“I’m sure he just got caught up at work,” I said with a small smile. “He’s a busy guy.”
“I’m a very busy guy, but look where I am right now,” he said seriously, and I started to feel my heart sinking a little. What was he trying to say? That TJ didn’t respect me or my time? He was only five minutes late. But then as I thought about it, I wondered if he was late when he went on real dates. I bet he was early for women he wanted to go out with. Women he really liked. I was just his fake fiancée, the girl he was fucking. He didn’t really care about me. I wondered how he treated the women he really cared for. I could feel my stomach churning as my thoughts immediately turned negative.
“Hey, you okay, Mila?” Will leaned forward. “I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”
“Sorry, what?” I asked him, blinking, trying to get rid of the heavy feeling that had hit me.
“Maybe work was just really busy,” he said. “I mean, if he has you waiting around a lot, maybe he doesn’t care as much as you hope. A woman like you deserves a man that’s going to put her above everything else.”
“Thank you,” I said with a small smile, looking at my watch and realizing that TJ was actually fifteen minutes late instead of five minutes late.
“I know you don’t know me,” Will said, and I watched as he pulled his wallet out of his pocket. “But if it doesn’t work out with this guy, or you want to talk to me or let me take you out for a drink, give me a call at this number.” He pulled a card out and handed it to me. “I’d love to take you for a drink. Show you how a gentleman treats his lady. I, for one, wouldn’t have you waiting.”
“Oh, wow, thanks.” I held his card in my hand and looked down at it awkwardly. How did one respond to that? And where was TJ?
“Mila.” TJ’s voice was loud behind me and it made me jump.
“TJ?” I said, looking at him with narrowed eyes and a red face, like I’d been caught red-handed with my hand in the cookie jar.
“What’s going on?” He frowned and looked at the card in my hand and then at Will.
“I was just keeping Mila company.” Will stood up, nodded at TJ and then looked back down at me. “It was a pleasure making your acquaintance tonight, Mila. Please call me if I can ever take you out for a drink.”
“Thank you,” I squeaked out and I could feel TJ’s eyes on me. I looked up at him and gave him a quick smile, but he just frowned at me, his eyes narrowed as he watched Will going back to his seat.
“Making new friends already?” he said as he sat down. “Looking for someone new?”
“TJ, we were just talking.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t being stupid.”
“I’m not being stupid.” He pursed his lips. “Do you know what you want to order or did you even bother to look at the menu.”
“I think I’m going to get a steak. And lobster. And oysters. And caviar. And lots of champagne,” I said sweetly and then smiled. “You can afford it.”
“Funny,” he said as he looked at me, but I saw that he wasn’t able to keep a smile off of his face.
“That’s me, one funny girl.” I grinned at him, determined to not let him ruin my good mood. I stared at his handsome face, so serious as he sat there in his smart business suit. His eyes looked at me searchingly, with a glint of judgment as if he were telling me off for talking with Will. A part of me was delighted that he appeared to be jealous. Another part of me was annoyed that he was going to be acting like a bit of an ass, just because I was being friendly to another guy. It wasn’t like I wanted the other guy. All I could think about was TJ.
“Yes, one funny, sexy girl,” he said and I felt his hand reach down and grab my knee under the table and his fingers started running up and down my calf.
“What’re you doing, TJ?” My eyes widened as I gazed at him.
“Nothing.” He grinned as his fingers moved up my legs again and he pushed against my inner thigh to gain access. I squeezed my legs together closer in response.
“TJ.” I pursed my lips at him. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?” he asked, a wry smile on his face as he pushed harder between my legs and they fell apart slightly. His fingers took immediate advantage of the movement and they ran up and down my inner thigh under my skirt. I held my breath as they drew dangerously high.
“You know what?” I frowned at him. “You just got here. Stop it.”
“Stop what?” He laughed and then looked away from me as a waitress approached the table.
“Hi, I’m Madeline. I’ll be taking care of you today.”