Page 47 of Accidental Blind Date

Libby lets out a disbelievingmmand starts to walk away. But before she can, I grab her by the arm and twist her around, like a smooth move in a swing dance, and before she sees it coming, I am holding her against me.

“Don’t…play with fire,” I say.

But Libby doesn’t waver. “I should be saying the same thing to you.”

“How so?” I ask, still holding her in place.

“I’m not stupid, Daxton. I know I’m not the only woman you’ve involved yourself with recently. And I’m not here to get played. I won’t be the next girl you use and toss aside before moving onto the next. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m working.”

So, she has seen my phone. Still, it doesn’t mean she knows what she’s talking about. Unfortunately, I won’t go there. I can’t. So, I let her go. And just as I do, my phone goes off. I pull it outand pinch my eyes shut, knowing full well she saw it that time too.

Poppy.

Of course.

My fucking life.

Chapter 14

Libby

Idon’t know whether to be annoyed with this Poppy person or whether to give her a metaphoric high five. Either way, the timing was perfect.

And a little upsetting.

Because at the end of the day, I’m not just being paranoid or clingy. The man is literally barging into my shop, tongue fucking me into an oblivion, and then moving onto the next. Which is bullshit.

And that’s also why I am fucking with him right now. And doing a good job of it, if I do say so myself. After the book club is over, I meet Joni for dinner. Apparently her husband and all the littles are having a Mario Kart marathon, and she is one slippery banana away from losing her mind. It works for me because I am one hard hat clad man away from losing mine.

We meet at an all you can indulge in sushi bar which is beyond perfect. Only after our cocktails hit the table and our boat of sushi rolls is ordered do we dig in, both to the food and the gossip.

“So, this dick barges into your shop, unannounced, and proceeds to–” she widens her eyes to fill in the blank, “but before finishing the job, he gets a call–”

“From another woman,” I add.

“And then just zips up and leaves? Jesus. Like that is bottom rung low.”

“I know!” I say as I dress a tuna roll with ginger and extra wasabi and pop it in my mouth. “All I can say is I am done with him.”

“Are you? For real this time? Because you did say that the first time.”

I nod my head and swallow, the chopsticks poised in my fingers as I point at her. “Oh, believe me. I am done with a capital D.”

“Because he withheld his capital D. Such a…”

“Capital D,” I say, and we both laugh.

At least, I suppose I am able to laugh. Even though my heart needs a little more vodka to fully feel better about the situation. Joni, being my best friend, can tell.

“I think what you need is a rebound.”

“What?” I bark out.

“Yeah. Hear me out. Another guy is definitely the perfect remedy here.”

“But I don’t want to get laid,” I state just as the waiter walks by. I smile, blush, and go on. “I wasn’t even looking for what happened last night. Which is why it was so annoying.”

“I’m not talking about getting laid. I’m talking about getting even,” she waggles her eyebrows, and I take another bite, chewing thoughtfully.