Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Noah
“Goddamn, you little hottie.” Magnolia whistles after she barges through my door and sees me in my dinner outfit. “You dressin’ up for Jase or Daddy Fisher?”
I roll my eyes when she waggles her brows. “What’d I say ’bout callin’ him that?”
“You’re tellin’ me you didn’t scream that when he was balls deep inside you? Because if not, that’s a tragedy.”
I scoff, grabbing my heels and sitting on the edge of the bed. “No, a tragedy is what this dinner is gonna end in if Jase figures out what we did.”
“Speakin’ of, you left me with blue ovaries after your text last night. So spill the rest of the juicy details. What happened after Tripp caught y’all?”
“He didn’t catch anything. But he woulda had he come twenty seconds later...”
“I knew it!” she squeals.
I was moments away from begging Fisher to kiss me, but a part of me doesn’t want to know if he would’ve or not. The logical side of me knows we shouldn’t. It’d make everything more complicated than it already is, but the needy side of me wants his mouth and hands on me again.
When he whispered in my ear, my entire body shivered in anticipation. Over twenty-four hours later, I can still feel his warm breath tickling down my neck.
“Doesn’t matter because nothin’ happened or can happen again.” Once my shoes are on, I stand and put in my earrings.
“Do you really think Jase would be that upset? Y’all broke up a long time ago, and it’s time y’all moved on.”
“You seriously think he’d be okay with me movin’ on with his father? Sure, yeah, go bang my dad, then let’s have a therapy session about all the emotional trauma,” I mimic in an exaggerated deep voice.
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, just tell him to shut up, or you’ll make him your stepson.”
I snort. “Yeah, that’ll make him closer to Daddy dearest.”
“To be a fly on the wall at that restaurant...are ya sure I can’t be your plus-one?”
“For what? Like some weird non-double date? I’m already worried I’m gonna slip and say somethin’ I’m not supposed to know.”
“Like how big his dick is...”
“No! Well, yes, but more personal. He’s talked about stuff I wouldn’t know if we were only coworkers.”
“Again, to be a fly on the wall...” She chuckles and motions for me to spin around so she can get the full view of me. “And you wearin’ a date night dress on a non-date night is the cherry on top.”
My hands rub over the ruffled fabric. “Is it too much? Should I change?”
I analyze every inch of my outfit in my floor-length mirror.
I picked out a white cami dress with a ruched bust that flows just below my knees.
When I pair it with navy-blue heels, it grants me a few more inches.
Since we’re meeting at the Twisted Bull afterward, I’m bringing my favorite cowboy boots.
No way can I dance or ride the mechanical bull in three-inch shoes.
“You look perfect. I’ll be waitin’ at the bar to hear all about it.”
“How will you listen if your tongue is halfway down Tripp’s throat?”
“Don’t give me false hope!” She scoffs when I laugh. “Nope, tonight is all about findin’ me a new man. No more of these emotionally unavailable boys.”
My eyes widen in surprise at the sound of her new mindset. “Finally! ’Bout goddamn time. Just don’t hook up with someone you work with.”
“Trust me, if there was anyone at work worth seein’ me naked, you’d know about it by now. And we both know I’d quit my job if it came down to that.”
Easy for Magnolia to say, but if we get caught, I won’t be the one without a job. Fisher would be the unemployed one. But the ranch needs him, too. So quitting isn’t an option for either of us.
“Okay, I gotta go before I’m late, but we’ll talk more over margaritas!” I grab my purse and hug her.
“You got it, babe. I’ll be three deep in by the time you get there.”
I shake my head, smiling. “You better wait for me. No tipsy Magnolia.”
“Fine.” She chuckles, walking out with me to my truck.
“Be careful,” I warn when we go our separate ways.
“I should be tellin’ you that.” Her taunting has nervous butterflies invading my stomach. I’ve been dreading this for two days.
How the hell am I supposed to sit next to my ex-boyfriend and pretend I’m not thinking about his dad whispering in my ear what a good girl I am for taking his dick so well?
Lilian’s Steakhouse is packed when I arrive. Nearly every stool is taken at the bar, which means it’s louder than I expected. The dining area is in the back, where it’s quieter, but I’d much prefer the loudness to drown out my anxious thoughts.
“Hey.” Fisher stands against the wall next to me. His eyes fixate on one of the TVs behind the bar as if he’s purposely not looking at me. “Jase not here?”
“Not yet. As soon as I parked, he texted that he was runnin’ late, but I let the hostess know of our reservation.”
“Oh.”
I steal a glance and grin at his black slacks and matching suit coat. A gray button-up is underneath but no tie. It’s a different look than I’ve seen him wear before, but I’m not complaining. It fits him well in a professional kind of way that makes me want to slowly strip off each item.
“You look breathtakin’,” he mutters so quietly I almost don’t hear him.
My throat tightens when I try to thank him and reciprocate the compliment. Being alone with him feels like a date, one we never got to have, and it makes me wish even more that our circumstances were different.
“Do you wanna drink?” he asks when my silence lingers.
“Absolutely,” I immediately respond. I need one...or two.
He finally meets my eyes, and a hint of a smile graces his scruffy face. When he brushes a hand through his hair, it messes it up in a way I wish I were the one threading my fingers through it.
“What’s your poison?” he asks once we squeeze our way to the bar.
Men twice my age. And off-limits.
“I’ll start with a mojito. Or wait, maybe a Long Island Iced Tea.”
“A bit indecisive tonight?” He arches a brow. The corner of his lips tilts up as he waits for me to choose.
Shrugging, I take the stool next to me when it opens up. “You pick for me, then.”
Once the bartender comes over, Fisher orders a Budweiser for himself, glances at me with amusement written on his face, and leans closer toward her.
“And a Screwdriver.”
I furrow my brows, wondering how he came up with that one.
After she sets both drinks down, he hands her his card, and as he slides the yellow liquid-filled glass in front of me, he brings his mouth to my ear.
“Because we’re both screwed. Enjoy.” His whisper sends shivers down my spine as his free hand wraps around the back of my stool.
That’s an understatement, I want to reply, but Jase approaching on my other side causes me to jump. Fisher puts a couple of inches between us and is so casual about it that you wouldn’t know his tongue was practically in my ear a moment ago.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Jase kisses my cheek. “Meetin’ ran late. Can you order me a Guinness? I’ll let the hostess know we’re ready.”
“Sure,” Fisher answers, keeping his gaze locked on Jase’s as his dances between us.
“Thanks.”
Once Jase walks away, I inhale a sharp breath, grab my drink, and take a long sip.
“Keep these comin’.”
Fisher shakes his head. “Not if you’re drivin’.”
I glare at him, wanting to argue, but I know he’s right.
“Okay, they’re ready for us.” Jase grabs his beer and wraps an arm around my waist when I stand.
As we follow the hostess, Jase asks how I’ve been. There’s an urge to shake him, but I stop myself so he won’t be suspicious about my sudden refusal of his touch.
“Good, busy as usual,” I tell him when he picks a seat at the square table.
Before I can do the same, Fisher pulls out my chair, and my eyes widen.
I turn and mouth, “What’re ya doin’?”
He furrows his brows as if he doesn’t understand the panic on my face.
“Oh shit, I shoulda done that.” Jase stands, reaching the back of my chair and motioning for me to sit. Once I do, he helps push me in, then squeezes my shoulder.
“A gentleman should always pull out a woman’s chair,” Fisher says when he takes his own next to me.
“Thanks for the reminder, Dad.” The way he emphasizes the word has me flinching.
Why is he being so rude?
The hostess waits until we’re all situated before setting down our menus and listing the specials. Once she leaves, I open mine so I can hide my face from Jase’s intense stare.
He wanted me here as a buffer, but now I’m worried he has other intentions.
“The Porterhouse sounds good,” Jase says. “I bet you’re gettin’ your favorite type.”
Why is he acting like he knows my favorite steak when the nicest restaurant he’s ever taken me to had chicken nuggets on the menu?
“Actually, I’m in the mood for shrimp.”
“At a steakhouse?” He scoffs, closing his menu with a smack. “Get the filet. You’ll like it.”
My head pounds as I think about yelling at him for being an arrogant asshole, but for the sake of keeping the peace, I stay quiet. I’ll order whatever I damn well please.
Fisher must notice my annoyance because he clears his throat and grabs his beer.
“I’m thinkin’ seafood, too. The crab legs sound good.” He takes a sip, ignoring Jase’s scowl.
Thankfully, our server appears and asks if we’re ready to order.
God, yes. And bring the check before I’m tempted to run into traffic to avoid another minute of this.
“Howdy, I’m Melinda, and I’ll be takin’ care of y’all tonight. I see y’all have drinks, but if you need refills, let me know. Are y’all here celebratin’ for a special occasion?”
Yeah, my funeral.
The brunette smiles wide, and if she feels the awkwardness radiating between us, she’s not making it known by how giddy she is.
“Just a family dinner,” Jase explains.
“Aw, that’s precious.” She directs her attention to Fisher. “Your children are so sweet to take you out. My parents are always yellin’ at me to go out with them, but life gets busy, ya know?”