But then I opened my door to find that he had changed into clothes more appropriate for working out and wore his baseball cap backwards; it kind of did me in. I didn’t know why I found that so attractive, but I was a sucker for a man who wore his hat like that. Not to mention the tight, long-sleeved t-shirt that showed he had a muscled chest.
“Darlin’.” He grinned.
I knew the darlin’ meant nothing—he called every woman that. “Hi.”
He peeked his head in my apartment. “Cozy.” He eyed Jasper, perched on the back of my couch. “A cat?”
“You don’t like cats?” I had to pretend I didn’t know since I was sure he wouldn’t be happy to find out I had pulled up his profile at work.
“What’s there to like?”
“Besides their adorableness?”
His brow crinkled. “I’m adorable. Cats are evil creatures that do nothing besides leave cat hair all over your clothes.” He looked over my sweater and jeans.
I always made sure I never left the house with any kind of pet hair on me. “I guess that’s our cue to go.”
“You’re not going to try and convince me otherwise?”
I nudged him out of the way so I could close my door and lock it. “Why should I?”
His eyes narrowed. “Every woman I’ve known who’s loved her pet always had a laundry list on the tip of her tongue to throw at me when I informed her of my dislike for the filthy things. Even Kenadie.”
I shrugged and locked my deadbolt. “I guess Kenadie and I don’t have everything in common. Pets are a personal choice.”
“Huh.” He sounded skeptical. He clapped his hands together. “Are you ready to have the best barbecue you’ve ever had?”
“Maybe second best.” I grinned.
“Second best?”
“I grew up on a cattle ranch. I know barbecue. My dad has a wall full of blue ribbons for his beef brisket.”
“Well, cowgirl, I’m going to show you how we do barbecue in the South. And you may change your tune.”
“I doubt it, city slicker.”
He laughed. “You’re a little feistier than I thought you would be.”
“Does that disappoint you?”
“On the contrary. I dig it.”
He showed me to his new black sports car. It even gleamed at night. He had gone on and on about it in the office last month when he’d bought it. He headed straight for the driver’s side.
“The rumor about southern gentleman isn’t true?” I stood at the passenger door, wrapping my arms around my chilled self in the late October air.
He tilted his head from across the car. “Do you want me to warm you up or open your door?”
“Opening my door would accomplish both.”
He shook his head as he walked over. “Feisty and high maintenance.”
“Now what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t expect the best from you?”
“The pretend kind.”
“I pretend really well.”
He entered my space and leaned in. “Is that so, darlin’?”
I breathed in his fresh laundered scent and minty breath. “You’ll see.”
His eyes widened before he opened my door.
I took my seat in the pristine vehicle. It still looked and smelled like he had just driven it off the lot. I didn’t know if I had ever been in such a fancy car before. It had more buttons and shiny screens in it than I figured were necessary. But what did I know? I drove an old 4X4 Toyota truck that had been passed down from my older brother.
He joined me on the driver’s side.
“Nice car.” I continued to look around it.
“Nice? You better think of a new adjective.” He turned on the car and it purred almost as well as Jasper.
“My brothers would call it a sissy car.”
“What?” He stepped on the gas and zipped between the cars on the road.
I was sure he was going well over the speed limit.
And for some reason, every time he accelerated or wove in and out of traffic, he would look my way. “Does this bother you?”
I sat back, relaxed. “Like I said, I grew up with brothers on a ranch. It takes a lot more than that to scare me.”
He eased off the accelerator. Disappointment washed over his features.
“Why did you slow down?”
“It’s no fun if it doesn’t bother you. Kenadie would be gripping the door by now, screaming at me to take it easy.”
“I guess her brothers never drag raced with her down Main Street or played chicken with their trucks out in the hay fields.” I thought of Colton and Lincoln. The Dawson brothers, as they were known. Trouble makers with hearts of gold. At least when it came to their sister, and now Colton’s bride, Savannah.
“Where did you grow up?”
“In a small town in Star Valley, Wyoming.”
“People actually live in Wyoming?”
“Maybe not as many people as antelope, but yes.”
He chuckled some. “What brought you here?”
“School.” I gave him the easy answer.
“Where did you graduate?”
I stared out my window. “Um. I have one semester left.” I’d had to drop out full-time a few years ago when things at the ranch took a downturn. I’d been taking a class here and there trying to finish my exercise and wellness degree.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
He did a double take. “I didn’t realize you were that young.” He obviously didn’t look at my profile at work. I was only five years younger than him, but he did have an affinity for older women.
“Is that a problem?”
He thought about it for a second. “Young hot babe on my arm? It could work.”
He thought I was a babe? Most guys called me cute. “I still don’t understand why you need a fake girlfriend.”
“Because, darlin’, I’m particular about the kind of women I want approaching me.”
“So you want a deterrent?”
“I want the ability to choose.”
“But if a woman thinks you have a girlfriend and you ask her out, doesn’t that turn her off?”
“You don’t know women very well, do you?”
“Apparently not the skanky men-stealing ones.”
He busted out laughing. “You and Kenz have to be related.”
“We both don’t like tramps?”
He reached over and smoothed my hair like I had seen him do a hundred times to Kenadie. I had to force myself not to shiver from the touch.
“I don’t date tramps. The right woman will know that what’s between you and me isn’t real.”
“I still don’t remember agreeing.”
“I’m not worried, darlin’.”
I shook my head, sat back, and enjoyed the ride. What was it about this man?
Chapter Three
The barbecue restaurant was crowded, with dozens of flat-screen TVs plastering the walls.
I scanned the TVs in hopes of finding . . . “Oh, good, they have the Jazz game on.” I settled in my seat. And no, Zander did not pull out my chair for me. “I bet my brother Lincoln twenty bucks they were going to beat the Nuggets tonight.”
“You’re a basketball fan?”
“Pretty much a fan of any sport.”
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Football. I’m a huge Denver Bronco’s fan. I was so bummed Peyton Manning retired, but I’m glad he got to go out on a high note.”
“It was a great game, even though I was rooting for the Panthers.”
I grimaced. “Cam Newton is such a cry baby. And what is that dabbing thing he’s always doing?”
“You mean this?” Zander demonstrated.
“It’s ridiculous.”
“Now, darlin’, those are fighting words in the South.”
“Bring it on.”
His eyes were full of amusement. “I think you and I will get along just fine.”
I tucked my hair behind
my ear. “We’ll see.”
He turned his gaze from me to the male server that came to take our drinks. Zander ordered a beer before I had a chance to say anything.
“Water. Thank you.” I smiled at the handsome server who gave me a wink.
“Water?”
“What’s wrong with water?”
“It’s Friday night. Get a beer or order a cocktail.”
I met his gorgeous eyes. “I don’t drink.”
He leaned back in his seat. “Are you joking?”
I shook my head. “My mom was killed by a drunk driver when I was fourteen.” I did my best not to get emotional about it. Or to think about the snowy day twelve years ago when my life forever changed. I think it was then my dad made up his mind that I would never grow up and call Addison home. He sent me away as soon as I graduated from high school.
Zander took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair before replacing the ball cap. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. How could you have known? And besides, do you know how many calories are in beer?” I smiled to let him know I really was okay.
He patted what I’m sure was a six-pack of abs. “It’s all in how you go about it. But, if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t drink. I’m always responsible when I drive.”
“I appreciate that, but I have no problem calling a cab or a friend to come pick me up if I feel like you’re anything but capable of driving safely.” It wouldn’t be the first time I had left a date and taken their keys.
“I don’t doubt that about you.”
“Anyway, let’s move on. Tell me about your family.”
He shrugged. “Not much to tell. My parents are retired and live in Florida. My brother Quinn and his wife, along with my niece and nephew, live in Australia, so we don’t see them much.”
“Australia? Have you been to visit?”
“Nah. My sister-in-law, Jessa, is a nut job.”
“Ouch. Does she know you feel that way?”
“I’ve expressed it a time or two.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
He grinned. “I tell it like it is.”
“How does your brother feel about that?”
“He knows he married a train wreck. But what can he do about it now?”
“I guess he didn’t use Binary Search to find his soulmate?”
“He was married long before Kenadie started her company. And even her system isn’t foolproof. People and circumstances change. We don’t guarantee happily-ever-afters. And I don’t buy into soulmates.”
I had to hold back my question when our server returned with our drinks and to take our order. On Zander’s recommendation, I ordered the beef brisket, knowing full well it wasn’t going to be anywhere near as good as Dad’s. He ordered pulled pork over a baked potato and a glass of water.
I didn’t say anything about the water other than to smile at him. Besides, I had other questions. “If you don’t believe in soulmates, what do you believe in?”
He grinned like that was an easy answer. “Beautiful women and having as much fun with as many of them as I can.”
I rolled my eyes.
“That’s Kenz’s reaction.”
“You never want to settle down?”
He focused on a hockey game playing on a screen near us. “Thought about it once, but I got over it.”
“Kenadie?”
His gaze penetrated me. “You’re observant. But it’s all for the best. I’m not the settling down type and Kenz deserves someone like Jason.”
“What about Brooke?”
“She was a lapse in judgement.”
Something on the screen caught my eye and I ignored my handsome pseudo date. I was glad I did too. The prettiest half-court shot was made. I cheered loudly. “Oh my gosh did you see that?” I stood up out of my chair to watch the replay of it. “Amazing.” I sat back down to Zander staring at me. I bit my lip. “I get a little excitable when my teams play.”
His gorgeous green eyes looked alive as he leaned toward me over the small table for two. “What else excites you?” His tone was low and seductive.
Judging by the way my insides were dancing and the need to catch my breath, I would say he excited me. I leaned in too. “Now, if I revealed that on our first pretend date, what kind of girl would I be?”
He arched his eyebrow perfectly. “Are you trying to excite me?”
I gave him a flirty shrug and went right back to watching the game.
Our food arrived and Zander seemed eager for me to taste the brisket. He watched my first bite.
I let the flavor sink into my taste buds before I chewed and swallowed.
“You have to admit that was the best beef brisket you ever had.”
“I’ll give you that it was good, but it wasn’t fantastic.”
“I think you’re biased.”
“If I had a grill, I would show you what you’ve been missing out on.”
“If a grill is the only thing standing in your way, I’ll borrow Jason’s and bring it over, just to prove you wrong.”
“Challenge accepted. Name the day.”
“I’ll have to let you know.” He sounded so mysterious. I got the feeling he held part of himself back, which I didn’t expect.
“I’ll be ready whenever.”
“I have to admit, you’re more fun than I thought you would be.”
“I’m not sure how to take that.”
“You hold your own. I like it.”
“I can live with that.”
“How would you feel about ice cream?”
“Ice cream?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be ready to say goodnight when dinner is over.”
“I like ice cream.”
“Then I know a place.”
~*~
I couldn’t believe he was taking me to have ice cream with Kenadie and her mom. And I guess her mom’s friends. Those must have been the biddies Kenadie mentioned to me earlier. Zander said that he and Kenadie called them the Nanettes after Kenadie’s mom, Nanette Marshall. The ladies had been friends since high school, according to Zander.
I thought about my best friends back home, Krista and Bernadette. They were both married now, living the life dad begged me not to have. He always said my mom worked too hard and she never had the life she truly deserved. She seemed happy to me, working side-by-side with the man she loved, raising three rowdy kids she loved more than anything. So maybe we never had fancy cars or expensive vacations, but my brothers and I were happy and we knew we were loved. And like mom said, hard work never killed anyone. Except maybe her. She was killed making her once-a-month trip to Salt Lake City to stock up on food and supplies. Every month she made that seven-hour round-trip drive, usually by herself. She said she liked to be alone with her thoughts every once in a while. I couldn’t think about it.
I smiled over at Zander driving the speed limit to Flowery Branch where he and Kenadie grew up. “What did you study in school?” I hated asking questions I already knew the answers to, but I couldn’t admit to prying.
“I have a master’s degree in Mathematics Education.”
“Maybe you can help me with the statistics class I’m taking.”
“You’re in school now?”
“I’m taking two classes online at the moment. I hope to have my degree by the end of next summer.”
“What are you studying?”
“Exercise and wellness.”
“What can you do with that degree?”
“Well, what do you do with a master’s in mathematics?”
He grinned. “I would have been a fantastic teacher, but this gig pays a lot more.” I was sure he made more money than me. I think he was Kenadie’s silent partner as well as a personal relationship manager.
“You were really going to be a teacher?”
“That surprises you?”
“Kind of, yeah.”
He gave me quick glance and sly look. “I’m glad I’m not
the only one surprised tonight.”
As we drove through the small town where Kenadie and Zander grew up, I found it hard to believe such a storybook place ever produced Zander. He looked like he was born living in a high rise. But his slight southern drawl seemed to fit the little shops and quaint atmosphere of Flowery Branch. Shasta’s, the ice cream shop, fit the small town to a tee. It reminded me of home.
“Are you sure Kenadie and her mom won’t mind the intrusion?”
Zander parked his car between two large trucks. It was the only space available. “Are you kidding? They love me. Can’t get enough of me.”
I think he was telling the truth. “I guess we better not keep you from your adoring fans any longer.” I opened my car door.
I heard him laugh as he exited the car.
We met around the back of his car and walked in together.
“Is this place always this busy?”
Zander nodded. “Usually on the weekends.”
“Did you like growing up here?”
He shrugged. “It was all right.” He didn’t sound all that impressed, but I didn’t ask him to elaborate.
I was a little nervous about crashing the party. I liked Kenadie, but she intimidated me. I had never seen her outside the office. Not to mention I knew Zander had feelings for her and was comparing me to her.
Zander opened the door for me and a bell jangled. He placed his hand on my lower back and inched me forward through the crowded shop that looked like a throwback to the fifties, kind of like the town. “Just be yourself. The Nanettes are going to eat you up.”
I was surprised he recognized I was having second thoughts. But I guess I shouldn’t have been. He really did know how to read people. I gave him a small smile and right away recognized Kenadie and her fiancé, Jason. I didn’t know he would be here as well.
Zander was right about his adoring fans. The older women at the table reminded me of a show my mom used to watch, The Golden Girls. Kenadie’s mom reminded me of Blanche, not that she was promiscuous, but she was spunky and beautiful for a woman of any age. The table erupted in delight when we approached. All the older women’s eyes lit up when they saw Zander, but they widened when they noticed me by his side.
“Ladies, this is Meg Dawson. She works with us,” Zander introduced me.
Before I could say hi, I noticed Kenadie give Zander a shrewd look—she didn’t like that we were there together. But Jason gave me a friendly smile.
[Dating by Design 02.0] Statistically Improbable Page 2