THEA
The man was dangerous. If he kept looking at me with those eyes that revealed exactly what he was thinking about, I was going to be in serious trouble. It was hard enough trying to keep all my old feelings from springing back to life. I wasn’t here to flirt with him. We were never, ever getting back together.
This was a business arrangement. Nothing more.
“What do you think of the tartare?” he asked.
“I think I’m going to be full before the meal is served. This is incredible. We’ve only had appetizers and I’m absolutely amazed. It’s all so good.”
“I think it’s safe to say they are going to be a success,” he said and snatched one of the prawns.
“It’s really strange to be watched,” I whispered. “Everyone is staring at us.”
“They’re staring at you,” he corrected. “You look like you belong in a music video.”
“Is that an insult?”
“Not even a little bit,” he replied with that same sexy smile.
The man was making me rethink my opinion about him. I reminded myself I hated him. Those days after our breakup had been horrible. He had shattered my world. It had been the worst day of my life. Second worst. Losing my mom still had the number one spot.
I wanted to ask him about his dad, but the risk of being overheard was too great. I wouldn’t do that to him. Instead, we managed to talk like we were old friends. We avoided anything real or heavy. I avoided talking about my dad just like he avoided talking about his. It was easier that way.
“So, how has the selling of units been going?” I asked casually.
“Good,” he said. “Sold a few more earlier today. Everyone that comes into the sales office is pointed to your shelter. Pretty soon, all your shelter pets are going to be living in my building.”
“I think I know which they prefer,” I said, laughing. “Have you seen Baxter?”
“Who?”
“The elderly dog that was adopted,” I said and then waved my hand. “Never mind. You wouldn’t know. I’m sure all dogs look the same to you.”
“There are big dogs and small dogs. Dogs that bark and dogs that look like they want to kill. That’s how I see dogs.”
“How very nearsighted of you,” I teased.
“But you’re unloading a lot of them?” he asked.
“We are,” I said, nodding. “We even managed to get the parakeets adopted. Several of the kittens already have homes as soon as they are ready to go. I think your little tower is going to be another animal haven.”
“Little tower?” he said.
“I wasn’t talking about your manhood,” I teased.
“Oh, I know that,” he replied. “And so do you.”
We could not talk about sex. I did not want to think about his dick. That was a distant memory that had been locked up and put away for a long time. That was where it would stay. I wasn’t thinking about what it was like to have him over me. In me. All the things. Nope. Not going to do it.
Before we could address the sudden awkward tension, a couple approached us. “Reese,” the man said.
Reese got to his feet and shook the man’s hand. It had been like this since we first sat down. Everyone knew him. Everyone had to stop by the table to congratulate him on the tower or talk about his next project.
I sat back and watched him handle each interaction with grace. He smiled, he made small talk, and he always introduced me a moment before he brought up the shelter. The few people that were genuinely interested in adopting were given a business card. If I had him in the lobby of the shelter every day, I would never have a full kennel again. He was a natural. Everyone loved him.
“You definitely inherited that from your father,” I said.
“Inherited what?” he asked.