Page 5 of Do It With Me

I knew he was right. I just hated to admit it. “Fine, I’ll go.”

“Good.” He paused, clearly gearing up for something else. “Just a heads-up. Uh, Shannon’s going to be there.”

My stomach tightened. “You’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

Of course she’s going to be there. My ex had a knack for turning up where I least wanted her and I’d been lucky to avoid her the last few years. It was never going to last forever, but the idea of smiling politely at her across a dinner table made my teeth ache.

“Do you want my advice?” Jimmy smirked. “Bring a date.”

“What?”

“Bring a date,” he repeated, slowly and patiently like he was explaining to a child how to use a spoon. “Make sure it’s someone hot. It’ll look like you’re living your best life and Shannon will leave you the hell alone.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Maybe you’re right, but who the hell would I ask?”

“Come on, Holden. You’ve got, what, half the city in your phone? Just pick one.”

I grimaced. If I took one of my booty calls to a wedding, I would be asking for trouble. “Any of those women would expect a ring by dessert if I take them to a wedding like that, and I’m done with romance, so no thanks.”

“Who said anything about romance?” Jimmy grinned. “If that’s what you’re worried about, then the answer is simple. Take someone who hates you.”

Before I could tell him that first, no one hated me, and second, they would never accept an invitation from me if they did, Jimmy was gone. My door clicked shut behind him and I groaned, turning in my chair to face the wall of windows.

New York City glistened outside, bursting with possibility and opportunity. How many women lived in this city? Surely, I could find someone willing to be on my arm as my date for this cursed wedding. Someone pretty enough to piss off Shannon and intelligent enough to play the part well, without expecting a relationship from me.

I just had to find her.