Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend (Rock Bottom #3) - Holly Renee Page 0,60

the one who had known where to draw the line between us.

“Can I get another one of these?” I handed my glass to Chloe.

“Of course. Jerry, can you make Brooke another vodka soda?” She said it loud enough for the whole damn restaurant to hear, and even though we were friends, I wanted to climb across the bar and wring her neck.

She knew exactly what she was doing, and it worked. Liam looked up as soon as she said my name, and it only took a moment before his eyes landed on me.

I held my breath as he straightened and set his clipboard on the bar. He looked as if he was contemplating whether or not to come over to where we sat, and I didn’t blame him.

But he made his way over to us with a smile on his face, and he leaned on his elbows on the bar right in front of Kennedy. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite Mrs. Did you miss me?”

“Of course.” She reached out and patted his cheek. “But I missed her more.”

He looked up at me and the smile he gave me made my stomach turn. It was so fake and forced and nothing like the smiles he gave me when we were in Tennessee.

“I returned her in one piece.” He said it so matter of factly but he was wrong.

I felt like I was in a million little pieces, and I didn’t know how to put those pieces back together. Whatever Liam had done to me, I didn’t know how to get back to the girl I was before him. Before we screwed everything up.

“I’m just happy she’s home. Did you all have fun?”

“We did.” He nodded. “Well, I did. I don’t know about Brooke.”

“I did.” My answer was instant.

“Did you have everyone fooled?” Chloe set another drink down in front of me.

“I think we did a pretty fantastic job of that.” He pushed is hair back out of his face, and he looked as uncomfortable as I felt.

“Mr. Gentry,” the hostess interrupted us, and she looked nervous. Apparently he had been in a bad mood. “I’m sorry but your party is here for your reservation.”

He looked past her to the front of the restaurant and all three of us followed his gaze to the pretty brunette in a pencil skirt and a blazer.

I had no right, but jealousy still overwhelmed me. It didn’t matter what we were or weren’t, my heart apparently wasn’t keeping up, and I hated how instant and severe the feeling was.

“If you ladies will excuse me, I’ve got a quick meeting scheduled.” He looked over at me, and me only. “It was good to see you.”

It was good to see me? Good to see me?

Did he really just say it was good to see me? I wanted to jump over the damn bar and pound my fists into his chest. He was about to have dinner with some woman while I wasn’t even sleeping and all he has to say to me is it was good to see me?

I was irrational. I knew that, but that didn’t make it any better. I knew that I was the one who told him we were a bad idea, but he had instilled that idea in my head.

He had given me every reason in the world why we wouldn’t be good together, and I had finally believed him. But now? Now, I wanted to take it all back.

I wanted to lay claim on him right here in front of everyone, especially that damn woman he just hugged and motioned to sit at his table.

“Down, tiger.”

My gaze snapped up to Chloe.

“What?”

“You look like you’re about to attack someone.” She nudged my vodka soda closer to me. “That’s his lawyer.”

“What?” It was apparently the only word I could think of.

“She’s married and has a few kids. I’ve been to plenty of meetings with her about the restaurant. Stop planning her death.”

I looked back over at them, and sure enough, she had pulled a file out of her bag and had paperwork laid out on the table.

“I wasn’t planning her death.”

“You totally were.” Kennedy laughed. “But I was plotting it for you too.”

“He can have dinner with whoever he wants.” I was still being petty even though Chloe had just told me who she was.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous. It’s a good look for you.” I narrowed my eyes at Chloe, but she didn’t care. I didn’t think that girl was scared of