Page 23 of Challenge Me

I could see the gears turning. It would probably take a matter of hours before she published some spin on this. I’d have to take control of it soon, probably by bending my own sense of pride and sitting down with her for an exclusive. But I wasn’t going to do that unprepared.

Coming up beside Remi, I offered Clara a tight smile. “You know how strict reservations can be. If he would’ve told me about this earlier, I could’ve saved you the trip, but he’s forgetful.”

“I must’ve fried my brain too much in my youth,” he agreed.

“He’s kidding.” Taking his hand, I squeezed it hard enough for him to try pulling away, but I held on. “Remi, we should stop at your place on the way, so we really need to get going.”

“We’re already at my place.” He tutted and nudged my shoulder with his as he focused on Clara. “Silly man, acting like everything I own isn’t in this bar.”

Her eyes sparked with interest. “You live here?”

“Of course he doesn’t,” I laughed. “Maybe we should cool it with the jokes. What do you say?”

Remi shrugged. The expression on his face didn’t make me feel confident he’d listen to me. If anything, he was far too amused by the whole thing.

“Are you sure you can’t spare a few minutes?” Clara pressed.

Remi grabbed a pen off the counter, then took her hand. She tried to protest, but he was already writing something on her palm. “My personal number. We can get something set up another time. Scout’s honor.”

She clearly wanted to push the issue, but with both of us standing there, resolute, she eventually backed off. Once her crew had cleared from the bar, I let out a breath.

“Can you not make shit up to stir the pot?”

“What’d I make up?” he asked. “Well, I was never in the Boy Scouts, so I’ll give you that. Let’s go. We have a lot to discuss.”

“Go where?”

He lifted a brow. “That date you owe me. And I wasn’t kidding about somewhere expensive.”

“Seriously? You’re taking advantage of me already?”

“Hey, I’m helping you out, man. I don’t give a rat’s dingaling what some reporters say about me. Besides, you said she’ll be trying to catch any info she can about you, so if we don’t follow through with the narrative, she’ll probably add ‘fibber’ to your laundry list of faults.”

“I don’t have a laundry list,” I muttered.

“Maybe not, but she’s sure creating one for you as we speak.”

The phone rang, and he came to an abrupt stop, then he snatched it from the counter. I stared with my mouth open as he slammed it against the edge. When it didn’t quiet, he did it again. With a growl, he tried to bend it in half.

“Hey,” I said. When I reached for it, he let me take it. Using the pen from the counter, I popped off the back and took out the battery. Remi’s breaths were still coming quickly, even after it fell silent. “What’s your beef with the phone?”

“Let’s just go.”

With that, he walked toward the back, and I wondered if this decision would actually make everything ten times worse.

Chapter 8

Remi

Chasing sunshine to outrun the night,

Claiming it’s freedom, though it feels like flight.

If trouble’s the shadow, then Florida’s the sun.

Let’s call it vacation; pretend it’s for fun.

The creak of a door made me sit straight up. Within seconds, I was on my feet with the gun in my hand.