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“When did Tessa call you?”
“Last night.” She weaved toward him, wishing he would touch her. Wishing she hadn’t been so rash in her decision to turn him away.
Stasia frowned. Had it only been a few weeks ago? It felt like months. Years.
“Alex called me this afternoon. Asked me to get together for drinks, which I thought was odd, but I didn’t question it, especially since I don’t represent you anymore so there’s no conflict of interest.” He scrubbed a hand along his jaw, the gesture so inherently masculine, she longed to see him do it again. Desire spiked within her, heady and sharp. “I think they’re trying to get us together.”
“Um…” She kept her head averted, afraid to see his reaction. She hated how he rendered her speechless. “I told Tessa about us. Well, I didn’t mention your name specifically, but Gabriella, Rhett’s girlfriend, she figured everything out.” She winced, waiting for his furious reaction.
“I know. Alex told me.”
Surprise at his quiet revelation caused her to look at him. He didn’t seem mad. More like a little rough around the edges, with a sort of weariness hanging over him that filled her with the urge to offer him comfort. His expression softened and he ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up more. It didn’t distract from his good looks. More than one woman within the crowded
bar was checking him out.
Jealousy flared, hot and unavoidable, and she shoved it aside. “Alex told you?” she asked weakly.
He nodded, parted his lips as if he were about to say something when someone from behind Stasia shoved her hard, sending her straight at Gavin. His arms came around her, holding her carefully and he tugged her in close, glaring at whoever had pushed her. “Watch where you’re going,” he muttered fiercely, his eyes gleaming.
She watched him, felt the tenseness in his muscles, enjoying how he held her close. The culprit was young, she could tell by his muttered, “Ease up, bro” as he tried to walk past them.
“Tell the lady you’re sorry,” Gavin demanded.
“Sorry.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she gave the man, who looked barely over twenty-one, a fleeting smile. “It’s okay.”
“You’re lucky she’s so nice,” Gavin practically growled, slipping his arm around her shoulders in a protective gesture, turning her away from the man.
“You didn’t have to be so mean,” she told him as he led her to the other side of the even more crowded bar.
“And he didn’t have to be such a careless ass. Did he hurt you?”
Her skin warming at his concern, she shook her head. “I’m fine. Really.”
“You want to get out of here?”
All the breath lodged in her throat. “With you?”
“We can go grab some dinner. Together.” He released his hold on her, taking a step back. “That is, if you want to. Which, I understand if you don’t, because, well, you know…”
“I want to.” She smiled, hope flickering to life in her chest. “I definitely want to.”
He returned the smile, though his gaze was still wary. She’d break that. She had to. “Great. Let’s go.”
Gavin took Stasia to a restaurant not far from the bar, a small place that served amazing food. A popular steakhouse, the interior was cozy, with brick walls, dark, gleaming wood floors and booths and vintage black-and-white photographs of Manhattan everywhere.
He’d been there before, numerous times, though he’d never brought a woman. That he’d broken every promise he’d made himself to avoid her and had asked Stasia to accompany him tonight made him want to alternately kick his own ass and pat himself on the back.
For now, he was going with the latter.
They ordered, Gavin recommending a few choices, and Stasia chose his favorite. More wine, because he needed it for liquid courage and she seemed to need it too. What a pair they were, dancing around the subject but neither of them coming right out and saying it. He couldn’t be the first to broach their past and apparently, neither could she.
So they made idle small talk instead until it dwindled to nothing when their waiter brought the food.
“I’ve reconciled with my mother. She’s here with me in New York,” she finally said halfway through the meal, causing him to almost choke on his steak. “She asked me about you.”
“What did she ask?” He wiped his mouth with his napkin, curiosity making his brain race with a ton of unanswered questions. None of them he was brave enough to ask.
