Page 22 of One Killer Night

Chase clears his throat, placing his palms on my kitchen island.

“Where are you having dinner, Noah?”

I feign ignorance. “I don’t know. I let her choose. Some Italian joint.”

He repeats my last words slowly before smacking the marble. “You mean to tell me that you’ve met her sister twice now, and I’m still a secret?”

Metis an overexaggeration. She said hello to me as she left Goldie’s apartment while we were enjoying our favorite food. But there’s the truth, and then there’s Chase’s truth.

I interlace my fingers on the back of my head. “You do realize that me and you aren’t in an actual relationship, right, whack job? Plus, I want her to like me.”

“I’m your best friend. There’s no you without me. And may I remind you, since you clearly hit your head today, that I’m the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant.” He scowls, making himself look like Robert De Niro. “The amount of disrespect right now is on par withThe Godfather.”

“You never got the star.”

He tosses his arms in the air. “I always knew it was you, Freddy!”

I’m laughing as he jabs his finger at me, making his way to the door. “I’ll see you and the home-wrecker tonight at eight. But I’m only making dessert for her. We’ll see who she likes better once I feed her.”

I wave him off, only saying, “It was Fredo, not Freddy, wacko,” because he’s certifiable. Grabbing my phone, I text Goldie, chuckling to myself because I need to change her name in my phone.

Me:Change of plans. We’re going to a friend’s restaurant.

Rexy:Is this the infamous Chase I’ve heard so much about?

Me:Yes. But promise me something?

Rexy:Maybe . . .

Me:Still like me after.

Rexy:You assume I like you now. Bold choice.

What is it with me and collecting smart-asses? God help me, these two are going to love each other.

Goldie’s smiling sweetly as her eyes shine brightly, reflected above the dim candlelight on the table. Her tongue darts out over her bottom lip, hoping for more of the elaborate concoction that graced our dinner table, as she speaks to the chef standing before us, coincidentally my best friend.

“The food was incredible. I wish I’d eaten less just so I’d have leftovers. You’re so talented.”

It’s like watching a puppy get scratched in all their favorite spots, rolling right over. He literally doesn’t know what to do with his hands, and I think he’s blushing.

“I’ll cook for you anytime.” He hitches his thumb at me. “This one never appreciates me.”

She eyes me humorously as I roll my eyes. I admit it, he wins. She likes him more for sure, but after the bluefish he served us tonight, Ican’t blame her. And if the fish hadn’t worked, he also followed through and only sent out dessert for her. Prick. But the way she squealed and clapped her hands made me more smitten and him more enamored.

She sighs. “Well then, it’s Noah’s loss. I’ll always appreciate you.”

“Shit,” he rushes out before looking at me. “Why’d she have to go and be so great ... Now I feel bad that I poisoned your girlfriend’s food so she’d give you back.”

Oh fuck.

My heart hits my throat as I stare back at him. Chase knows what he said, too, because he’s trying not to smile and to play it cool as his gaze shifts back to Goldie.

She bites her bottom lip, her eyes connecting with mine, but she says nothing. I’m going to hold him under in the dirty dishwater for this. The grin on my face won’t go away as I run my hands through my hair before dropping my eyes to the table momentarily until she says, “Ehh, I think I’ll keep him ... since I seem to have survived.”

Chase clears his throat, but I just keep staring at Goldie, completely unable to look away from those green eyes. Damn, I’m spun in that web.

“Well, since I’ve been foiled, you can make it up by setting me up with your sister.”