Chapter 30 – Haley
My eyes are glued to the person approaching my table. He bypassed the hostess because he’d already spotted me. He dressed up for our so-called date. He’s wearing a pair of dark slacks, a white shirt, and a dark blue jacket.
“I’ll bet you weren’t expecting to see me,” he says, grinning as he takes the seat opposite mine. “I’ll bet you thought it was Mark.” He rolls his eyes. “Mark is such an asshole.”
“Christian?” I’m stunned. I never once considered him a possibility. I mean, yes, he was always there, but he always seemed so harmless.
Christian grabs a piece of bread from the basket and dunks it in the olive oil. “Surprise!” he says before he takes a big bite.
My heart is racing. “I don’t understand. You hardly ever talk to me.”
“That’s okay. You and Andrea seem to have hit it off. I was just along for the ride, getting to see you up close and getting to know you. You never once suspected me, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.” My stomach churns at the notion Andrea is somehow involved in this insanity, or that she knows what he’s been doing. I have to know the truth. “Does Andrea know what you’ve been doing to me?”
He takes another bite of bread and chews it slowly. “This is good. I’ve never been here before. Great choice. We’ll have to come here often.”
We? Is he nuts? “Christian! Does Andrea know?” If she’s been deceiving me, too—
“She has no idea, and she’d be pissed as hell at me if she did. She really likes you. So do I, but I guess you’ve figured that out by now.”
“Haley.” Philip’s low, steady voice comes through my earpiece. “Get him to talk about what he did and why.”
Christian starts looking around the dining room. “It’s not very crowded tonight, is it? I’ve not been here before, but I thought it would be busier than this.” He takes another bite of bread.
I shrug. “Christian—” He’s systematically searching the diners in here. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for the big lug. I half expected him to be here. Lately, he’s been glued to you. It’s so fucking annoying. He must think he’s God’s gift to women.”
“You said to come alone.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d listen.”
Charlie walks up to our table. “Good evening, sir. Can I get you something to drink?”
She’s a great actor. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was a real server.
“I’ll have a Coke,” Christian says as he nods to my glass. “Is that what you’re having?”
I nod as Charlie walks away to get Christian’s drink.
“Why are you stalking me?” I ask. I figure I might as well get to the point.
“I wanted to get your attention. It worked, didn’t it?” His smile is so smug.
“You’ve been terrorizing me, and you think it’s funny?” I can’t help that my voice is shaking.
“God, you’re beautiful when you’re mad.” He lays his hand palm up on the table and wiggles his fingers. “Who can blame me, Haley? The moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew we were meant to be together.”
“You know I have a boyfriend.” It gives me comfort to know Philip is listening.
Christian scoffs. “Boyfriends come and go, Haley. Once you realize how perfect we are for each other, you’ll dump the big lug.”
“Perfect? You couldn’t be more wrong. You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough. You’re gorgeous, and you’re smart as hell. And we’d be so good together. All I’m asking for is a chance.”
His hand is still palm up on the tablecloth, but he’s nuts if he thinks I’ll actually touch him.
“Go out with me, Haley. Get to know me better, because once you do, I know you’ll agree with me.”
“Christian, you need to stop this. I’m not interested in you, and I never will be.”
“Let’s get out of here, okay? Just the two of us.
We can get a motel room, spend some quality time together and get to know each other better.
I promise it’ll be great between us. I know how to treat a woman.
” He wags his tongue at me. “I’ll make you come so many times you won’t be able to see straight. ”
“You’re disgusting.”
His smile fades as his eyes narrow on me. “You get off on teasing me, don’t you?” His expression transforms instantly, from jovial to something bordering on menacing. “We’re leaving now,” he says as he grits his teeth. “You’ll do exactly as I say.”
“Or what?”
Christian is transforming before my eyes into someone I’ve never met. But I’m not afraid. My dad is seated right behind me, an arm’s length away. And Philip is in the kitchen, probably desperate to get out here and deal with Christian himself.
“You want to know or what? I’ll show you.” Christian holds my gaze as he casually opens his jacket, displaying the butt of a black handgun tucked into a chest holster.
The sight of a gun sucks all the air out of me, and a cold shiver crawls down my spine. A gun. Someone could get hurt.
“I wanted to do this the easy way, Haley, but you’re not making that possible. You and I are leaving.”
My heart stutters painfully. “Are you serious? You brought a gun to a restaurant?” This asshole has tormented me long enough. I’m done! “Are you insane? What are you going to do? Shoot me?”