Page 307 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

I smiled. “So you read tabloids?”

“No. I mean, yes. I thought you looked familiar.” She threw her hand over her mouth. “Wait, your friend that set up the dating profile for you? That was Penny? Penny Penny?”

“Yup.”

“Oh my God, I casually flirted with her because I thought it was you. Chastity is never going to believe this.”

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. No, she didn’t know my friends. But she knewofthem. What if the painting thing somehow got back to them? They’d have a million questions. They’d want to see the portraits. They’d think I was crazy.

“Do you think you could introduce me to them?” she asked.

Shit.“No.” It came out way faster and harsher than I meant for it to.

She bit her lower lip and looked down at the smorgasbord of food on the table. “Right. Sorry. Date from hell and all that?”

“That’s not it.” But honestly, it kind of was.

“Was it because of the bathroom incident? Because I really didn’t mean for you to see me with my shirt off until at least the third date. That’s like some kind of rule, right? I’ve heard that somewhere. Honestly I’m a little shaky on dating rules these days. When is nudity allowed?”

“Um…”

“And we started over. I don’t even think I’ve done anything that weird since coming back out here. Except for the whole admitting that I’m obsessed with your friends thing. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like you too. But I read all about that huge scandal with James and Penny a few years ago. It was all over the news. And then their wedding night? Oh my freaking God! I couldn’t stop watching the news…”

“Yeah, I get it,” I said. “They’re famous.”

She was silent for a moment. “Are you jealous of them or something?”

I laughed. “No.”

“It kinda seems like you’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.” Again, my words came out icier than I meant for them to.

“You’re famous too,” she said. “Matthew Caldwell.” She smiled to herself. “I can’t believe I went on a blind date with you. Such a crazy world. And there’s no need to be jealous of your friends. You’re great too.”

I’m not jealous.Fine, I kind of was. But not of them. Of what they have.

We ate in silence as Ash slowly chewed another chicken finger. Until she started squirming and looked like she couldn’t stand it anymore. “So what do you do at MAC International?” She shook her head. “Sorry, you already said. You’re the CEO. I’m sorry about earlier, but please stop with the silent treatment. It’s driving me crazy.”

I laughed because it had literally been quiet for five seconds tops before she started talking again. “I’m not mad at you. And you’re right. I am a little jealous of them. Of what they have, you know?” This girl was a stranger to me. And I found myself wanting to get all this shit off my chest. I didn’t care if she judgedme. I’d probably never see her again. And she’d certainly never meet any of my friends in person.

“Yeah, I get that. Their lives seem so perfect. True love and all that.”

She sounded like Tanner.

“I hope that one day I can experience that.” She sighed and dropped her chin in her hand. “Don’t you?”

“I have.” I wasn’t sure why I said it. I hadn’t gone on a blind date to talk about Brooklyn. Honestly, I don’t know why the hell I was on a blind date.

“You have? What happened?”

I took a deep breath. What was the worst that could happen if I told her? I might feel better. Maybe worse. Maybe this was just what I needed. A stranger to talk about Brooklyn with. “She passed away.”

“Oh my God, Matt.” She reached across the table to grab my hand. But before she reached me, she knocked over the candle in the center of the table with her elbow. It fell into the olive oil and the whole plate burst into flames. Ash screamed at the top of her lungs. Before I could throw water on the fire, she grabbed the side of the tablecloth, I think to smother the fire. But she pulled too aggressively and flung the fiery oil directly onto my dick.

I don’t know if it was her screaming again or a high-pitched scream came out of my own mouth. I stood up as my pants lit up like a Christmas tree.

Ash grabbed her glass of wine.