Chapter Three
Fannin
I’m her plus one? Did he? He didn’t. He totally did. The table gets quiet as all eyes fall on him.
“Excuse me?” Adam says with an incredulous little laugh.
“Jasper James. Fannin’s plus one. And you are?” Jasper extends his hand, waiting for Adam to pull himself together. “Clearly you’re the groom but I didn’t catch your name, only that you’re marrying Bethany, Fannin’s step-sister. Guess it’s never come up.” And just like that he puts Adam in his place by letting him know his role in my life didn’t even merit mention.
A tad dumbfounded at his amazing acting skills, I pry my eyes off Jasper and nonchalantly swing my gaze to Adam like it’s every day that I introduce a stranger as my . . . date? Boyfriend? What am I supposed to say? I’m not good at this improv thing. “Adam Cafferty, Jasper James.” I watch fascinated as Adam’s mouth opens and closes like a fish, not sure what to say. I can’t blame him. Jasper couldn’t be more different from him if he tried. And since he’s the last guy I dated seriously, I think he’s having a hard time picturing Jasper and I together. That and Jasper looks a little intimidating with his jet black beard, smoldering gaze, and ink. Ok, maybe Adam isn’t paying attention to the smolder, but I am. Milking the situation, I shift closer, leaning into his chest a bit more. Totally inappropriate, but I can’t help myself. He settles his arm along mine on the table, drawing Adam’s attention.
“And what? You work here?” He still hasn’t taken Jasper’s offered hand. Adam narrows his eyes on me, “Is that how you landed the lead? You had an inside man?”
Shelby scoffs, waving him off. “She doesn’t need any help with this account. She’s more qualified than any of us to be the lead. Stop being such a damn baby about it.”
Jasper drops the ignored hand realizing that Adam isn’t going to be an adult about this. One would think it was me who left him for someone else the way he’s acting. “Does Noah know?”
“Know what?” I ask in a bored tone.
“That you’re dating a client. It’s a conflict of interest,” he goes on.
“You know, you’re right.” I snap my fingers and point at him, “You should call and tell him. Maybe he’ll give you the lead instead,” I suggest, knowing damn well Noah would never.
“I think I’m going to. This is unethical.”
The snort that slips out doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone. How could it? It was loud and unladylike and I don’t care. “That’s rich.”
Adam pretends like he doesn’t hear me as he gathers his suit jacket and briefcase. “We’ll just see what he says.”
Never have I wanted to punch someone more than I do right now. Right in his smug face.
“Yes, we will. I’ll be waiting with bated breath for his phone call. In the meantime, I’m just going to wait here and carry on with my plans to do some research.” I lift my glass of whisky to him before I take another sip.
“Don’t waste too much of your time on it. Wouldn’t want you to put in unnecessary work when it won’t be your account for long,” Adam says before turning to stride out in his stupid slim fit suit. I call them his skinny suits, much like his skinny jeans. He looks like a tool in both.
“Girl, I don’t know how you put up with his shit for as long as you did. What the hell did you ever see in his uptight ass?” Shelby asks, snatching a glass of whisky off the board. “I mean, he’s not even that fine.”
Erica murmurs her agreement.
I can’t help but laugh at that. I have no idea what I ever saw in him. Or why I let myself be even a little heartbroken when I found out about the affair he was having with my step-sister. Not bothering to answer, I turn in my seat to face Jasper. “You didn’t have to do that.”
His full lips kick up on one side, “Didn’t I though? I couldn’t stand back and let him think he had the upper hand. Not in that suit. Is it supposed to be so tight?” We all burst out laughing at his pained face.
“Well, I appreciate you coming to my rescue.” And I mean it. At least it buys me some time to find an actual date. Can I rent one? Do they offer that kind of thing on Craigslist? Maybe I can convince Shelby’s brother to go with me.
“It’s not every day a man like me gets to play the knight in not-so-shining armor,” Jasper chuckles. “So when is this joyous occasion taking place? I’ll have to take my monkey suit to the cleaner.”
“Wait! You’re really going to go?” Erica practically squeals before I can get a word in.
“Of course I am. I said I would and I meant it.” Someone calls him from behind the bar. We’re going to end up getting him fired.
“Jasper, really. You don’t have to do that. Just saying you would for his benefit was enough.” I’m giving him an out, but the voice in my head is screaming for me to shut up. Shut up and let this sexy, intriguing man take me to a wedding where I’m going to be absolutely miserable. Where everyone is going to be watching me, waiting and wondering if I’ll ruin it or lose my mind and have a meltdown. I just know it.
“Fannin.” My name is a caress, the lilt of what I’m sure is a Scottish accent now a little more prominent. Something about my name and the way it rolls off his tongue. “Let me take you.” Four simple words that pack one hell of a punch. I want to let him take me. I want to let him take me right here and now. Oh my God, what is the matter with me? It’s his voice and his smell and the way he speaks to me so intimately like we’re not strangers who only just met. I’m struck silent. At my accepting nod, he grins, his teeth a flash of white in the black of his beard. He pulls his phone from his back pocket and hands it to me. “Put your number in there, I’ll call you tonight. We can devise a story and a plan.” As I do as I’m told, I tune out the excited voices of Shelby and Erica chatting with Jasper like he’s an old friend. I’m pretty sure he’s cast a spell on us all. Handing him his phone back I will myself to actually speak. I should’ve just stayed quiet because I open my mouth and what comes out is nothing short of an invitation, not the words, but the breathy way I say them. “You’re sure you want to take me?”
Jasper brushes his fingers over his mouth trying to hide the grin lurking there. “I’m sure. I’ll talk to you soon, Fannin. Ladies,” he gives a small salute. “It was a pleasure.” The three of us watch as he saunters away, perfect ass hidden by black denim, dreamy looks on all of our faces.
Dear God what was in that whisky?