and Scott glanced in his direction.

“Scott, I want you to meet Slade Tenison.”

Scott smiled and glanced at his friend, Jeremy, before bringing his gaze back to Slade’s. “Nice to meet you. This is my friend, Jeremy.”

“Great to meet you both,” Slade said as Drew caught Erika’s eye. He was wandering around the perimeter of the restaurant and waved when he saw them.

“Come on. Let’s get some more.” Jeremy ribbed Scott with his elbow, and they both took off.

“You were right about this brunch. The eggs Benedict is incredible.”

Erika grinned and took a bite of pancake.

“Let’s get back to this whole predictable thing.” Slade waved his fork in the air, and Erika chuckled.

“Did that get under your skin a little?” she teased. “I mean, I’ve only just met you, but so far, it looks like you’re a guy who doesn’t like to have his ego shot down.”

Slade furrowed his brows. “Who does?”

“Some of us could care less.” She shrugged.

“How’s that predictable?” Slade asked.

“I find this whole thing interesting. You’re an expert in social media, yet you fall for an old girlfriend’s scheme to