Page 78 of It's Not PMS, It's You

“I’ve already started ignoring you.”

“I’m okay with that as long as you pay attention to your date and the con job he’s pulling over on you.”

Con job? Right. I wasn’t born yesterday.

I flipped back around and glanced over toward the sushi prep area, hoping the food would be coming soon.

Edward returned and sat, gesturing back to the bathroom like he had done before. “They have the best soap here. Youhave tosmell my hands.” He held his hands in my direction.

I waved Edward off. “That’s quite all right. I believe you. You own the Bathroom Remodel Warehouse on Miramar Road?”

“Going on fifteen years now. I sell toilets, but business is nowhere close to being in the crapper.” He laughed. “I never get tired of that one. How long have you been doing corporate takeovers?”

“Ten years.”

He shook his head in amazement. “You’re really a dynamo.”

Nick snorted from behind. “And an eager beaver.”

“Not funny, Nick!” I threw my hand over my mouth.

Crap. I said that out loud. Not good.

“Nick?” Edward asked, leaning to the side to glance over my shoulder. “Who’s Nick?”

I moved my head to block his view. “That’s a good question. If we’re talking about Christmas, well then, Saint Nick is probably the answer you’re looking for. If you love boybands, there’s Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys and Nick Lachey from Ninety-Eight Degrees.”

Edward just stared at me.

“I kind of prefer Justin Timberlake, although he’s aJustinand not aNick, obviously.”

It didn’t look like my load of bull was working, which was not a surprise. You can’t cover up crap with more crap and hope it smells like roses.

Edward stood and looked past me. “Are you Nick?”

“That would be me,” Nick said from behind.

I covered my face with my hands.

This can’t be happening.

Nick was ruining my date.

Edward’s gaze popped back and forth between me and Nick. “Are you on two dates at the same time?”

“What? No!”

“It certainly seems that way. What kind of sick game are you playing with me?”

“I’m sorry, Edward. I . . . uh . . . it’s not what it seems.”

“You could have at least had the decency of being a little more discreet and eating with him another time.”

Nick chuckled. “Believe me, we had dinner last night and she assured me it was a one-time thing.”

“Nick!”

“I don’t need this crap.” Edward stood and yanked his jacket from his chair, practically knocking it over.