They all looked at me, horrified.
“Bryce. That’s the one. That was a one-night wonder.” I smiled. “Besides, Alexander is still a chauvinist pig who decided to screw some other girl while supposedly in a relationship with me. I spent three days at home eating chocolate and crying, and now I’m over it. It’s been eighteen months. To be honest, I’m over men for a while. Serious ones, at least.”
“Well, my Tim would never do that to me. He adores me.” Katya ran her hand over the ring again.
He’d be hard-pressed to find a girl to cheat with him, with a penis that small.
“Hey Katya, are diamonds supposed to be that sparkly?” I asked.
She pulled her hand to her chest, shielding the ring with her other hand. “What do you mean?”
“Are you sure that’s not a cubic zirconia? I’d go and get that checked if I were you.”
Her nose twitched, and she sucked her lower lip in, that little seed of uncertainty seeming to grow as she stared at me.
I laughed. “I’m just kidding. Of course it’s a diamond. Tim wouldn’t do anything less.”
The waiter appeared with the same kind of wine we’d been buying from here for as long as I could remember, and I smiled at the glass as he poured it for me, catching glimpses of Katya out of the corner of my eye as she stared at the ring on her finger.
I shouldn’t have been so bitchy, but it was hard not to. I hadn’t fallen in love with Alexander’s money. He was gorgeous, and for just a little while we’d been blissfully happy. Until he’d wrecked everything.
For them to think I would ever take him back was insulting. Why should I put up with that kind of behaviour? He’d broken my heart.
I barely paid attention as the waiter took the food order, Katya taking control as always. I stared at my wine glass, twirling it so the golden liquid swished around, taking care not to let it splash too much.
Taking a sip, I looked around the table. The other three were in animated conversation, not noticing that I wasn’t taking part in it.
The food didn’t take long to arrive. Apparently we’d all ordered salad, and I grimaced as I stared at it. What was I doing? The memory of the bacon sandwich three mornings ago brought a smile to my lips. It had been so messy, and possibly one of the best things I’d ever eaten. I had come here once a month for so long, and always had the same thing, the same boring thing. To my left was the same salad, to my right was the same salad. I was surrounded by the same damn salad.
I waved down the waiter and he approached me, one of his eyebrows raised. Our usual afternoon was for the four of us to sit and talk, taking up valuable seats in this swanky place while the waiters hovered, ready to pounce and clear the table the second we were gone.
“Do you have something with bacon in it? Oh, and fries.”
His eyes darted at the others and back to me. I hadn’t looked, but I could only imagine the expressions of horror on their faces.
“The Caesar salad has bacon in it.” He smiled, and I looked back down at my plate.
“No. I want something that doesn’t have all this green stuff. I want something that’s going to give me a big fatty rush. Do you have anything like that?”
He adjusted his tie, shaking his head, clearly uncomfortable.
“What do you have that I’ll regret eating later? Maybe because I’m so bloated I can’t move?”
“We do have a filet mignon steak with a very creamy sauce. It comes with crispy potatoes.”
I grinned. “That, please. Sounds amazing. Medium rare, please. If it comes with salad, I don’t want it. I think I’ve had enough.”
Silence surrounded me as I tucked my napkin into my shirt. Knowing my luck, if there was creamy sauce it would end up all over me. I looked up to see my three friends gaping at me in utter disbelief.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Katya said.
“I feel like something different.”
She went back to picking at her salad, and the other two followed suit while I waited for my steak.
The aroma of onion and garlic made my stomach grumble. The food might be expensive here, but it was worth every penny. Thankfully it wasn’t one of those fine-dining places that had tiny meals for a million dollars, so at least my steak would be decent.
In fact, I was pretty sure I drooled as my meal approached the table, dripping in creamy saucy goodness. The scent of red meat had my tastebuds watering.
I savoured each succulent slice, acutely aware that the others were watching me.
“Oh my God, you guys. You need to try this. It’s amazing.”
One by one they screwed up their faces, still watching as I lowered the fork and then raised it again with each bite.
“Live a little.” Gemma looked horrified as I spoke with my mouth full.
When I was finished and the waiter came over to see if we needed the table cleared, I asked for the dessert menu.
* * *
Bloated and content, it was time to pay the bill and leave. As we walked out the door, Gemma grabbed my arm. “Look.”
My stomach plunged as I spotted someone familiar climbing out of his car, and it wasn’t from all the food I’d just eaten. Alexander walked around his SUV, opening the passenger door for a blonde woman, who flung her arms around his neck as soon as she stood. I’d cried as many tears as I could for him, but it still hurt.
“Is that the woman you caught him with?” Nicola asked.
I shook my head. “No, I’m sure he’s been busy with several women since then.”
She rubbed my back. It didn’t help.
Alexander turned toward the restaurant and spotted me, the smile falling off his face as our gazes locked. I looked away, changing direction and heading to the right, where my car was parked.
“Turns out there are other benefits to this place,” Nicola said, pulling on my arm to direct my attention across the street. I didn’t notice what she was pointing out at first. JP Motors. It looked like just another car yard. When did she get that excited about cars?
And then I spotted him, sponge in hand, bubbles everywhere as he soaped up the car. A dirty blond Adonis if ever I saw one, the deep tan in his skin glistening in the sunlight from the water that covered his chest. When I raised my eyes above his abs, which took a lot of effort, I found myself looking into familiar blue eyes.
Elliot.
The moment recognition hit him, his face lit up and he grinned, my stomach lurching so much I thought I was going to hurl that big fatty lunch I’d just consumed.
“Rebecca,” he called, waving at me, as I blushed and gave a little wave back.
“You know him?” Gemma asked, her eyebrows wiggling slightly as she stared at me.
“He’s my neighbour.”
“Just imagine hooking up with him. Gorgeous, and you’d get a new car every year.” She giggled behind her hand, and I looked away as I rolled my eyes. How on earth would you ever draw the conclusion that the man cleaning the cars owned the lot?
“He’s cleaning the cars, Gemma, he doesn’t own them.”
Her jaw dropped and if Katya’s nose could tilt any higher, it would probably have leapt from her face.
“Oh.” Gemma looked at the ground.
“I don’t think that matters,” Nicola said. “Turn around.”
When I turned, Alexander was staring at me. He’d come to a stop outside the restaurant entrance and held the door for his date as he watched.
I smirked and turned my attention back to Elliot, this time raising my arm and waving it like a crazy person. His laugh echoed across the car park, and he shook his head as he went back to soaping up the car.
“See you next month, girls,” I said brightly, blowing them kisses as I climbed into my car. In the rear-view mirror, I could see Alexander still standing there, the woman he was with frowning as he watched me back the car and drive out onto the road.
She was welcome to him, but getting that reaction was priceless.
Today ha
d turned out pretty damn good.
Chapter Four
In the evening at home, the cupboards were empty, and I opened each one just to double check if any food had magically appeared. I’d clearly forgotten to go grocery shopping again.
Maybe I should employ someone to take care of me.
Actually, that wasn’t the most stupid idea I’ve ever had.
I already had someone who mowed the lawn and tidied the garden. I was glad I never did as Alexander suggested and employed a housekeeper. He probably would have screwed her too. Maybe I needed a nanny for myself.
Giggling at the thought, I walked out to the back door. Someone was barbecuing out there, and the smell was amazing. I could go and get a burger. That’d fill the gap. There shouldn’t be a gap after what I ate for lunch, but that smell was alluring, and I stood on the back deck sniffing the air, glad that no one was around to see me.
The yard felt so empty. There was a swimming pool just past the deck, fenced off and dry as a bone. I'd drained it so long ago when the upkeep got to be too much hassle. I hadn't been using it. Maybe I should get it pulled out, do something different with the space.
“Rebecca.”
I froze, slowly turning my head to the left where the voice had come from, and spotted Elliot on the deck next door, barbecue hood open and flipping something as if the activity was a fine art.
“Hey again.” I waved and turned to go back inside.
“Want some?”
I looked back over at him and he pointed at the hotplate. His offer was tempting, but I wasn’t sure about encouraging him.
“I’m just going out for something to eat. Maybe I’ll see you later,” I said.
He turned toward me, stepping off the deck and walking to the fence line. “ What a coincidence, I’m making something to eat. Want a burger?”
Damn it. He read my mind. It did smell good.
Maybe.
“Do you have enough for one extra?”
Elliot grinned. “Sure. I’m cooking burger patties for Nan. I’m the one having steak and there’s plenty. She struggles a bit much eating it with her false teeth.”
I grinned. “Only if you’re sure. I’m happy to go for a drive.”
He turned back toward the barbecue, and I took a deep breath watching him. That man had serious swagger. I was so busy watching him, I didn’t see his grandmother come out of the house.
“Hello, dear,” she called out.
“Hi.” I waved at her. I’d been in this house a few years now, but kept to myself for the most part. I had seen her tending to her roses, fussing over the brightly coloured plants, and envied her quiet life. Mine wasn’t hectic most of the time, but work could get busy, and I was good at not stopping to take a break from everything.
“Meet you at your front door in ten minutes,” Elliot called, and I nodded, walking back toward the house.
Distracted by those warm fuzzy feelings from his kindness, I wasn’t watching where I was going and tripped, stumbling back in the house. I looked over my shoulder. Elliot’s grandmother was on her way back into the house, Elliot was watching the food cooking. Whew. No making an idiot of myself today, thank you.
I sat down on a recliner chair in the living room, twiddling my thumbs while I waited for a knock on the door. There was no reason for me to be nervous, but my heart was racing at the thought of spending time with Elliot. Especially after the view I’d gotten this afternoon.
Closing my eyes, I could see him in my mind, those big soapy bubbles running down the car, his chest dripping wet from the water splashing. I moved my hands to my thighs, gripping the fabric of my long skirt, tugging at the hem. Seeing him like that made me ache to be touched with those hands that squeezed the sponge and …
Tap, tap, tap.
I sat up straight, the spell broken. Get it together, Rebecca. Taking a deep breath, I rose, smoothing my skirt down, wondering idly how quickly I could slip my clothing off. You know, if necessary.
Elliot stood on the other side of the door, large serving platter in hand, with four burgers, lavishly made with meat and lettuce and tomato, and holy cow they looked good. So did he with that big smile, glowing as if he’d won the lottery. My mouth watered, and it wasn’t just from the food.
He was dressed far more tidily than he had been when I'd first met him, a white collared shirt buttoned to the throat and black jeans. Yummy enough to eat too.
“Come in,” I said, standing back to let him in.
He walked toward the kitchen.
“Don’t worry about that, just put the plate down on the coffee table. Want a drink? I think there's a bottle of Coke in the fridge. I'll grab it” I tried so hard not to babble, but the words all came tumbling out in one big long sentence. Elliot just grinned even more and turned, placing the platter on the coffee table.
“Sounds great.”
“Take a seat. I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll grab a couple of plates too. Your grandmother not joining us?”
"Coronation Street is on. Nothing can drag her away from that."
As I entered the kitchen, I took a deep breath. This wasn’t a date. It was my neighbour looking out for me, just as he'd made sure I was safe the other night. He wasn’t interested, right? Even if he was, I wasn’t ready for anything new. Not after having just today announced I’d sworn off men for a while.
I grabbed a couple of dinner plates and set them on the bench. Tucking two drinking glasses under my arm, I grabbed the Coke bottle from the fridge, picked up the plates in my other hand and set back to the living room.
Elliot sat on the couch, looking as if he were at home, leaning back and looking around.
“You’ve got a really nice place.”
“Thanks,” I said, placing the plates and glasses down.
“And hey.” He waved at the food. “This is a peace offering. I must have scared the crap out of you the other morning and I’m sorry. This neighbourhood is so quiet I have trouble sleeping sometimes, and hearing you out there intrigued me. It scared me to see you leave the front door wide open.”
I shrugged. “I was pretty drunk. I still don’t think that you should have come in, let alone help yourself to food from my fridge.”
He blushed, and I held my breath. Holy crap that was cute. “I know. I just felt like I should take care of you if no one else was going to.”
Maybe I should have been more angry than I was, but I was grateful that he’d looked out for me, and thankful that no one else had wandered past, seen the door open and come in. I’d put myself in danger by being careless.
“I appreciate it.”
“I couldn’t let anything bad happen to you when I was right next door. I’d never have been able to live with myself.”
We just looked at each other for a moment. I wasn’t one to be lost for words, but right now he’d left me more touched than anyone had in a long time.
“How about we eat these burgers before they get cold.” My voice wavered as I spoke, and I passed him a plate, wanting to shove the food in my mouth, as much to find something else to do other than talk as to abate my hunger. My stomach grumbled at the smell.
Out of the four burgers on the plate, we both went for the same one, and our fingers smacked together.
“Sorry.” I laughed.
“This must be the best looking one. You take it.” He grinned, the heat in my cheeks rising at the way he was looking at me. So earnest. And young. How much younger than me was he?
I almost felt bad for thinking such carnal thoughts about him.
“Thanks.” I took the burger, sinking my teeth into it and sighing at the mixture of beef and cheese. None of the other stuff mattered; that was what made me happy today.
“Good, then?” Elliot waggled his eyebrows at me, and I laughed, still with a mouth full of food. He grinned that stellar smile. “I’m glad. I like a woman who enjoys her food.”
I swallowed the first bite, laughing again. “It’s a recent development. I also literally have
nothing in the cupboards.”
“Happy to help.” He took a bite, closing his eyes as he chewed, a look of blissful surrender on his face. “Damn, that’s good. I should have made fries to go with these.”
“They would have been great, but I’ve been a bit of a pig today. It’s probably just as well you didn’t make them.”
He laughed, waving his burger in the air. “I love this kinda thing. If we're going to hang out together, you’d better get used to them.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Hang out together?”
Elliot shrugged. “I guess I should have asked you if you have a boyfriend. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
My stomach flipped, and I let out a large breath with a sigh. “No, no boyfriend.” I leaned back in the chair. “I got burned badly by the last one.”
He frowned. “What happened? Shit. I guess it’s none of my business.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind talking about it now. It really sucked, but I caught him with his pants down. Literally.”
The look on his face brought a smile to my lips. His jaw dropped and he gaped at me. “Wow. How could anyone do that to you? You’re gorgeous.”
That did it. I dropped the burger on my plate, and attempted to hide the blush on my cheeks with my hands.
“I mean, what a dick,” he said.
I grinned, nodding like an idiot. “I poured drinks over him. Icy-cold Fanta shrivels things pretty quickly.”
Elliot laughed. “I bet it does. And I bet that felt good.”
“It did. He still broke my heart though.”
He looked down at his plate. “I could never do that. Who cheats on someone they’re supposed to love?”
His sincerity brought tears to my eyes. Finding a truly good man was hard, and I’d thought I had one once.
Now I knew I was looking at one.
There was only one thing to do after eating so much at lunch and then again at dinner. Sleep.
I don’t even remember Elliot leaving. The last thing I recall was the heaviness of my eyes as they tried so desperately to close on me, the television so hard to watch.
The Right One Page 2