Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
CORA
I’m still thinking about that kiss the following day, and I’ve been dreaming about how his hands were sliding all over my body and how much I enjoyed it.
I’m not sure how far we would have gone if we hadn’t been interrupted, but I imagine us going further when I’m daydreaming, letting his hands sneak higher up my skirt, letting his mouth drag along my skin.
I can’t remember the last time I had a man consume my thoughts the way he does.
It’s unfair, and if I could make it go away, I totally would.
Thankfully, he submitted the contract with no more requests to see me.
The paperwork went through without issue, and the owner was quite impressed with the sale and asked me to list all their other properties.
I said yes, of course, but I’m not sure how many of them I can get above the asking price like I did with that one.
I feel like Arlo had specific intentions when he did that.
There’s no mistaking he’s a calculated man, but is his endgame me?
I’ve never had anyone want to win me before. Not in that way, that’s for sure.
I knock on the door to Delaney’s apartment, and she pulls it open with a bottle of wine in her hand. Tonight, we’re having dinner with some of our friends. Delaney does this every year: a private dinner for just the two of us, then another with friends.
“Okay, so don’t be mad, but my date is coming.”
“To dinner?” I ask, handing her the flowers I brought.
“Yes.” She bites her bottom lip as I step inside. After removing my jacket, I hang it on the coat rack.
“All right, so what’s his name?”
“James. And be nice, please. I like this one.” I nod in agreement as we move through her house to the dining room. The kitchen is behind that, and there are caterers prepping the food back there.
“Should I have brought a date?” I ask as Mel walks in with her husband, hand in hand. She is dressed in a long, green dress, and her shiny brown hair is up.
Will I be the only person here tonight without a date? Not that it bothers me; I don’t need a life partner to do things with or to have as an accessory.
“What date? Didn’t you end it with Luke?” she asks.
“Yeah, but I could have found someone if needed.”
“What about that guy from the restaurant? Have you seen him again?” Delaney asks.
Mel walks over and cuts off our conversation. “It’s been so long, Cora. You remember Rick, my husband.”
“I do. It’s nice to see you both again.” Rick is a pro football player, and I sold them their current house.
“We’re actually thinking of investing in real estate, so expect a call from us soon,” Rick adds.
“I look forward to it.” I offer a kind smile back as Delaney hands me a glass of champagne. Delaney engages in some small talk before she directs them to the table. I stay where I am, waiting for her to come back.
Gripping my arm lightly, she quietly asks, “Tell me, have you seen him again?”
“Yes,” I tell her.
“Oh, he was good-looking, that one.” She fans herself.
“When is your date arriving?” I ask.
“He’ll be late. He has some work to finish up. But don’t worry, you’ll meet him. And Sebastian can’t come as he has to work late too.”
I smile as more people arrive.
We all take our seats at the table, and the first course is served. Everyone is talking, and I’m sitting back, sipping on my champagne, when Delaney starts gushing about James.
“So, he is coming for sure?” Mel asks her.
“Yep. Should be any minute now.”
Just then, a knock comes on the door, and she basically jumps out of her seat. We all watch as she rushes from the room, and a few minutes go by before she comes back with a man on her arm. He scans the room before looking back to Delaney.
She stares up at him with so much admiration in her eyes, as if she can’t get enough of him.
I always wanted that for her—to be loved in whatever form she chose.
She deserves it with everything she’s been through.
When I glance at him, I see him staring at her, but not with the same look—just someone who seems happy to be here.
I try not to judge because he could have social anxiety, and I don’t know him like I know Del.
“Everyone, this is James.” She waves a hand and then starts to go around the table, introducing everyone. When she gets to me, she walks over and squeezes my shoulder. “And this is Cora, my best friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Del has spoken very highly of you,” James says, dressed in black slacks with a shirt rolled up to his elbows. He appears to be older than us, but not by much.
“Lovely to meet you,” I reply.
Delaney basically jumps into his arms, and he kisses her briefly before releasing her and pulling out a chair. Then he takes the vacant seat opposite me, with Delaney between us at the head of the table.
Delaney starts talking about her upcoming weekend away with James and how the destination is a surprise. When I look down at his finger and see an indent from a ring, I cut in to her story and ask him, “Have you been married before?”
The table falls silent at my words as he fists his hand.
“Yes, I have,” he answers.
“Can I ask why it ended?”
Delaney kicks me under the table, but I want to know.
James seems friendly enough from what I can tell in the short amount of time he’s been sitting here, but we don’t know much about him—except that he waited until the third date to kiss her, wants to take her on a romantic getaway, and he’s apparently smitten with her.
“She died,” he tells us.
A few people gasp.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say sincerely, and he nods.
“Thank you, it was a while ago. But I just recently stopped wearing the ring,” he says, glancing at his empty ring finger.
“When he first spoke to me, he had it on, and I told him I don’t go on dates with married men.
” Delaney giggles, then reaches out and grips his hand where it rests on the table.
He takes it in his as he wipes his mouth with his napkin with the other.
James has a receding hairline, and while he says all the right things, something is definitely off about him.
I just don’t know what.
“He told me about his wife, and, well, I agreed to go out with him not long after.” She smiles at us, still holding his hand.
“Best decision I made was asking you on a date.” James smiles warmly at her.
The rest of the night goes smoothly. I drink four glasses of champagne and am glad I have a driver to take me home. After dessert, most everyone takes off, leaving only Delaney, James, and me.
“Del tells me you’re a big name in real estate around here,” James says as I sit across from him. Delaney is in the kitchen, grabbing another bottle of champagne.
“I sure am.”
“And do you enjoy it? I hear it’s a cutthroat business.”
“I do. I’ve been doing it for many years.”
“I see.” He nods. “Is that why you’ve never married?”
“Who told you I was never married?” I raise a brow at him.
“I guessed, to be honest. You don’t have a ring, and you seem career-focused.”
“I am. I love my job. A woman doesn’t need a man to feel secure in her life,” I tell him with a smile, even though that smile is fake and his words feel more like an insult.
“Yes, I guess that’s true. But it helps, right?”
I don’t answer him as Delaney walks back in. She pours us another glass, but I stand to leave.
“I have to get going, but it was lovely to meet you, James. Delaney, walk me out, please.”
She nods, then leans down and kisses James on the cheek, telling him she’ll be right back.
When we get outside, and after I’ve made sure my driver is waiting, I turn to her. “This is what you want?” I ask, putting on my jacket.
Her brows pinch together as she looks at me. “What do you mean?”
I nod toward the door. “Him. Is this what you want?”
“Yes, but I’m unsure why you’re even asking me that question. Do you not like him?”
“I don’t know him well enough not to like him, but there’s something odd there, Delaney. I trust your judgment, but I had to ask.”
She hugs herself. “I like him a lot.”
“Good. I just wanted to be sure.” And to see if she’s seen any red flags. But, from her words, she hasn’t. “I love you. Have the best weekend away. Call me if you need anything.”
She pulls me in for a hug and whispers, “He’s good. He’s one of the good ones. I swear.”
I hug her back and hope to God she’s right. Her last relationship wasn’t the best; the guy treated her like shit. But since then, she has gone through so much.
I just hope and pray she’s seeing correctly and not with rose-colored glasses.