Page 37 of The Last Goodbye

A loud sigh escaped me, and I mumbled under my breath, “Stick to your day job, asshole.”

This fucking dude was working my last nerve.

Personally, I preferred when he asked her questions, because she was far more interesting than he was.

“Well, enough about me. You don’t need to hear about me being a polo champion last summer.” He chuckled. “And we should be celebrating this deal, because you pushed to make it happen. It’s going to be worth it when you make partner. Denton told me you really wanted it—and getting that restaurant was the key to making it happen for you.”

Go fucking figure.

I knew she had a reason for doing this, and there it was. She wasn’t doing this because she gave a shit about anything other than making partner—her motivation was personal.

I mean, obviously I wasn’t surprised. But she sure as shit had sold me a different story.

“You should own that shit,” I said as I looked over my shoulder, speaking a bit louder than I meant to.

“Excuse me?” She was up on her feet now and walking the short distance toward me. “Did you have something you wanted to say to me?”

“I believe I just did.” I shrugged. “But let me repeat it for you, since you’ve stormed over here so quickly: You. Should. Own. That. Shit.”

“And what shit are you referring to?” She stood in front of me with her hands folded over her chest, pushing her tits up in the process, though she didn’t appear to have a clue that she was doing so, nor that she was taunting me.

Or maybe she did.

The woman did like torturing me, after all.

“All that bullshit you sold me about wanting to create jobs for the locals. Providing a nice place to stay for tourists. Making sure my restaurant is better than ever. Blah, blah, fucking blah.” I rolled my eyes, then pointed my thumb down at the ground and made a farting noise with my mouth. “Save that bullshit spiel for your dad, Magpie. We recognize bullshit when we see it around here.”

“You…pompous, arrogant—” She paused before turning back to her table. “Steven, I need to call it a night. I have some business to discuss with Mr. Bennett.”

Steven stood up and rushed to stand beside her, making no attempt to hide his concern. The dude wanted to bang her, no doubt about it, but he was going to act like some goddamn Boy Scout around her, and I saw right through it. He’d been eye-fucking her from the moment he walked into the restaurant this morning.

“Would you like me to stick around and make sure you’re all right?” he asked with a wink, and I wanted to wipe the smug look right from his face.

Go back to Saint Barts, you polo-playing dick weasel.

“Make sure she’s all right? What is it that you think I’m going to do to her, Steven?” My voice came out angrier than I’d planned, but I didn’t care. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re the one who’s suspect.”

Because I knew what this asshole wanted, and I didn’t fucking like it.

Even if she pissed me off, I didn’t like the idea of some rich fucker putting on a show to get in her pants.

“‘Suspect’? I beg your pardon, Mr. Bennett.” His eyes were wide, and he knew I saw right through him.

“I’m sure you do.”

Briar squeezed her eyes closed briefly. “I’m fine, Steven. Thanks for meeting today. Safe travels home. I’ll give you a call to go over the plans some more tomorrow.”

She turned away from him, making it clear she was done with their conversation, and he walked off.

I couldn’t hide the smile on my face at the way she’d dismissed him, until she turned her attention to me.

She was all fire and anger, and it certainly wasn’t directed at Steven.

She glared at me as she pulled out the barstool beside me and sat down. She set her purse on the bar top and held up her hand for Brody. “I’ll take another glass of red, please.”

“Did your date just leave without paying the bill?” Brody asked, and I clenched my fists where they rested on the arms of the stool.

“It was not a date. It’s business, and I told him that I’d get the bill.” She swiveled in her chair to face me as Brody stepped away to get her a glass of wine.