Page 19 of The One You Want

“Yeah.” I shot a sheepish glance in the direction of the other girls. “You may not be surprised to hear this, but I’m actually a complete disaster when it comes todating.”

“You’re not a—” Riley began, but I cut her off with a raisedeyebrow.

“The last date I was on, I spilled my drink on the guy—twice—then hit him with my elbow when I tried to help him clean it up and gave him a bloodynose.”

She snapped her mouthshut.

“Was this one equally as painful?” Irisasked.

I let out a long sigh. “Oh, I’d say it was worse. It would have been bad enough to be ambush set up by my grandparents but the fact I lit the tablecloth on fire really sealed thedeal.”

There was a chorus of gasps around the table. “You did not,” Corasaid.

“Oh, I did. Apparently I shouldn’t be allowed near open flames because that candle didn’t stand a chance against me.” I took another long swig of wine, looking around at them. “It’s okay, you can laugh. I’m fully aware of how ridiculous Iam.”

“Sorry, Jenny,” Iris said, managing to keep a straight face even though her eyes were dancing with amusement. “Dating just sucks, there’s no getting aroundit.”

“And hey, look at it this way,” Riley added. “You weren’t interested in him, right? Lighting the table on fire might have been a positivemove.”

“Right,” Libby agreed. “Nothing to scare a guy away like a little raginginferno.”

Everyone laughed, except forme.

“You would think so,” I sighed. “But this guy apparently didn’t get thememo.”

“He asked to see you again?” Riley asked, eyeswide.

“He didn’t just ask. He keeps showing upeverywhere.”

“You’ve run into himagain?”

They weren’t getting the severity of my latest love life disaster. “I run into him all over the place. Grocery store. Coffee shop. Taking a walk. He’s sent me flowers twice. Somehow my total lack of interest doesn’t seem to be getting through tohim.”

“Damn.” Riley’s face darkened. “You want me to have Andrew talk to thisasshole?”

“No, it’sfine.”

“He’s pesteringyou.”

“He’s just persistent. It’s my grandpa’s fault anyhow. I’m sure he’s pressuring this guy to get involved withme.”

“Your grandfather would do that?” Irisasked.

I just shook my head. They had no idea. “This guy comes from a good family. He already works at the hotel. From the sound of it, he’s being groomed to run things someday. As far as they’re concerned, he’s perfect forme.”

Everyone at the table was staring at me. “Even if you don’t like him?” Iris pressed,incredulous.

I shrugged. “That’s not really an important factor, as far as they’reconcerned.”

More staring, now accompanied by a horrified silence. “Jesus,” Cora finally said. “That’s messedup.”

I laughed. “Yeah. You could say thatagain.”

“I think this calls for more wine,” Irissuggested.

“Shit, I think it calls for shots,” Rileymuttered.

I laughed. “Really, it’s not a big deal. Annoying but…” I shrugged as if to indicate, what can youdo?