CHAPTER TEN #3
They were still talking about his conquests and what a manwhore he was, and it was getting very uncomfortable to be standing there. They were going on and on, and I was learning more about Jack Lancaster than I’d ever wanted to know.
I hurried to finish setting out the orders as fast as I could so I could get out of there.
I couldn’t believe they said these things where Cynthia could hear, but she appeared to be wrapped up in her phone conversation.
The look in her eyes, though, told a different story.
She looked both sad and a little angry. I didn’t know if it was at the raucous group in the corner laughing at her youngest grandchild’s expense, or if it was at Jack.
Maybe it was both.
“I’m not like that anymore,” Jack said loudly, interrupting their chatter.
All conversation stopped, and I cursed the buggy for not cooperating. The handle was always a little funky, and I had to get it pushed out just right to get it to go in the right direction. I was about to just leave anyway, dragging it behind me, but then things got interesting.
“Since when?” Ben asked, the disbelief in his tone evident.
“Since a couple of weeks ago,” he said, staring directly at me. I knew that had been around the same time he’d met me. But I wasn’t about to fall for such an obvious line.
“Right,” Kim said sarcastically. “Two whole weeks of changing your ways.”
“No, it’s true,” Tallon defended his friend and glanced at me. “He didn’t get with the chick from the other night. And he only went out because he’d promised me he would.”
“And all the other nights?” laughed Ben. “Jack might sleep alone, but he doesn’t start the night alone if you know what I mean.” He waggled his brows suggestively.
Cynthia hung up the phone. “Yes, Benjamin,” she said drily, “I believe we are all aware of what you mean.”
Ben had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry, Grandma.”
She nodded at him, forgiving him.
Jonah took a look at his brother. “Hey—do you have a meeting we don’t know about or something? Why are you so dressed up?”
I looked back at him. He was wearing nice business attire, like he had most days lately.
“I thought I should dress more appropriately.”
“Your hair is different, too,” Kim said. “Did you get it cut? And are you wearing contacts?”
He ran a hand through his thick, stylish hair self-consciously. “Yeah.” He walked over to the desk to get his food. His hand was very close to touching mine.
“And when did all these changes start?” Ben asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously as he looked at how close Jack was standing to me.
“A couple of weeks ago,” Cynthia repeated what Jack had already said.
Kim grinned. “And when did you start delivering the food from Dinardo’s, Daisy?”
I was about to answer, but Jack beat me to it. “A couple of weeks ago,” he said, looking directly at me.
The office got very quiet while everyone stared between us.
It was too much for me. My face turned bright pink. I finally just pulled the buggy along behind me, clunking and objecting to its foul treatment, and turned to leave. “It was nice meeting all of you. I’ll see you later,” I said, hurrying from the lobby.
I heard footsteps behind me. “Wait,” his deep voice said just before I could press the button to call the elevator.
I stopped walking and turned to face him slowly.
“I’m sorry you heard all of that in there,” he said, his eyes full of concern. “When I asked you out the other night, it wasn’t so I could take you to… that condo Kim was talking about.”
“It wasn’t?”
He shook his head. “It was because I wanted to be around you. I wanted to get to know you better.”
“But you probably planned to end up there, right?” I asked.
He laughed. “Well, I don’t know if you’ve looked in a mirror ever but you’re the most beautiful, sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.
” He softened his voice and moved closer to me, reaching out to push a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Of course I want to take you to bed. But not like those other girls. I was planning to take you to my penthouse… not the condo Kim was talking about.”
I studied his face. He seemed to be being honest. “Really?”
He nodded. “I’ve never taken a woman there before. I hope you’ll still go out with me, even though you saw me with that girl last night and you overheard them talking about me today. Will you give me another chance?”
“Another chance?”
“To show you I don’t want to be like that with you—like they were talking about in there. You’re… different.”
He had to be feeding me a line. He had to be. But when I looked into those eyes, they seemed so sincere. I was about to open my mouth and agree to the date, when a ding sounded behind us.
The elevator doors opened, and the pretty brunette I recognized as Tallon’s date from Bahia Del Sol came out.
“Oh, hey, Jack.” She looked me over and giggled, probably at my Dinardo’s Deli uniform, making me feel small and embarrassed.
“Sala wanted me to let you know she had a great time with you.” She leaned in, touching his chest. “She said she’s never come so many times in one night in her life.
” She stood back up straight. “Anyway, she said she’s looking forward to a repeat tomorrow night.
” She gave me a mean look before winking at Jack and turning to enter the executive suite.
I had to fight to hold a gasp in. Sala had been in his bed last night. He planned to fuck me tonight. And then he’d be back with Sala the next night. Wow. This guy was unbelievable.
The woman clicked past us on very high heels as she pushed open the doors to the executive suite. I saw Tallon’s face light up when he saw her.
Jack’s face was red, and he looked angry. I guessed it was because the girl had just ruined the hookup I’d been about to agree to.
God, I felt dumb. I’d seen him with another woman, overheard his own family talking about what a player he was, and yet I’d still been about to go out with him.
“Listen, Daisy, it’s not what you think…”
I held up my hand to stop him, laughed, and shook my head.
My body felt hot all over. “I get it. Can I just give you a bit of advice, though?” I asked, trying to keep the tears out of my eyes.
I felt so incredibly stupid. I’d known he was feeding me lines, and I had still almost fallen for it.
Had the way Myers treated me brought me so low that I was willing to accept next to nothing in a date?
No respect at all? “You don’t have to resort to lies to get a woman in bed.
Any woman. Just tell the truth. That way no one gets hurt. ”
“Please don’t listen to her,” he said, his brow furrowed. “We’ll have such a nice time together. I won’t blow this chance…”
“Oh, about that—I’m not going to be able to go. I have to work tonight after all.”
“Now who’s lying?” his pretty eyes locked on mine as the elevator door opened, and I hurried in.
“Doesn’t feel good to be lied to, does it?” I said as the doors closed.
I rode the rest of the way down doing my best not to cry. He wasn’t worth it. He was just another guy like Myers. I was going to have to be careful or I would end up having a ‘type’ and it really wasn’t a good one.
I sent Abbi a quick text telling her she was off the hook for work tonight at Bahia Del Sol.
I’d be free after all.