Page 45 of Tempting the Player
“So what’s changed?” He leaned back and the sweater stretched over his broad shoulders.
“Well, the fact that both of us are pretending to be dating is different.” Bridget glanced over and saw someone at a few round tables over holding a cell phone up. “And I think someone is taking our picture.”
Chad smirked. “It’ll be on Facebook within seconds.”
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Does this happen all the time?”
“Yep.”
God, she couldn’t imagine living like that. Then again, she was living like that now, and she really hoped her hair looked great and she didn’t end up with a double chin from holding her head down. The waiter appeared, and she quickly scanned the menu while Chad ordered some kind of surf and turf.
“I’ll have the scallops,” she said, folding the menu and handing it back.
The waiter bowed once more and then dashed off again. Bridget watched him, wondering if he always moved that fast.
“Is that all you’re going to eat?” Chad asked.
She faced him and wished he weren’t so damn good-looking. Couldn’t he at least have a snaggletooth? Was that really too much to ask for? “That’s enough.”
Chad looked doubtful but wisely didn’t pursue that particular road to hell. “So, I’m dying to know something.”
“I’m afraid to ask.” She picked up her glass and took a sip of wine.
“When we met at the club, why didn’t you tell me you knew Maddie and Chase?”
She cringed inwardly at that question. “I…I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time.”
“I’d think that’s one of the first things people would say.” As he spoke, he ran a fingertip along the rim of his wineglass in a slow, idle circle that drew her attention. “Especially since there is no way that Maddie hadn’t spoken about me.”
“Maybe she didn’t talk about you.” Bridget forced her gaze away from his fingers. “Did you ever think about that?”
His laugh was low and sent a shiver down her arms. “Oh, I know Maddie would’ve talked about me.”
“Your ego never ceases to amaze me.”
Chad smiled, and it appeared he was about to follow that up with a real winner of a response that would’ve reluctantly amused Bridget, but the waiter arrived and steaming plates were placed on their tables. The moment the waiter backed away, Chad was right back on track.
“So, why didn’t you say anything?”
Bridget dropped the napkin in her lap and tugged it into place with quick movements. No way was she going to admit to the real reason. “I didn’t think it mattered.”
“Just like you’re not attracted to me?”
She sighed. “Back to that again?”
“No.” He smiled and—her little heart jumped—there were the dimples. “You’re just a terrible liar. “
Truthfully, she was.
Chad cut his medium-rare steak as she chased a buttery scallop across her plate. “The answer is yes,” he said.
Her fork froze. “To what?”
He peered up through thick lashes. “Even if I knew you worked with Maddie and you knew my brother, I still would’ve taken you home.”
