Dream Date (27 page)

“You clearly have been lied to. I didn’t do what you’re accusing me of.”

“Admit it, Rebecca!” Hilbert said, advancing towards her. She tried to retreat, but couldn’t. The liquor table blocked her way. “I know it was you.”

Rebecca looked up at Hilbert with defiance.

“So what if I sent them?”

“Don’t mess with Amanda. I’m going to forget what you did this time. If you try hurting Amanda again, you’ll be very sorry.”

“I’m just trying to protect you! That opportunist doesn’t give a rat’s ass about you.”

“What does it matter to you? Stay away from her. I’m warning you,” Hilbert said, grabbing Rebecca’s wrist. She complained.

“Let go of me!”

“Where did you find those ruffians, anyway?”

“That’s really none of your business.”

Hilbert let go of Rebecca’s wrist. She rubbed it, walking away from him.

“Stay away from Amanda. I mean it.”

Hilbert started to walk to the door. Rebecca stopped him, grabbing his arm.

“Wait,” she said. “Don’t leave yet. I’m sorry. I just wanted to keep her from hurting you.”

“How, by hurting her?”

“I had little choice.”

Hilbert looked down at Rebecca, looking displeased.

“Let’s have some fun right now, sweetheart. I’ll show you I can be much better than your Amanda.”

Hilbert laughed.

“If that’s the goal you’re aiming for, I’m afraid you really don’t stand a chance.”

Rebecca frowned, looking pissed off.

“You are so enamored with that blonde bimbo, Hilbert! If you opened your eyes, you’d realize that there are far better women than her.”

“Such as you?” Hilbert mocked.

“Please. You’ve seen me naked. Men wish their wives looked like me.”

“The same could be said about Amanda. And it would be truer.”

Rebecca balled her fists.

“It’s only Amanda, Amanda, Amanda for you! Wake up, dumbass. She’s never going to look at you the way I do. You’ll spend your life fighting a lost battle.”

“She can’t keep rejecting me forever.”

Rebecca closed her eyes, trying to gain patience.

“Forget her for today, all right? Amanda’s not the only diamond in the world. There are others.”

Without letting Hilbert answer, Rebecca pressed her lips against his. She then embraced him. To his credit, Hilbert didn’t even push her off. Rebecca began leading him to her bedroom.

As promised, Kellan took Amanda and her friends to a nightclub on Friday after classes. He didn’t tell them where they were going, he just drove northeast. Amanda looked at Emmy and Judith. They loved surprises.

The drive was long (even longer than it took them to reach Johnson City). Kellan drove around a town the girls didn’t know. Before crossing the city limits, Amanda got a look at a sign outside.

“You took us to Rochester?” she asked Kellan.

“It’s Friday. You’ve got a whole weekend before you have to go back to classes.”

Kellan drove around for a bit before pulling into a large parking lot. Amanda looked out her window and saw a variety of small buildings around. There wasn’t a building taller than three stories anywhere in sight.

“Let’s get going,” said Kellan as he killed the engine. He walked around and opened Amanda’s door first. After everyone was out of the car, Kellan pressed a button to lock it. Amanda looked around.

“We have to cross the boulevard, so be careful and look both ways.”

Emmy laughed lowly.

The four of them crossed the street. They then turned left. Kellan seemed to be heading towards a red-and-yellow building up ahead.

“Is it a restaurant?” Amanda asked when she looked at where Kellan was pointing.

“Yes,” said Kellan as they walked. After reaching the place, they walked up a few stairs and then Kellan opened the door. He let the girls walk in first before he followed them inside.

Emmy was the first to speak after they took a moment to admire the interior.

“This seems like a nice find. How did you find out about it?” she asked Kellan.

“I found this place recently. You know I’m only on guard duty for half the day. I’ve visited some places around Ithaca—knowing one’s whereabouts is useful in my line of work—but I really wanted to visit Rochester. So, my friend recommended this place.”

“Your friend?” asked Amanda as the four of them found a table.”

“Yes, he’s supposed to meet us in a few.”

A waiter walked over to attend to them.

“No food for us right now,” Kellan told the guy after the girls shook their heads. “But we’d like drinks.”

The waiter left after getting the orders.

“Have you girls played straight poker?” Kellan asked.

“No,” Emmy replied. Amanda and Judith nodded.

“Three out of four. That’s pretty good.”

Emmy laughed.

“Girls, maybe we can teach Emmy how to play. Just a quickie, the entertainment won’t take long to start. I’ve got a set of cards on me. Who wants to play first?”

Amanda and Judith looked at each other. They agreed to play rock-paper-scissors. Kellan and Emmy looked at them in amusement. At the count of three, Amanda dealt paper. Judith’s two fingers indicated scissors.

“Let’s play, then,” Kellan said to Judith, handing her a set of cards. Just then, the waiter arrived with their drinks. Kellan set his aside and began playing with Judith. Among the three friends, she was the most skilled player. Her expression gave away nothing as she ruffled through her cards. Amanda was always awed to see Judith play.

Kellan glanced at Amanda. He winked at her, and then returned to being expressionless. That made her wonder where he had learned to play poker. Maybe it was one of the things Grayson had taught him.

Some people in the other tables had turned to watch the poker match. Amanda felt relieved that for once she wasn’t the center of attention. All eyes were on Kellan and Judith. If she had to bet, Amanda would put her money on her. Amanda didn’t know how skilled Kellan was, so the odds were probably even or tilted a bit towards either of the two of them.

The game ended with Kellan winning with a diamond flush, defeating Judith’s clover flush.

“Impressive,” said Amanda, who hadn’t seen Judith lose in a long time.

“This was entertaining,” Emmy said.

“All right, give me the cards back. The entertainment starts in a few.”

The group watched people in the club. Amanda looked towards the stage. They were getting ready for the performers to arrive.

Just then, a young man entered the club. He looked around and spotted Amanda and her group. He walked up towards them.

“My friend’s here now,” said Kellan, standing up to greet the guy. Amanda thought that her bodyguard had invited his friend to even out the playing field. Being with three attractive women might sound like a dream, but it could look weird to some.

“Girls, this is Daniel Barton,” Kellan told them, and Barton nodded at them, flashing a smile. Judith’s eyes glinted when she looked at him. Amanda watched her unconsciously bite her lip.

“Hi, Mr. Barton,” Emmy said, offering her hand. “I’m Emmy Crenshaw.”

“Please, call me Daniel. Or Barton.”

“Okay,” Emmy said, sitting down. Judith shook hands with Barton next.

“Hi,” she said a bit shyly. “My name’s Judith Vawer.”

“Nice to meet you, Judith,” said Barton, seeming drawn to her attractiveness. She went red.

“Same,” she said. Barton’s eyes lingered on her for a few seconds before flicking to Amanda.

“I’m Amanda Tilley.”

Barton shook hands with her.

“So you’re the one that Kellan’s protecting.”

“Yes.”

“Beautiful,” Barton said. “You’re all beautiful,” he added, looking at Judith. She blushed again. “Kellan, you’re such a lucky prick.”

Kellan laughed.

“If I’d known there were such attractive women at Cornell, I would have enrolled there,” he said when the five of them sat down.

“Where did you study, Barton?” Amanda asked, mostly for Judith’s benefit. She was probably too shy to ask questions herself.

“I graduated from Columbia University two years ago. I took business administration.”

“So, you’re running your own company now?” Emmy asked him.

“Right now, I’m an assistant manager at an upscale men’s clothing store in Manhattan.”

Judith looked impressed. Amanda wondered whether her friend would ask Barton to dance with her.

“Five O’s performing tonight,” Kellan told them. “I haven’t seen them play, but I heard they’re good.”

The waiter arrived again to take Barton’s order. Kellan and the girls decided to order food, so they took that chance to do so.

They continued to watch as they drank.

“Now, do you all know how to dance?” Barton asked. This time, all three women nodded.

“I haven’t had a lot of practice, but I can handle it,” Emmy said.”

“Oh, I love dancing,” Judith said, hoping to get Barton to ask her to the dance floor.

“Then I’d like to see that,” he told her. Judith smiled, feeling proud.

Emmy stood up.

“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom,” she said, walking away.

Amanda looked at Kellan.

“That was a great game,” she said. “I didn’t know you could play that well.”

“Thank you.”

Barton looked between Amanda and Kellan.

“Game?”

“Yes. We had a round of poker before you came.”

“That would have been nice to see.”

“Where did you learn?” Amanda asked.

“My father taught me. He loved to play the game. He used to take my family and me to Last Vegas on vacation at least three or four times a year.”

“Wow,” said Amanda, raising her eyebrows. “Where are you from?”

“At the time, we lived in Montana. I know I don’t look like it,” Kellan added, indicating his tan skin tone. “My mother was Spanish. Her family moved here to the U.S. in search of a better life. She managed to go to college, get a degree and a nice job. Eventually, she met and married my father, an American from Montana.”

“Do you still see them?”

“From time to time. We’ve kept in touch.”

“Do you mind not meeting them more often?”

Kellan thought.