Dangerous Stranger (Beautiful Entourage #4) (8 page)

We walked down the sidewalk until we agreed on a French bistro. When we walked up to the door, I opened it for her.

She slightly reacted, like she was surprised I had manners. Then she walked inside. She did the same thing when I pulled out the chair for her before I sat across from her.

Did none of her boyfriends treat her like a lady?
It baffled me when gorgeous women were with assholes. They deserved so much more and they didn’t even realize it. I really didn’t want Ophelia to be one of those girls. She deserved the best. I wasn’t the best, especially after that fiasco in the changing room, but I would try to be the best if she gave me a chance.

We ordered then sipped our wine while we looked at each other.

“I hope Max isn’t mad I’m hogging you.”

He couldn’t care less.
“We spent plenty of time together when he came over the other night.”

“Where is your apartment anyway?” she asked.

“Right by Central Park.”

“Wow. It must be really nice then.”

I didn’t like to brag about my wealth. And I hated to listen to other people do it. “I like it,” I said with a shrug.

She smiled at me, like she knew I was trying to be humble. “You’re the perfect man, Jett.”

I almost knocked over my wine.
What did she say?
“Sorry?”

“You’re the perfect guy,” she repeated. “You’re smart, sweet, and polite. You’re playful and not stiff all the time. And you’re gorgeous. My brother hit the jackpot with you. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s gay. I might even judge him if he weren’t.”

What did that mean? She thought I was the perfect guy? Did that mean she thought I was perfect? If she knew I was straight, would she want me? I tried to think of a response but nothing came to mind. So I reverted back to being an arrogant asshole, what I do best. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

She narrowed her eyes on me, and she didn’t seem to buy what I was selling. “You’re full of it. I know you are. You’re a really humble guy but you try to hide it with this cocky attitude.”

“Maybe…maybe not.”

She sipped her wine again and dropped the subject.

Could I really keep doing this for much longer? As lame as it sounded, I was falling for her. When I first met her she was just a hot piece of ass I wanted to sink my teeth into but now I wanted so much more. I wanted to open every door for her, take her shopping on my dime, and walk her home. I was turning into a pussy-whipped douche.

But I didn’t care.

“Do you want to have kids?” she asked.

It was a random question and shattered my previous thoughts. “Yeah. Do you?”

“I want two. A boy and a girl.”

“Same here.”
Not really.
I hadn’t thought much about it. Before she came along I couldn’t even picture myself getting married. But if I was spending all this time with her and not getting laid, then she was damn special.

“How would you guys do that?” she asked.

What was she talking about?
“Do what?”

“Have kids. Adoption?”

I kept forgetting I was gay. “Yeah, that’s the best option. So many kids in the world don’t have parents as it is. We could give them a home.”

She smiled and her eyes softened. “That’s sweet. I would love to be an aunt to your kids.”

I forced a smile but it was so fake.

“Do you think you guys will get married?”

God, no. How did I handle this?
Max had a boyfriend so our relationship would end eventually. I didn’t want to say I was making a lifelong commitment if I knew it would end, and probably soon. “Not sure. It’s too soon to tell.”

She nodded. “I guess I understand that. Have you had a serious relationship before?”

I didn’t know how to handle her curiosity. “A few years ago…it didn’t work out.” I kept my answers vague. That was probably the smart thing to do.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“It’s okay. Max is better anyway.” He and I would probably be good friends if we weren’t in such an odd situation. “How about you?” I asked. “Anyone serious before Cameron?” Honestly, I didn’t want to hear about her former lovers. The idea of anyone touching her but me set me off. I practically ripped off Cameron’s head last week. I’d never been so territorial before. I was claiming her as mine even though she didn’t belong to me. But I felt rude if I didn’t ask her the same questions in return.

“Not really,” she said. “I dated a few guys here and there but no one really caught my attention. Then I met Cameron and all of that changed.” She released a heavy sigh as she thought of distant memories.

“You’ll find someone better. Just give it time.”
Me. You’ll find me. And I’ll make you so damn happy.

“Well…” She touched her wine glass but didn’t take a drink.

Well what? What did that mean?
“Yeah?”

“Cameron came to my office a few days ago.”

My heart fell into my stomach and I felt deathly ill. My entire body tensed like I was about to get into a major car accident. I was on defense, waiting for an attack I knew would be fatal. I didn’t want to hear her following words but I couldn’t not hear them. “And?”

“He apologized for everything and he said he was wrong. He never apologizes for anything…”

Please tell me this is a joke.

“He said he wanted another chance. I told him I couldn’t jump into a relationship again but I agreed to date him and see where it goes.” She stared at her wine glass as she spoke, not looking at me.

I felt like my entire world crashed. “Why would you agree to that?” My voice came out far more hostile than I meant.

She flinched because she was so surprised.

“This guy treated you like shit. He doesn’t deserve a second chance.” I stared her down and knew I was giving her a threatening look even though I wish I wouldn’t. I was just too pissed off.

“But what we had before—”

“Is gone. You can’t get it back. And it’s clear he didn’t want to get it back until you walked away from him. Don’t do this, Ophelia.”

She remained calm. “I know you hate him but—”

“I’m going to share a secret with you. And it’s going to hurt.”

She closed her mouth and just listened.

“If a guy isn’t interested in having sex, it’s because he’s getting sex somewhere else. Whether he’s in love with you or not, you’re hot and he’ll fuck you because it’s convenient. The only reason why he would stop is because he found someone better to fuck.”

She didn’t flinch as she listened to me.

“I’m not saying this to hurt you, but I can promise you that’s what happened. When you walked away, he realized what he was missing. You suddenly became more desirable. But it doesn’t change what he did.”

“Cameron isn’t the cheating type.”

“And what is the cheating type?” I demanded. “Cheaters are liars and they are good at covering their tracks. If he didn’t want you to know about it, he would have covered it up and buried it.”

“You’re making assumptions when you don’t even know him.”

I was growing irritated with her. She was too damn smart and beautiful for this bullshit. “If he blatantly gawks at another woman when you’re right in front of him, he doesn’t respect you. And if he doesn’t respect you then, what makes you think he’ll respect you when you aren’t around? I’m telling you, Ophelia. I’ve had a lot of dog friends. I know how they are.”

“I still think you’re being presumptuous.”

I leaned back in my chair and tried not to scream. “You broke up with him for a reason. Don’t crawl back to him just because you’re scared.”

She suddenly became defensive. “I’m not scared. Cameron is the only guy I’ve ever really cared about and—”

“He didn’t care about you,” I snapped. “What makes you think he won’t act like this again? There’s nothing to prove that he won’t.”

“And there’s nothing to prove that he will.”

My blood pounded hard in my ears. I wanted to flip the table over.

She took a few seconds to calm down. “Jett, why are you so upset about this?”

Because you should be with me.
“Because you’re my friend. And I protect my friends.”

“And I really appreciate that.” She rested her hand on top of mine. “But I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.”

I want to take care of you.

“Let it go.”

I knew pressing this argument wouldn’t change anything. She obviously already made up her mind and she wouldn’t change it back. She was blind to the womanizer she was seeing. “Okay. I’m sorry.” I leaned back in my chair and pretended to be calm. Her hand left mine and I suddenly felt cold.

She gave me a smile but it was forced. “Are you going to the benefit with Max?”

“If he attends at all,” I said quietly.

“I’m sure he will. He belongs there just as much as anyone else.”

The conversation was still awkward and I had a feeling it would be awkward for a long time. Did that mean she would take Cameron? I’d have a hard time not shoving my fist down his throat, grabbing his heart, and yanking it out and watching him die right in the middle of the dance floor.

Ophelia caught my look. “Everything okay?”

I gave her the fakest smile I could muster. “Yeah. Just fine.”

***

Max took a bite of his sandwich then looked out the window.

I ordered food but I didn’t eat it because I wasn’t hungry. “Did you know your sister got back together with that asshole Cameron?”

He chewed for a long time before he swallowed. “She mentioned it.”

“Then you need to tell her to dump him. Forbid her from seeing him.”

Max was about to take another bite but stopped when he heard what I said. “Do you know Ophelia…? I have better odds of telling a hippo what to do than boss her around.”

“What happened to being protective of her?” I demanded.

“Ophelia is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. Secondly, what do I need to protect her from? He doesn’t treat her right and I agree with that. But he doesn’t hurt her.”

“But he cheats on her.”

That caught his attention. “Why do you say that? Have you seen him?”

“No…”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Do you have any evidence of this treason?”

“Well, no…”

“Then I’m not intervening. I already told Ophelia Cameron isn’t right for her. If she wants to date him anyway despite what I said, repeating those words won’t change her mind.”

I wanted to smash my fist through the table.

“Jett.” His voice came out quiet. “I get that you want to be with my sister but breaking them up isn’t the answer.”

“I’m not doing this because I want her,” I snapped. I ran my fingers through my hair in agitation. “I’m doing this because I know he doesn’t deserve her. He’s a jackass who doesn’t treat her right. I care about her, and I’m not going to let her settle. If she picked a good guy who adored her I’d let it go.”

“Would you really?” Disbelief was in his voice.

“Yes.” I looked him in the eye as I said it. “And I know she’s not in love with him. It’s as obvious as the change of the seasons. You can’t necessarily see it when it happens, but you know it’s occurring.”

Max finished his sandwich then wiped his mouth with a napkin. “If Ophelia told me not to be with my boyfriend just because she had a hunch that he was a bad guy, do you think I would listen to her?”

I already knew the answer so I didn’t say anything.

“Me speaking to her is pointless. The only way you can really get rid of him is prove your suspicions. And I don’t see how that’s possible.”

A light bulb went off in my head but I didn’t share my idea with Max.

“Honestly, you know what I think you should do?” Max asked.

“Hmm?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.

“Forget about my sister.” He said it harshly and without sympathy. “It’s not going to happen, and even if she is single by the time our assignment is over, you really think she’s going to want to be with you?”

“Why is that so hard to believe?” I snapped. “I’m a great guy. I treat her right, make her feel good about herself, and I tell her she’s the most gorgeous damn thing on the planet. She and I have a great time together, and I can tell she really cares about me. She may be out of my league but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a shot.”

He didn’t argue with any of that. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then spit it out.”

“When she finds out you’re straight and this was all a ploy, how do you think she’ll feel? Happy? Or tricked?”

I hadn’t thought about it that way.

“The odds are slim to none.” He threw his trash away and headed for the door. “I suggest you find someone else to fuck so you can get over her.”

***

I told the guys the whole story at the bar. “And she just went back to him. I couldn’t believe it.” I was still fuming about it.