Page 7 of Miss Treated

She looked unfazed. “No problem.”

I’d get the fish tacos because when in Rome. Or in this case, a tiki bar on the beach. As I noted Megan glancing over, I couldn’t keep from muttering, “Why do I feel like the waitress and hostess both want to claw my eyes out?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I do tend to come in on weekends after surfing, so you could call me a regular. The girls are sweet.”

“Do I need to worry about them spitting in my fish tacos because they think I’m intruding on their territory?” Megan was conversing with yet another blonde, and now they both stared our way. Subtle they were not.

He shook his head. “Nah. They’re nice girls. I’ve never been more to any of them than a regular who tips well.”

Mm, and who looked amazing and called them by their first names. Yep. Dominic Chambers flirted as easily as he breathed.

Megan returned with our waters in hand to put them on the table. Once again, she only had eyes for my lunch companion.

He gestured I should order first.

“I’ll have the mahi tacos, please.”

“I’ll take the same.” After handing the menus to Megan, he focused his attention fully on me.

My foot started tapping the stool rung before I made it stop. No, I would not get nervous under a handsome man’s appraisal. This was a work lunch. Unorthodox compared to most, but still, I was a reputable forensic auditor here to do a job. Admittedly, looking at this gorgeous man across the table was no hardship, but I wouldn’t let it make me nervous.

“So….” He steepled his fingers. “Tell me about yourself.”

Ugh, my most uncomfortable subject. I was willing to bet he didn’t feel the same. “There’s not much to tell. I relocated here from New York a few months ago and live in the LA area.”

“Do you enjoy California?”

“Yes, I really do.” It was so different from New York City and from where I’d grown up in New Hampshire. I’d needed the drastic change in every single way.

“What brought you out here? Family?”

More like an escape from a narcissistic fiancé. But I wasn’t about to go into my history. “Yes, family. I have a brother who lives in the LA area.” It wasn’t a lie. I’d been staying with Chance ever since the “incident” where I’d hit rock bottom following the breakup.

“Boyfriend?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Um, no. I don’t, um, I’m not—” Why the heck was he asking? I couldn’t be less his type if I tried. “I’m not dating,” I finished lamely.

Sipping his water, he appeared to contemplate my stuttered answer. “What made you get into forensic accounting?”

Hello, whiplash. At least this was easy to answer. “I love numbers, and I love spreadsheets. Doing an audit is like solving a puzzle, and I enjoy figuring out the pieces.” My ex-fiancé, Joel, had never understood my passion for the job. Then again, he’d never taken the time to understand a whole lot about me except how to control me.

“You must be good at it. Otherwise, my father wouldn’t have brought you in. What do you like to do for fun?”

Saved from the question by the arrival of the ahi nachos. I had to admit they looked delicious.

“They’ll change your life,” Dominic stated, shoving one into his perfect mouth.

I did the same, but bit mine in half. Wow. Here I’d assumed he was being dramatic, but in fact I experienced a culinary explosion of flavors.

He grinned, watching me try to finish my incredible nacho chip without losing my manners. After chewing, I smiled back. “They are delicious.”

He picked up another and ate it. “Glad you like them. Tell me more about yourself. You have one brother in LA? Any other siblings?”

Perfectly reasonable questions, albeit a bit personal. Then again, the boyfriend question had been way out there, yet it didn’t feel uncomfortable. He appeared to be an extrovert who asked these types of questions of everyone he met.