Sawyer, Rita - Her Mr. Wrong [What Are Friends For 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (4 page)

“I’ll be ready.” And tonight when they went out, she’d find the perfect guy to wipe every trace of Slade Jacobs out of her mind for good.

* * * *

Slade had a damn good idea why Amy wasn’t taking his calls. He could tell she’d been shaken by their kiss the other night. It had been intense and delicious, and damned if he didn’t want to do it again and again. Ignoring him and the way she felt about him wasn’t going make him go away. He only hoped that absence really did make the heart grow fonder, and the desire burn hotter.

In any other situation, he would have been content to sit back and let things take their course, but with Amy, he had the strange urge to push. After the way she melted in his arms like a piece of hot steel, he couldn’t think of anything but being alone with her again. He looked at the stack of files on his desk and groaned. For the first time in years—actually for the first time in as long as he could remember—he want to toss everything else aside and focus on his personal life. Sooner or later, they were going to talk about what happened.

His sister rushed into the room. “You’re going to be late.”

“So are you,” she countered, dropping a stack of messages on his desk.

“No one will care if I’m a few minutes late.”

“I’m sure the other available bachelors with happy about it, but the single women won’t be.” Her teasing didn’t help his mood any.

Slade could have argued her point was another reason for skipping this event all together. If one of his best friends other than Jace hadn’t invited him, he wouldn’t be going at all. It sucked, but he managed to get just as much business done at social functions as he got done in the office. At least from what his buddy Elias had said, he only invited a few people. He picked up the pink slips of paper and shuffled through them, scanning the names. Not seeing the one he wanted, he decided they could wait until tomorrow morning when he came in.

He pushed his chair away from the desk and got to his feet. “We both better get out of here.”

“Before you go, I need to ask for a favor.” She walked over to the door and waited for him.

She knew he’d do whatever he could for her. “Name it.”

“I need to pick my car tomorrow afternoon, and I was wondering if you could take me?”

Hell yeah. That would be the perfect opportunity for him to see Amy. “No problem. Hey, while we’re on the topics of favors, I wanted to talk to you about something, but I need you to promise not to freak out.”

She huffed out a sigh. “Look, I already said you can pay for the repairs. I promise not to make a scene.”

“That’s not it.” He laughed. “I know you like working for me, but the schedule doesn’t really seem to be working.”

“Slade, I can’t do more than three days a week,” she said as they exited the office.

“Actually, you could if you work from home. Don’t make that face. The way I see it, you spend at least half your paycheck for day care. If you work from home, you won’t have that expense. Doctors record their notes and have someone transcribe them. We could work the same system for us. Tanya can handle the phones and filing. You would still be responsible for entering all the information from production meetings and making sure the right people get copies in their e-mail. You could do all that from home and on your schedule. And let’s be totally honest, I see you leave here with thick files in your bag, and when you come back, they’re half the size. So I know you’re taking work home with you.” Slade had been watching her for some time.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m doing what I have to.”

“You don’t have to work so hard. I’d rather have you focus on my nephews.” He held up his hands when she glared at him. “I know you want to pull your own weight. My plan would accomplish both things. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

“I promise to consider it.” They walked out of the building side by side.

Slade escorted her to the rental SUV and paused to kiss her cheek. He crossed the lot to where his brand-new Mustang was parked. Before he got in, he took his suit jacket off and tossed it on the back seat. He slid behind the wheel and started the car. The engine rumbled to life. He’d heard people say their cars purred like a kitten, but his growled like a tiger. It only took him twenty minutes to get to his friend Elias Brach’s newest venture. The place supposedly had it all. There was a restaurant, a dance club, and even a private movie theater and game area.

He pulled up in front, and valet rushed over and stood by his door. Slade got out and took the ticket the kid held out. He took a second to glance around the packed parking lot. It looked like Elias was going to make a booming success out of the place, not that Slade had ever had a doubt. Elias came out of the gleaming double doors and met him at the top of the stairs.

“Glad you could make it.” Elias held out his hand, and Slade slapped his into it.

“As if I’d turn down a free, five-star meal.” Slade would have come anyway, and they both knew it.

“Well, let me give you a tour, and then we can eat.”

“So who else is joining us?”

“No one. I wanted to talk to you alone.”

The slowness of Elias’s response set off little warning bells. “Why do I have the sudden feeling I’m not going to like what you have to say?”

“It’s not that bad.” Elias looked away and sighed. “At least I hope it’s not.”

He’d never been one for games or holding back, so whatever was bothering his friend had to be weighing on him. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Elias led him inside. The tour of the building didn’t take long. It was a split-level with the restaurant on left, and the bar and dance floor on the right. The two rooms were separated by a small hall with restrooms and a coat check area. Elias explained the rooms were both soundproof, as was the game room. He took him into the club, which wouldn’t be open for another hour, at seven o’clock. They walked down the three steps and across the dance floor to the bar. Three bartenders were busy behind the bar. Slade looked around. There were tables spread around the perimeter of the dance floor. Further out against the walls were cozy corner booths, a bench, and U-style couches. The upper level was a balcony that wrapped along three walls filled with tables. They crossed the hall, and Elias opened the door to the dining area. Soft, pleasant music drifted out into the hall.

They stepped inside, and a well-dressed guy—Slade figured he was the maitre d’—rushed forward. “Mr. Brach, your table is ready.”

“Thank you, Harvey.” Elias led Slade into the large dining room.

The layout of the room was similar, but instead of a dance floor and couches, there were tables and booths. The balcony was set the same way. More importantly, unlike the club, there was no flash and glitz here. The room was pure elegance. From the deep-burgundy tablecloths and white linens to sparking glasses and silverware, everything screamed first-class. Dinner service was in full swing. Waiters and waitresses dressed tastefully in black slacks and white shirts moved from table to table, delivering food or taking orders. Slade followed Elias through the room to a dais where three large tables were set up. Elias motioned to the table and waited for him to sit down before he did.

“So are you ready to tell me why you asked me here?” Slade snapped open a napkin and laid it on his lap.

“Why don’t we order first?” He flicked his hand in the air, and a young waitress came to the table.

Knowing the girl was no doubt trying to impress the owner, Slade sat patiently as she told them about the nightly specials, made recommendations, and took their orders. He leaned back in his chair and looked at his friend, noting his color was a bit off. In fact, he looked a little green.

“Elias, are you feeling okay?” Whatever he had better not be contagious.

“No. Yes. Well, physically I’m fine. I have a problem.” He spoke so softly, Slade had to lean toward him just to hear what he was saying.

The waitress arrived with their drinks, causing them both to hold back whatever they might have been about to say next. Slade leaned back and let the girl put his drink beside his plate. He waited until she was out of hearing distance before he spoke.

“I can’t help you unless I know what it is.” He hoped Elias knew he’d do whatever he could.

Elias gave him a brief nod. “I’m interested in a woman.”

“I don’t see a problem with that,” Slade joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“It’s not the woman. I’ve know her for years. She’s perfect.” At Slade’s laugh, Elias’s color came back, and he shot him a look that stopped the laughter. “Really, she is. She’s sweet, sexy, caring, and above all else, she’s a terrific mother.”

Slade tried to follow his friend’s thoughts. “So are the kids your issue?”

“No. They like me, and I like them.” Elias paused and took a sip of his water. “In fact, I think I’m almost as much in love with them as I am their mother.”

“I’m not seeing a problem so far. Has she shown any signs that she’s interested in you?”

“She’s had me over for dinner a few times.” Slade wasn’t sure why that was a problem, but Elias quickly added, “But just as friends.”

Slade glance at the waitress heading their way. “And you’d like it to be more?”

Elias nodded. The waitress delivered their meals. Slade’s steak and mashed potatoes, and broccoli with cheese sauce looked mouth-watering. He glanced over at Elias’s plate of spaghetti and chicken parmesan with garlic bread and thought that it looked pretty good, too. He’d have to take Jenny here one night. She deserved a meal that didn’t include toys and bibs, well, unless she wanted lobster. They both thanked the girl, and she walked away with a smile.

Slade sliced into his steak, exposing the perfectly pink middle. He started to lift the fork to his mouth, but he raised his eyes for a second and saw the maitre d’ leading a small group of women into the restaurant. That was when he saw her and froze. She wore a fuzzy, short-sleeved white sweater and tight, red skirt, a bit too short for his liking. She also had on a wide, black belt around her tiny waist that matched the sexy high heels she was wearing. Her long, black, straight hair hung just below her shoulders, swaying with each move she made.

“Slade, is there something wrong with your steak?” Elias followed his gaze across the room to where the women were being shown to a table. “Do you know them?”

He knew each and every one of them. One much more intimately than the others, but not nearly enough to satisfy him. Amy laughed, and though she was too far for him to hear it, he knew what it would sound like.

“Yes, I do.” He lowered his fork to the plate and reached for his drink, as he fought the urge to get up and walk over there.

“Who are they?” Elias’s curiosity was more than warranted.

“A friend’s wife and her cohorts.” Slade pick up his fork and bit into the steak, but he barely tasted it as he chewed.

“Would you like to go say hello?” It was a reasonable question, one Slade perhaps considered for just a fraction too long. “I see. Since I’ve never known you to take interest in another man’s woman, I’m assuming it’s one of her friends that has you so entranced.”

Entranced. Yeah, it was as good a word as any to explain the way she made him feel. He couldn’t explain it any better. It did seem like something beyond their control there was drawing them together. Could fate be giving a random couple a gentle shove in the same direction?

“No, I don’t think it would be a good idea, but you might want to send of a bottle of something nice to the table.” He wasn’t sure if Sadie was there to review the place or not, but either way she’d make some kind of judgment, and it would be wise to have it be a positive one.

“Why?” Elias asked.

“The auburn-haired one is Sadie Rithgow. She’s a reporter, and, from what I hear, a good one.”

Elias caught the implication and waved his fingers in the air. Almost instantly, a waiter appeared at the table. He issued a few orders, and the kid took off. It took a great deal of willpower for Slade to tear his attention off Amy, but it only lasted a few minutes. He brought his gaze back just in time to see the waiter approach the table. He held out a bottle and said something that had all six women turning to look at him and Elias. Okay, mostly Elias, but Amy stared directly at him. Slade smiled, but she didn’t return it. In fact, she turned her head away so quickly he’d be surprised if she hadn’t given herself a minor case of whiplash.