25. Conor
Conor
“Could you please pass the butter, Jessica? ” I look across the table to where Jess is seated next to a perfectly nice man whose chair I’m dying to accidentally tip over.
“Sure, Conor .” Jess passes the butter to me, and I overreach for the dish, making sure my fingertips graze against hers. She makes a sudden, sharp little gasp at the contact, and I don’t miss the sparks that flicker on my own skin, too.
“Everything okay?” Jess’s date—Rob—tilts his head to look at her.
“She’s fine,” Courtney interjects sharply.
“Are you?” I lean forward on my elbows, staring at Jess. “Fine, that is?”
“Yes.” She sits poker-straight in her chair, poised as could be. But, her voice cracks like an egg over the “s” sound, betraying her whole unaffected act.
She blushes and looks away. In the dim light of the restaurant, her skin looks luminous, her eyes bigger and darker than ever.
And, my goodness, does she look good tonight in that forest green, silky dress that slides like liquid over each and every curve.
There’s no way Rob would have a clue what to do with a woman like that in his life.
“Can I have some butter, too?” My “date” whines.
Not now, Jennifer.
I smile at Jennifer flimsily as I pass her the butter dish, and when our fingers touch, all I’m aware of are her extremely sharp nails.
Emitting a quiet sigh, I lean back in my chair and rub my eyes. I’ve had the longest day on earth. Chaz, Chad and Karla were all up in my business during our meeting about their proposed investment, and honestly, I thought I’d accidentally stepped onto the set of Shark Tank .
They spent hours poring over my financials, pointing out “unnecessary expenses” on my renos that I happen to think were very necessary—namely, all the things that I spent money on to preserve the character and history of the houses.
Chaz was particularly aggressive about the bills on the Decatur house, even though it sold for over asking.
It also got multiple offers that I know had to do with Jess’s staging and the unique, simultaneous silent art auction.
I’m so proud of our efforts, proud that we managed to take a money pit and turn a profit. But, oh no, that’s not enough for ol’ Chaz n’ Chad, who started rambling on about the “new direction” we need to take once they inject their cash.
In my opinion, though, their direction was going south—essentially cutting corners and producing identical, cookie-cutter houses that use mass-produced materials. In and out, quick and easy. Less effort, more dollars.
I’ve worked myself to the bone for so many years to grow and expand my business. It’s why I teamed up with Karla in the first place. And Chaz n’ Chad? I know they’re offering me a unique opportunity to keep growing. But, in all honesty, something about their proposed vision feels deeply wrong.
I didn't go into flipping houses purely for the money. I went into it to make people’s lives better, to make their dreams come true. Like I did for my mom. It’s worth taking time and effort with these projects.
But, no matter how much I pointed out the value in restoring homes—and how talented artists like Jess bring so much to the table—they wouldn’t budge.
They vetoed the idea of hiring Jess for our next house, which I didn’t understand, at first, seeing as Jess worked for less money than any other stager I’d hired.
Then, I saw the jealous look on Karla’s face, and it didn’t take me long to figure out who was behind that one.
I told them that their new direction was stupid. Didn’t bother to mince my words, either. But, I was an island in that particular discussion.
So now, I’ve been left to “think about what I’d like to do”—which made me feel a little like a naughty child getting sent to time out. Which is not the best feeling when it’s regarding your own freaking business you built from the ground up.
Chaz n’ Chad may be successful, but I’m not going to let them belittle me or push me around.
So, as you can imagine, after a long day of arguing, the last thing I want is to be on a date with a woman I have zero interest in. Especially not while the woman I am interested in enjoys her date with another guy across the table.
I’m still not sure why Jess cut me off yesterday morning.
I thought she wanted to tell Aiden about us, but instead she threw me into the deep end and insisted I go on a date with another woman.
And then, she proceeded to rub salt in the wound by announcing that she was coming along.
.. with her own date. Who’s a total snoozefest, by the way.
The chemistry and tension between us is still palpable, so the only thing I can think is that Aiden freaked her out with all of his inane chat about other women.
Made her pull back. Jess always doubts herself, and to be fair, the conversation didn’t exactly paint me in the best light.
Once upon a time, I might’ve gone on a second date with Jennifer.
But, last month seems like a lifetime ago.
And, what Aiden didn’t know when he arranged this date is that I no longer want to date any other woman. Ever again.
Because Jess is it for me. The one. And I want her to know that that’s how I feel.
Right after I spend the rest of this nightmare date proving to her that she wants to be with me just as much. I want her to believe in herself enough to stand up for what she wants and how she feels.
“Aiden, how’re your shingles healing? Okay, I hope?” Courtney asks sweetly, jolting me from my thoughts.
Aiden gasps through a mouthful of wine, and practically sprays a fountain of Merlot into the air.
“Oopsie,” Courtney sings. She hands him a napkin, then turns to Brooke, Aiden’s date. “I hear that lukewarm colloidal oatmeal baths work wonders for cases where the rash is really bad. Or, you can make a cornstarch paste to rub into his back for him. Very effective.”
Brooke looks like she’s about to vomit her rainbow trout all over the table. Her eyes narrow in Aiden’s direction. “You didn’t tell me you have shingles.”
“That’s because I don’t have shingles.” Aiden glares at Courtney, who’s happily chewing her ravioli. “I told you my roof needed new shingles, not that I have shingles.”
Courtney shrugs, then blinks her big blue eyes, the picture of innocence. “Well, you can’t expect me to remember everything you say.”
“Easy mistake to make, honey.” Courtney’s date, whose name has slipped my mind, pats her arm patronizingly. “You ladies don’t need to bother yourselves with construction, anyway. It’s a man’s job.”
Before I have time to call out this blatantly sexist comment from what’s-his-face, that whine comes again in my ear. “Conor? I need the butter knife?”
Why not use your regular knife, Jennifer?
“Oh. Sorry,” I say instead, sliding the knife towards my “date” while keeping my eyes locked on Jess.
Sure, Jennifer is pretty, in that overly-made-up kind of way. But, she has nothing on Jess. Plus, she’s been asking me rude questions all evening about how much money I make. And, she keeps putting her hand on my leg. What ever made me say that I’d want to go out with this girl for a second time?
“So, what do you do for work, Rob?” I ask through a smile as fake as his hairline.
“I’m an accountant.” Rob wipes his mouth with his napkin. “How about you?”
Of course he’s an accountant.
I keep my eyes carefully trained on Jess as she takes a sip of wine. “I flip houses.”
“Oh, like they do on TV?” Rob asks through a mouthful of chicken nugget. Which he ordered off the Kids’ Menu, claiming he was allergic to everything else.
“No.” I know I’m being a territorial a-hole right now, but somehow, I just can’t bring myself to care.
Jess’s eyes dart around and she wiggles uncomfortably under my stare. Finally, she throws down her napkin and pushes herself to a stand. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
I glance in Aiden’s direction, and luckily, he’s busy trying to persuade his date that there is no terrible, blistering rash lurking under his designer shirt.
“Me too.” I get to my feet.
Jess narrows her eyes at me. “You can’t come with me.”
I give her a mischievous smile. “I need to go.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, he does,” Courtney joins in. “The bathrooms are at the far end of the restaurant, you can walk together.”
“Thank you, Courtney,” I say with a nod in her direction. I have no idea why she’s taking my side right now, but I feel a brand new sense of warmth towards our neighbor.
Jess glowers.
“Maybe I’ll come, too,” Brooke volunteers, pushing her chair back.
“No, you won’t.” Something in Courtney’s shark-like smile makes Brooke reconsider her actions, and she tucks her chair back in immediately.
I smile. “Guess it’s just you and me, Jessica.”
Jess slams her mouth shut, turns on her heel, and starts walking quickly.
Really quickly. Teetering in high heels that I try not to notice make her legs look a mile long.
As I follow her, a loud sound like a whoopie cushion comes from the far end of the table, and I swear I hear Courtney mutter “really, again?”
Once we’re safely around the corner, Jess turns on me.
“What are you doing right now?” she hisses.
“Having dinner. The food’s good, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t know.” She folds her arms across her chest. “I haven’t had a moment to take a bite between all the chaos breaking out at the table.”
“You’re the one who suggested this, remember?”
“Because you wanted to!”
“Because I what?! ”
Jess presses her lips together, her eyes fiery.
I glance around quickly. The restaurant we’re at is one of those lame, fancy places with a stark, cold color scheme and overpriced spinach dip.
I never choose restaurants like this, but apparently, it’s Jennifer’s favorite.
However, the one advantage of places like this is that they always have nice, individual bathrooms.
Confident that nobody can see us, I grab Jess by the arm and pull her into one of the private restrooms. I lock the door behind me, then let her go.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demands, color flaring in her cheeks.
“Why did you think I wanted to go on a date with Jennifer?” I retort.
The room is tiny, and I’m standing close enough to breathe the scent of the light perfume she’s wearing.
She smells like sunshine. “You didn’t ask me, you just started doubting yourself.
Doubting me. Doubting everything I’ve told you. ”
Jess’s nostrils flare and she crosses her arms again. “Aiden said that you wanted to see her again.”
“Jess, that was before I even met you. You can’t hold that against me.”
“Well, if you didn’t want to see her again, you could have taken Mindy or Karla instead.” Jess’s voice is cold, but I don’t miss her lower lip wobbling.
“What if I didn’t want to take Mindy or Karla?”
Jess blinks. “So… you didn’t want to go on a date tonight?”
“Oh, I wanted to go on a date.” I inch closer to her and she takes a step back, but can’t move any further. She’s pressed against the sink. “But not with six other people in tow. And especially not with a woman who isn’t you.”
I raise an eyebrow, challenging her to show her cards, too. She opens her mouth. Closes it again. Then, she purses her pretty pink lips and lets out a long exhale, her expression full of remorse. “Really?”
The sweetness in her voice calms me, anchors me, and I feel more at ease than I have all day. I run a finger along her bare arm, delighting in the shiver she responds with.
“I want to be with you, Jess. Only you,” I admit.
A tiny smile appears on her face.
“And, you want to be with me, too.” I take a final step forward, moving to where she’s leaning on the sink. “Am I wrong?”
Jess holds her breath, her eyes searching mine almost desperately. Then, she shakes her head. “You’re not wrong.”
My heart thumps at her words and I move my face close to hers. So close that there’s only an inch between our lips. “Am I going to need to fight off Rob?”
Finally, Jess smiles. A sweet smile that makes me want to claim her lips all the more. “No.”
Her warm breath brushes across my cheek and I can’t stand it a second longer.
I have a million things I want to talk to her about, but right now, my brain and my body are not communicating at all.
Because she’s just confirmed she wants to be with me, too.
Because it’s been almost two days since I kissed this girl properly, and that’s two days too long.
Completely forgetting where I am, I lean towards her—
Knock, knock!
“Anybody in here?”
We jump apart before our lips can meet, and I almost trip over the toilet. Quite literally brought back down to earth with a crash.
“Occupied,” I yell.
Jess looks a little starry eyed and she flushes scarlet as she eyes the door. All I can think is that Jess deserves to be kissed in a way nicer setting than a restaurant bathroom, and that I can’t be on this sham of a date for a moment longer.
“Want to get out of here?” I ask, my voice almost a growl.
Jess looks at me, and that wild, passionate gleam sparks in her eyes. “We can’t. What about Rob and Jennifer and Ai—”
“Follow my lead.”