Chapter 4 Kinley #2
I immediately grabbed a knife and fork, cutting a piece off and shoving it into my mouth.
“Oh, not bad,” I said. It was actually very good. The seasoning had a sweetness to it that I really liked.
“Not bad?” Wyatt sounded incredulous.
I looked up at him and started to laugh. His expression was priceless.
“I’ve had better kebabs.”
“Where?”
“There’s a place near Point Loma that serves burgers and kababs. Both are out-of-this-world good.” Which was true, but these were right up there as well.
“Huh. I’ll go there sometime. I head to Point Loma often anyway. Two of my brothers live there.”
“And you?”
“In Coronado.”
“Nice.”
Coronado was very idyllic. It was also the most expensive neighborhood in San Diego. Of course he lived there.
We ate in awkward silence. I was midway through my second piece of kebab when he said, “Kinley, I owe you an explanation.”
“I don’t think you do,” I said, talking to my plate because I couldn’t make eye contact right now. “You pity me and figured you’d take me out to lunch to make up for the fact that you’re not going to hire me.”
He didn’t say anything at all till I glanced up at him.
“Yes, that’s basically it. But now I realize this is only making things worse.”
“It is what it is, Wyatt,” I replied. “You have your reasons for not hiring me, and I’ll make things work,” I said with all the confidence I could muster.
Then I added for good measure, “I have other interviews lined up next week, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy working at any of those other companies as much as I’d enjoy working for you.
” There. That sounded very self-assured, even though it wasn’t true.
I had zero interviews lined up for next week because of this darn scandal.
“Fantastic. You’re a fighter, Kinley, and I know you’ll find something really great.”
“Yes, I am, and I will.”
“Look, I don’t usually do this,” he said. He was looking down like he was contemplating something. Well, I wasn’t going to let him off easily.
I tilted my head. “What? Not hire someone because their ex was involved in a scandal? Or take someone out because you didn’t hire them?”
“You like putting me on the spot.” A tentative smile played on his lips.
Wait, is he enjoying this? I wasn’t even trying to give him a hard time. I’d broken the ice, but the sting of not being employed still hurt. I’d gotten my hopes up again, thinking he’d decided to hire me.
“Well, wouldn’t you if the tables were turned? Why are you so surprised?” I asked.
“People don’t usually give me a hard time.”
“Well, since I’m not going to work for you, why shouldn’t I?”
Goodness, Kinley, what are you doing?
The corners of his mouth twitched again. Ha, he really was enjoying this. Wyatt wasn’t used to being confronted and actually liked the back-and-forth!
He leaned slightly forward. “I would like this lunch even if you were working with me. I don’t mind people challenging me.”
“Or being obnoxious to your face?” I asked, which was obnoxious in itself.
“I don’t mind that either.”
“You’re a strange man, Wyatt Sterling.”
He laughed and began to eat again. “What are you doing for the rest of the day?”
“I’m going home after our lunch. In the evening, I’ll go to my sister’s, and we’ll eat something delicious, maybe have a movie night. She’s making lasagna—my comfort food. I need it after today.” Oops. Didn’t mean to show my insecurity and how not getting this job truly affected me.
He swallowed hard. “Because of me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot again. It just...”
“Came out naturally?” he finished for me, apparently realizing the rest of my bravado was a facade. Crap.
Was it crazy that I liked our interaction? He was doing something nice by taking me out to lunch. I’d become so used to people shunning me over the past year that I didn’t even know how to react when someone was being kind.
“Anyway, I can’t wait for tonight. I’m going to get a lot of cuddles too. That always makes me feel better.”
“You enjoy spending time with your niece?” Wyatt asked, seeming to admire that I liked being around my family.
“Very much. I basically consider her my daughter, truth be told.”
“You and I are very much alike,” he said with awe.
His eyes dropped for a split second, and I wondered if I’d dribbled something on my dress. Maybe some sauce from the kebab? Then I realized he was checking me out.
Heat flashed through me. Holy shit. Okay, I could add another adjective to describe Wyatt Sterling aside from kind and considerate: shameless.
I cleared my throat. “Thank you for lunch,” I said, because we’d both already finished our food. “And for reaching out to me. That was thoughtful, and I appreciate it.”
He schooled his features. “Kinley, I’m sure things will work out for you eventually.”
I smiled with a nod because what could I say. I’d already said it all, and it was time to end the afternoon. I was ready to get home and figure out my next steps.
“Yeah, I hope the same.”
“Want me to drop you off somewhere?” he asked as we stepped away from the table.
“No, I actually drove to the interview. My car is still parked in front of your building.”
“All right, then. Let’s head back. I’ll pay real quick.”
“Here, I’ll give you my card.”
“No! This was my idea. My treat.”
I dipped my head with a small smile. “Thank you.”
After Wyatt paid, we left the courtyard, walking side by side.
He was very close to me, so I took in details that I hadn’t noticed before: The line of his jaw, his sculpted cheekbones, and his straight nose.
Everything fit perfectly. He truly was the handsomest man I’d ever seen.
I glanced at his arm but still couldn’t make out what the tattoo was.
“Like what you see?” he asked.
I gasped. He’d noticed that I was ogling him. I had no idea what to say.
“Nah, you don’t have to answer that. Clearly you do.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Wait, what’s happening right now?
“Don’t feel too bad. I checked you out earlier too.”
“I, uh, saw,” I stammered. “Yeah, I noticed that.”
His whole expression changed. His eyes lit up somehow, and the curve of his lips was different, the smile even more charming than all the ones before.
My stomach somersaulted. What is this? Is he...? Wait, he couldn’t be flirting, could he?
He grinned. “In my defense, I barely kept myself in check this morning when you first stepped into my office.”
My ears were burning. I didn’t blush like normal people. My cheeks never turned warm—the tips of my ears did.
I cleared my throat, rearranging my bag on my shoulder, clutching my purchase even tighter. This had taken an unexpected turn.
I won’t get the job, but maybe I’d get to date the CEO?
Oh my.
Wyatt cleared his throat as his building came into view. “So, Kinley, how about I take you out again to make up for this?” He pointed between the two of us.
I narrowed my eyes. “First, define this.” My tone was sassy, but something about this man made me feel bold. And if he was doing the pity thing again, I was so not into that.
“My hitting on you in the middle of the street after our unfortunate morning.”
I started to laugh, and it reverberated through my whole body. God, it felt good to laugh like this again. I hadn’t done it in ages—except when I was with Elsa, of course.
“Let me get this straight. You want to take me out to make up for flirting with me? How exactly would you do that?” Thank God we’d moved on from the interview and were actually interacting like two normal people.
“By flirting more, obviously.”
My laughter intensified. This man, I swear to God.
“I told you that I like you, Kinley.” His tone had turned more serious.
I finally managed to get my laughter under control. “Wyatt, you have to admit, this is a very bizarre turn of events.”
“Yes, it is.”
My heart was beating erratically. This handsome man wanted to take me out. That hadn’t happened in a while. Then again, no one had flirted with me in a very long time, and it felt damn good. So, instead of telling him I wasn’t interested, other words came out of my mouth.
“You have my phone number,” I said. “You’re welcome to use it.”
His eyes flashed. “Let’s do one better. Let’s set the day and time right now.”
“Afraid I might reject your calls?”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’d get through to you somehow. So... when do you have time this week?”
“My schedule is wide open.”
“How about Friday evening?”
“Sounds good.”
Oh my goodness. What was I doing? Was I really going on a date with this man? Was I even ready for that?
“Six o’clock?”
“That’ll work.”
“Perfect. Text me your address, and I’ll pick you up from home.”
“I prefer to drive myself,” I replied.
“So you can make a quick escape in case things go south?”
“Exactly.” Why pretend?
He grinned. “Don’t worry, Kinley. I’m excellent dating material. You’ll have a great time, I promise you that.”
Oh, I didn’t doubt that one bit.
In fact, I was starting to feel like I might enjoy it a little too much.