Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2) (32 page)

“Hey Kara!” Matt hugged Kara excitedly as we walked up to their table, not holding hands. Kara was perched up on a chair next to two guys. I knew Tom, from Matt’s sales department and I had to assume the other guy was Ryan, Tom’s roommate. My assistant, Renee, told me she heard a rumor that Kara and Tom’s roommate were officially dating.

“Matty! I wasn’t sure if I’d see you out here tonight. And I sure didn’t think I’d see you here with Vanessa.” Her smile dropped as she stared daggers at me with her eyes. Oh shit. I gave a small smile. “Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here at Allure,” she said with a jealous undertone in her voice.

“Matt talked me into getting out more. As friends.” I nervously added the last part, but I think it came out more forced, as if I were trying to get her to believe we’re friends.
We are.
I reminded myself.

Kara nodded slowly, her mouth pressed into a forced mini smile, if you could even call it that. She was pissed and I could tell. I wondered if Matt could see that also. I glanced over to him and he immediately walked over to the guys and shook their hands, saying their greetings, leaving me with Kara. Alone. I briefly looked up and locked eyes with Matt. He pulled up that corner of his mouth and smugly mouthed, “Friends.”
Jerk.

I tried my best not to roll my eyes. Kara quickly turned around to see what I was looking at. Matt glanced at her and smiled before turning his attention back to the guys.

Kara slowly turned back, glaring at me and lowered her voice. “I thought we weren’t allowed to inter-company date.” Hatred laced her voice.

“We’re not dating. Matt and I are just friends.” I tried to say convincingly. Although I quickly remembered how my “friend” was just in my room watching me dress. Then images of hot amazing sex flashed through my mind. I flushed and tried to bring my attention back to convincing Kara that Matt and I are just friends.

“It sure didn’t look like friends when you walked in holding hands. He had his hand on your back most of the time,” she sarcastically remarked. Her smugness was really apparent as was her anger for me.

Crap. I couldn’t have her thinking we were dating and then possibly get us fired using my own policy. “My fiancé and I broke up and I think Matt is just trying to get me to get back out dating since my roommate is on a date tonight.” I told her with a sincere smile.
Not so high and mighty now that you’re not at the office, huh, Vanessa.
I told myself, but I was pretty sure that was what Kara was also thinking.

Kara looked me up and down, her eyes softening slightly as she seemed to assess what I just told her. I was being honest with her. Matt and I really are just friends right now. Of course I slept with him at the conference, but there was no way anyone would know that. I was pretty sure Matt would never tell anyone. I hope.

Kara seemed to accept what I just told her and nodded her head slightly, while tilting her pretty shoulder. She threw me a comforting smile as she relaxed a little more. She pulled out the empty bar stool and patted it. “Come on and sit,” She commanded in her sweet voice.

Was she going to be nice to me? She seemed to look around the room before finally finding whatever she was searching for. She touched my arm lightly as her eyes lit up excitedly. I leaned in, anxious to hear whatever it was she was about to tell me. “Okay. Don’t look right away, but there is a guy right behind you wearing a grey t-shirt,” she squinted her eyes before continuing, “ohh, it’s a Volcrom shirt.” She nodded happily as she figured out what was written on it. “He’s a really nice guy and also came out of a relationship recently. He’s an accountant.” She stopped and bit her lip, her eyes still wild with excitement, “His muscles always ripple through his shirt. I think he sometimes likes to flex them just for show.” She giggled and then went on to tell me more.

Oh my God, she’s going to try to set me up. Panic swept through me at the thought of meeting someone new. I glanced up at Matt, who was fully immersed in conversation with the guys. No help there so I glanced back to Kara, still panic stricken.

She must have noticed my anxious look as she squeezed my arm slightly, “Oh don’t worry, he’s a really nice guy. He’s not macho or anything. He just likes to show off his muscles a little.” She tilted her head as she watched the guy a little more. Then she looked back at me. “His name is Luke. He’s super sweet and actually a little shy. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Before I knew it, Kara grabbed my arm, yanking me up and out of my seat and dragging me towards…Luke. My heart started racing just looking at Luke, not to mention, meeting someone new. Wow. He was definitely into body building as I briefly looked at his huge arms. I wasn’t usually attracted to the body builder type, they always seemed so scary to me, but as I was stumbling behind Kara, Luke’s beautiful green eyes met mine and I noticed a calming kindness behind them.

I arrived at the table, well, I sort of almost tripped to stand beside Kara. Kara’s sexy sweet mannerisms had all three men’s attention fully on her. I’m not much taller than her, but beside her petite slender body, I felt like an amazon woman.

“Hey guys!” Kara trilled. “I haven’t seen you guys in a while. How have you been?” Kara commanded everyone’s attention at the table as they all grinned at her, grazing their eyes up and down her body. They all briefly said hello as Kara turned towards Luke, almost presenting me towards him by placing her hands on my hips turning me towards him.

“Luke, this is Vanessa. She’s my HR director at my company. She just broke up with her fiancé, just like you just broke up with yours. Isn’t that a coincidence?” My face had to have burned the brightest shade of crimson at her very forward and uncomfortable introduction. It was like she was presenting me to Luke for his approval. I wanted to turn around and run.

Luke held out his hand and smiled warmly at me. “Vanessa. I like that name. It’s really nice to meet you.” Kara stepped aside as Luke reached over for the empty bar stool and offered it with a sweep of his hand over the seat.

I took his hand and before I knew it, Kara was gone and I was fully absorbed in an easy going conversation with Luke.

What the fuck is going on? I glanced over at Vanessa sitting there talking to that dumb ass, Luke. The guy has no freaking brain and can barely talk to chicks. I watched Kara saunter proudly back to our table, smiling as if she just built the Eiffel Tower. What the hell? I was just chatting with Tom and Kara
’s boyfriend, Ryan and then I was going to grab Vanessa to head back to the bar and this shit happens.

Kara sat down and took a sip from her glass. Her eyes were lit up as she glanced over at me. I tried my best to keep my voice calm and didn’t want to sound pissed, since Vanessa and I are supposed to be “just friends,” but this shit wasn’t gonna fly. “What’d you just do Kara?”

“Well, Vanessa just broke up with her fiancé and Luke and Miriam have been broken up for awhile now; I thought they might get along.” She tilted that sexy shoulder of hers as if she did the best thing ever.

Seething. Jealous. Shit. I’m jealous. I looked back over at the table and Luke was leaning in and so was Vanessa. Their knees were so close they were probably touching. I watched him as he waved Mandy over and ordered Vanessa a drink.

“They’re perfect for each other. Vanessa has that hard edge to her and I think Luke likes that type of woman. I know he doesn’t like someone who’s too nice, so I think her bitchiness will really attract him.”

“She’s not bitchy,” I snapped at Kara. Her eyes stared right into mine as I realized that came out a bit harsh. “I mean, she is at the office, but when she’s not there she can actually be pretty cool.” I tried to add, hoping she doesn’t see through me.

“Sounds like you know a little more about her than I do,” she pointed out a bit snottily.

Defending Vanessa probably led Kara to believe that we’re dating, which we’re not. We’re just friends. I took a swig from my beer. “She lives across from me. We talk a little more than we used to.”

Kara’s brows shot up with surprise as she leaned in and asked, “She lives across the hall from you and Clark?”

I nodded as both guys were watching the entire conversation take place; their eyes bouncing back and forth across the table like a ping pong match. Her boyfriend Ryan covered her hand with his, “You alright? Why is that such a big deal?”

“Because she’s been such a bitch to Matty at work.” She looked back up at me. “Right Matty? She was such a bitch to you!” She exclaimed with a disgusted face.

“Yeah, but I think that was because she was worried I’d take over at the office or something. I think she’s scared I’ll screw up the policies or something weird like that.” I tried to explain why I would talk to Vanessa now. I was hoping Kara would buy it without starting some strange rumor at the office. As I’ve said before, Kara likes to talk.

Kara seemed to stare at me longer than the usual manner she’s looked at me. I glanced away quickly and took a sip. Of course my eyes immediately went straight to where Vanessa was sitting. With Luke. Dick head.

“Why are you grinding your jaw, Matty?” Kara asked. There was slight agitation to her voice.

I watched as Ryan quickly asked Kara, “Why do you care so much about Matt and Vanessa, Kara?”

Her eyes snapped to him and she quickly replaced her frown with a happy smile. “Oh, I don’t. I just know how Matty feels about Vanessa at the office, that’s all.” I watched her swallow quickly and took a drink from her glass. Ryan nodded his head as I watched him glance to Tom and then back to Kara.

“Well, I’m going to head back to the bar. I’ll let you guys enjoy your night.” I shook hands with the guys and Kara met me as I started to pass her and gave me a swift hug.

“I’m sorry, Matty. I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just that I know how she acted towards you at the office. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I smiled at Kara, knowing how caring she can be. I know she’s concerned about me, she always has been. I nodded to her and gave her a reassuring smile. “I can take care of myself, Kara. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

She pressed her lips together and nodded her head. “Okay, Matty. I’ll see you back at the office. Monday’s my new day as a sales person,” she trilled.

I had forgotten all about that. She had to be nervous and maybe that’s why she was acting this way. “Hey, you’re not nervous about Monday, are you?” I pulled my brows together worried about her all of a sudden.

“No. I mean, well, a little. I just don’t want to disappoint you, Matty.”

I chuckled how she’s always thinking of others. “You’ll be fine, Kara. Don’t worry about me. I’ll help you out along the way. I know you’ll be great at sales.” She nodded happily and then reached up for a hug. I hugged her back noticing how tightly she was squeezing me. She was pissy one minute and happy the next. Maybe I should have started recording her time of the month.

I walked up to the bar and tried to rejoin the conversation Izzy was having with Flynn and Mel. I think they were talking about their honeymoon, but I have no idea. I positioned myself right next to Flynn, turning so I could watch Vanessa and Luke.

Flynn looked back at me and lowered his voice. “You doin’ alright?”

“Just fine,” I quipped, still staring over at Vanessa and Luke.

Flynn glanced over in the same direction and then turned back toward me. “Remember how Mel and I used to fight before we got together?”

I just nodded, knowing where he was trying to go with this.

“Well, it was really because of too much sexual tension. You should probably just man up like I should have.”

I shook my head, smirking. “That’s not the issue, Flynn,” I told him gruffly, while still watching Luke and Vanessa together.

He looked stunned as he pulled his brows together when I glanced back at him. “It’s not?”

“Nope,” I replied as I flicked my eyes back and watched Vanessa reach over and squeeze Luke’s bicep. What the fuck was that?

“Matt.” Flynn snapped me out of watching Vanessa grope some guy. “You were saying?”

I shook my head remembering what I was telling him. “She’s got some stupid policy at work against inter-company dating, the same one that kept me from seeing Kara. She wants to stick to it and it’s driving me nuts.”

“Oh.” Flynn looked slightly taken aback by what I just said. “Well, that sucks. Too bad you can’t just have a night with her and get her out of your system.”

I choked on the drink I had just taken from my beer. Flynn smirked and shook his head. “Shit. Are you serious? You guys already did that and you still want her?”

I looked over at Sandy behind the bar and held up my empty bottle. She quickly brought one over for me, setting it down nicely in front of me. Well, at least she was in better spirits than before.

“I see Vanessa is getting acquainted with Luke. He’s such a great guy,” Sandy said sar
castically and a bit too happily. I gave her a dirty look and grabbed my beer from the bar quickly as I turned around to watch Luke touch Vanessa’s hand lightly. His fingers were grazing over the back of her hand lightly as he smiled at whatever Vanessa was saying.

Flynn started laughing, “Ease up there Matt, or you’ll crack your teeth as hard as you’re clenching your jaw.”

I glanced over at him and tried to take a deep breath. That wasn’t helping matters so I took a couple drinks of my beer as Flynn started in. “You know. Maybe she actually means a little more to you than just being one of your regular girls.”

I shook my head. “Don’t try that shit with me, Flynn. It’s not gonna work. I’m not interested in a relationship with her.”

“Yeah, right.” I stared at him wondering what made him say that as sarcastically as he did. “Matt, you had her, you usually can move along. Why you’re getting bent out of shape about her and Luke is pretty obvious.”

“It is?” I asked, raising my brow.

He pressed his lips together smiling. “Yeah. It’s pretty obvious you’re really into her.”

I rolled my eyes. Bullshit. I started looking around the bar. I needed to prove him wrong. Asshole. Into Vanessa. She annoys the shit out of me and I just want to have sex with her again. That’s all this is. I shook my head and walked over to a small group of women and started talking with them. I have no idea what they were saying and I just kept nodding my head. One of them bumped hips with me and started pulling me towards the dance floor. Good. See. I’m can move on and be with another chick.

We passed by the table Vanessa and Luke were sitting at and I purposely placed my beer right on their table and smiled over at Vanessa. She didn’t even look at me. Well, that didn’t go as planned. Had I planned that?

I started dancing with the girl and then realized I had no idea what she even looked like. I looked her over from head to toe. She was almost as tall as me and her hair was striped blonde and brown. I couldn’t tell if she did that on purpose or if she had a bad hair stylist. She wasn’t bad looking, but nothing like Vanessa — the girl I was trying
not
to think about.

This immediately caused me to glance over to where they were sitting. Luke was leaning in telling her a story and she was laughing and touching him. Flirting. Vanessa knows how to flirt? She did that with me, didn’t she? No. Maybe. She didn’t do that with me. I was pretty certain of that.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be dancing with me not staring at other people,” Stripey exclaimed.

I nodded and gave her a quick smile. “Right, sorry.” I grabbed her tightly and started to really grind into her with the beat of the music. She willingly did the same back to me and hugged my neck tighter, pressing her breasts against my chest. Nice. See. I can do this. I don’t need Vanessa.

Vanessa.
My eyes immediately popped back to where she sat. She wasn’t looking at me at all. She was giggling and getting a hand massage from the dickwad. Giggling. Vanessa doesn’t giggle, does she?

“Hey!” Stripey burst out. “Asshole! Quit staring at other chicks.” She turned towards the direction I was looking and then smugly looked back at me. “Fucking asshole,” she muttered as she marched off the floor. I stood there still gaping at Vanessa and dickwad staring at each other.

Fuck it. I’m done with this shit. I walked over to their table and stood next to them, clearly interrupting their conversation. Luke looked up at me and smiled like a dumb fuck. “Hey, Matt. How’s it going?”

“It’s good, Luke. How about you?” I tried to make simple conversation as I tried to cool my jealousy. I grabbed an empty bar stool from a nearby table and sat right in between them. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees completely ready to enter the conversation. They both exchanged glances several times.

“So what were you guys talking about over here?” I asked trying to act completely enthused. Completely ready to fuck with their conversation.

“Well, Luke,” Vanessa started while she smiled over at Luke, who in turn smiled all to happily back at Vanessa, “Was just telling me a funny story about the time he went to the country club my parents belong to. He was there for a wedding and,” Vanessa started laughing. Her eyes were bright as she ran her hand through her hair while glancing over at Luke. “The maître de took Luke’s coat and Luke told him,”

Luke interjected, laughing as he quipped, “Am I going to have to tip you for that too?”  They both started laughing. It wasn’t funny at least I didn’t think so. Luke stopped laughing then looked over at Vanessa as he grinned from ear to ear.

She turned to me. “I actually know the guy; he’s got a great sense of humor.” Her smile dropped when she noticed I wasn’t laughing.

Luke gestured towards Vanessa’s mostly empty glass on the table and asked “Would you like another drink Vanessa?”

She started to answer, but I went ahead and interjected, “Wow, Vanessa,” I scrunched up my face. “You really shouldn’t be drinking after the night you had last night. I would think your stomach is still upset.” She flushed red and I felt bad. Sort of.

“I…”

“Did you have a wild night last night?” Luke asked with a smile.

“Wild? The girl didn’t stop drinking last night, right Vanessa? I had to hold her hair most of the night,” I said while shaking my head.

Vanessa’s mouth was wide open as she stared at me in disbelief. She can hate me all she wants, right now I was going to let Luke know. Know what? I wasn’t sure of that since I hadn’t even thought things through in my head. All I wanted to do was break up this little soiree and I’d think of what I was trying to accomplish later.

“You held her hair?” Luke asked, giving me a disgusted look.

“Well, yeah. That’s what friends do, isn’t that right Vanessa?” I reminded her sarcastically. She glared at me and then turned to Luke.

“Would you please order another Cosmo for me? I’ll be right back,” she asked as she touched his arm lightly and then walked off toward the restrooms after he nodded his head. I watched her walk off noticing she seemed to have a little more wiggle to her step. I also noticed Kara pop up from her table and rush off following her.

I turned back just as Mandy came over to our table and I realized Luke was still watching her walk away. We both caught each other’s eyes as we turned toward Mandy for our order.

“So Matt,” Luke started after Mandy took our order and sauntered off. I wondered why Vanessa changed from red wine to a Cosmo, but shrugged it off. The woman confuses the shit out of me. “What’s the real story between you two?”