4
Carlos
I’m not entirelysure what just happened. A moment ago, she was about to turn me down…I think. Actually, I’m sure she was going to say no. I know rejection when I see it. But something caught her attention. From the way her skin pales, it’s not a good thing. “Caroline?”
Her eyes are wide when she turns in my direction. “He can’t see me here.” Then her cheeks turn a bright red. “Though that explains why he didn’t bother to pick up his son. Selfish son of a bitch.”
She’s angry now. I don’t know what to do. Of all my time keeping drama out of the bar, I have a feeling I’m about to be thrown into it. Whether I like it or not. “Who are you talking about?”
“Him,” Caroline nods in the direction of the couple walking toward the bar. Her movement is small, but it’s just enough to catch the man’s attention. “Damn it. He’s coming this way.”
She’s not wrong. The man looks to be a few years younger than me. There’s something about him that makes me not like him immediately. The woman with him looks like she’s barely out of high school. She’s confused while he looks like a predator who has just latched onto his prey. “Should I go?”
Her hand flies to my leg and squeezes. I guess that’s a no. I look toward the bar to see what the idiots who put me up to this are doing. Both Eric and Angie are pouring drinks, but their eyes are glued to this table. Weighing whether or not they should intervene or keep their distance. I give a quick shake of my head and they nod. Even though they are a pain in the ass, I know I can count on them to understand what I need. Too bad, they’ll never get the joy of seeing me go on a date with the woman beside me.
Caroline’s grip on my leg tightens as the couple approaches the table. She doesn’t say anything, only waits. Her entire body is tense beside me, and I wish I knew the backstory. Why does this man make her so rigid?
“Hello, Caroline.” The man’s voice is smooth and confident as he looks down on us. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“I could say the same,” she forces the words between gritted teeth.
He smirks and pulls the woman beside him closer. “Don’t be upset. I had this dinner meeting set up for weeks. I’m sure David understands.”
“Huh. A meeting?” I don’t miss the way she surveys both of them. The closeness between them or the way his hand is placed firmly on the woman’s hip. It definitely doesn’t look like a dinner meeting to him. It looks like a date. I’m also guessing this is her son’s father.
“Yes.” He takes a step closer to the table. “And who is this?”
I’m not a fan of how he asks the question. Why does it matter who I am? I open my mouth to answer, but Caroline’s nails dig into my leg. Damn this woman has a grip. Even though I know nothing will ever happen between us, I can’t help but envision her nails digging into my back. Her underneath me. I’ve only witnessed this woman from afar, and I already long to have her in my bed.
“This is Carlos,” she’s quiet for one, two, three seconds and adds, “my boyfriend.”
The man’s jaw drops. My face probably looks exactly the same. I literally asked her out minutes ago. Rejection on her tongue before she got distracted, and now she’s claiming I’m her boyfriend. What the fuck just happened?
“I didn’t know you were dating.”
“Well, I am.” Her teeth are gritted as the words slip through them. He’s putting her on edge, and that is not okay. I need to do something to diffuse the situation. Or, at least, get the attention off her. If only for a few moments.
I stand and put my hand out in his direction. “It’s nice to meet you…” I let the words trail off to see if he’ll supply them.
“Nathan.” He grips my hand much harder than necessary to shake it.
I pull my hand back, but I don’t sit down. I’ve served guys like him more times than I can count. They think they are better than you for whatever reason, but really, they’re douchebags who get their jollies off on making people feel small. I will not give him the opportunity by allowing him to look down on me.
“If you don’t mind, Caroline and I would like to get back to our date.” I motion to the woman whose night I most surely ruined when I spilled the drink. Happy to save the day for her, even if it’s taken me by shock. “And I’m sure you’re late for your dinner meeting.”
His body is rigid and I know I’ve hit a nerve. Good. He made Caroline feel like shit and I can’t stand by that. I don’t care that she’s using me to be her pretend boyfriend. Nathan glares at me before stalking away, dragging his date behind him. I kind of feel sorry for her. The night probably isn’t going to end the way she planned.
“Are you okay?” I sit down again. But Caroline eyes are fixed on his retreating figure. “Caroline?”
“What?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
She shakes her head. It’s not an answer. More of a way to loosen her body up after the interaction we just had. I want to talk to her about it, but she doesn’t give me the chance. “I need to go.”
“I’m not sure you should be driving right now.” Besides what will that dirt bag think if he sees her rush out of the bar. “Stay and collect yourself. I’ll bring you a bottle of water.”
“Okay.”