"Yeah."
She rolls her eyes. "Do all men not do that or is that just a Tanner thing?"
I lean forward. "You do realise it's never my intent to use women in the manner you just described, don't you?"
Her eyes widen. "So why have you never settled down with any of the women you've dated? I mean, apart from those five weeks you shacked up with Vanessa."
This is a question I've asked myself on many occasions. "I've come to the conclusion that I pick the wrong women. Juliette is different to any of them. She's different to me."
"Oh, God, it's the thrill of the chase, isn't it? You want some fun before you leave for Europe in two weeks." She madly shakes her head and points at me. "I'm not giving you her number, and I swear, if you go looking for her and screw her around, I will kill you, Tanner Brady." She abruptly pushes her chair back and stands. "I'm going to the bathroom. Maybe you could look around the restaurant and find a woman to flirt with."
I lean back in my chair and watch her walk away. She's wrong. It's not the thrill of the chase where Juliette's concerned. If I called her and all she wanted to do was hang out as friends and talk, I'd be down with that. Even with no promise of anything else, I'd jump at the chance just to spend time with her. And besides, I've cancelled my trip to Europe; Ana just doesn't know that yet.
Her phone vibrates on the other side of the table and I reach across to see who it is. She's been waiting on a call from Kadence and I know she'd be annoyed to miss it. The name on caller ID causes me to tighten my hold on the phone.
I make a snap decision and answer it. "Juliette."
Silence.
And then, "Who is this?" Her voice is all breathy, though, and my gut tells me she knows who it is. Juliette might have tried to hide her attraction to me, but I've chased enough women to know when one is into me.
"It's Tanner."
"Oh… Is Anastasia available?" Her voice remains breathy, and I'm sure I can hear her trying to get it under control.
Totally into me.
"No, you're stuck with me, sweetheart. Tell me something—what are you doing tonight?"
Silence again, before she coughs and says, "I'm, uh, busy. You know, sorting through dresses and stuff for clients, that sort of thing."
I fight the chuckle forcing its way up. "So if a guy asked you to dinner, could that job wait? Or should he come and help you sort through those dresses and stuff?"
"If you're asking me out, Tanner, I'd have to say no because I really do have too much work to do." Her breathing has finally recovered and she's moved back to beast mode. I bet most guys are turned off by the cold tone she takes, but it only serves to turn me on more. If she thinks I'll be discouraged by it, she'll need to think again.
"Tomorrow night, then."
"I'm busy then, too."
"The next night. You can't be working every night."
She sighs. "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested."
"Bullshit. You're more interested in me than a virgin is in getting laid. And if you keep saying no, I'm just going to track you down and drag you to dinner, so you may as well say yes."
I hear her sharp intake of breath, and grin as I begin to think about where I'll take her. "Fine," she mutters. "Tomorrow night. Pick me up at seven. I'll text you the address. And you better make it worth me postponing my work."
I fucking love her fight.
"I think we both know there were no dresses to be sorted through tonight." I can't let her off that easily. This is too much fun.
"Really? You're going to argue with me before you even get me to dinner?" I decide beast mode is my new favourite.
I can't hide the smile in my voice or keep it off my face. "Sweetheart, just wait and see what I have planned for you at dinner."
"Oh, I can just imagine. Now, I really do need to talk to Anastasia, so can you please get her to call me back?"
"Once I have your text with your address, I will pass on the message," I say before rattling off my phone number. She ends the call and I place Ana's phone back on her side of the table.
This week just got a whole lot better.
★★★
Fuck me.
I have to restrain myself when Juliette opens her front door to me for our date the next night. Her beauty is exquisite and effortless. She's wearing a simple dark blue dress that sits just above her knee. It's classy as hell and I have a new appreciation for dresses that don't reveal a lot. My imagination is in overdrive—something that happens rarely these days with a woman.
I let my gaze linger on her flawless face as I reach to move a strand of hair out of her eyes. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you." Beast mode seems to have disappeared, but I still detect some hesitation.
Cocking my head to the side, I say, "Are you still annoyed at me?"
"For forcing me on a date?" I love how she doesn't beat around the bush.