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In thirty minutes, Alex was going to have her third date with Dean Fairley. On paper he was perfect. Thirty-two, tall, handsome, he was a man with conviction. Three years ago, he’d opened his own chiropractic business. Alex had been a former client. Dean knew what to do with his hands in the office but she had yet to experience them on a more personal level.
Alex examined herself via her phone. Cane Clayburn. Seriously, the man had amazing skills but the mark on her breast was not okay. She snapped a photo. This would not go on Instagram but it would be texted to him. Before she could second guess herself, she hit the send button. No message, he would know it was her. Then again, maybe this is his thing. Maybe he has left his mark on lots of women and he wouldn’t know whose boob it was. It wasn’t her entire boob, just the image of the hickey. Seriously, who does that? Alex hadn’t received a hickey since high school. Well, no, there was that one in college. How apropos. She shook her head. He had no idea.
“Nice. But next time angle the camera lower if you want to send me a pic of your tits.”
Alex rolled her eyes. This man was so utterly ridiculous.
“That won’t ever happen.” She hit send again, too soon.
“Sweetheart, it already did. I’ve got your tit as the contact pic for your number.”
Alex groaned. “Well, this will be the last time I contact you.”
“What did I tell you about lying?” His text speed was a bit surprising given the amount of time he probably had to form a sentence in his head and then figure out how to spell the words.
“I won’t be contacting you. No need for a story and the mark on my chest is definitely not approved. You’ve been benched permanently.”
Alex threw her phone in her purse. She had to hurry. Now, even if Dean had wanted to make it to second base it wasn’t going to happen. Alex was not going to be seen with a hickey on her chest. That would obviously give the wrong impression. Dean had boyfriend potential written all over him.
Despite this, she was not ready to be alone in a car with him. Alex needed to have an out. A way to leave for any reason. She didn’t want to be stranded. Alex prepared for every moment in her life. The lack of real parental assistance caused her to grow up early. Despite her dad being a constant figure, he was not there for emotive moments, or thoughts or assistance that a girl would need. He was more like “here’s some cash—be safe.” As if she would have known at the age of eight what that meant.
Prior to the date, there were a few texts, nothing of significance but enough to get to an agreed upon place to meet at Masraff’s. Alex was famished. She had perused the menu enough times to know this was a place she could eat. She always had a big appetite. College seemed to really take her under with her intake to calorie outtake. But since then, she knew to counter act her appetite she would need to expend major energy. Not that she enjoyed it. But she did enjoy the food. She was not going to give that up. If her body size stepped above a curvy six, she would find herself in the job line in search of something with less expectations for her body size. Alex knew this and fought it. Every day.
Masraff’s was a place she had been on a few prior dates. She knew the menu but still scanned through it before the date as if in preparation for a big exam. The jumbo crab cake had been on her mind all day. The photo of the pink plump flesh with that drizzle of butter. Her stomach growled as if it agreed with her thoughts.
She put on her crème jacket over her pumpkin a-framed dress. This was not the outfit Alex had intended for tonight’s date but given the location of the hickey she had to wear something with a higher neckline. Her phone buzzed from her purse as she turned off the ignition to her car.
“You can’t bench your boyfriend. And the mark...Consider yourself branded.”
Alex rolled her eyes. He was too much. Branded. If she wasn’t so weak from hunger, she would cancel the date with Dean and find Cane and brand him. With something hot. Her chest tightened and her cheeks warmed. No. She was not going to be excited about him. Not anymore. She would save her alone time for someone else’s image. Definitely, not Cane Clayburn.
She marched into Masraffs and let the hostess lead her through the crowded restaurant to Dean’s table. Alex leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long?”
Dean glanced at his watch. “Let’s see I got here at seven-fifteen, our scheduled time, and it is now seven-twenty-eight so I have been waiting for approximately fifteen minutes give or take a couple.” He laughed.
Alex let out a laugh, too. Good grief. His sense of humor drained her soul. No matter how much she had wanted this to work, it would be their last date. There was no way Alex could stomach anymore of Dean. Thank goodness they were at a five-star restaurant. She reminded herself to take pleasure in the meal and the atmosphere. Out of the corner of her eye a large man waved at her. No. She sucked in a sharp breath.
“Are you alright?” Dean grabbed her hand.
Alex jerked it back. “Oh, sorry. Yes, I’m fine. I just—”
“Oh look, its Cane Clayburn. Wow, imagine that, the two of us here at the same restaurant as him. Wow. This is so cool. I wonder if he would let us take a photo with him?”
Internally, Alex grimaced. There was absofuckingloutely no way she would ever take a photo with Cane. No. She focused her eyes on the menu. Food. Find your happy place. This restaurant is filled with choices of happiness. Delicious calorie laden treats that will be like an orgasm in your mouth. Yes. Yum.
“Oh, wow. He’s walking this way. I think he’s coming to our table. Crap. Uh...how does my hair look?” Dean tapped Alex’s shoulder. She didn’t need a wakeup call. She needed an exit plan. Why was this happening to her? Alex was already on a boring date but now she was about to be confronted by Cane on the boring date. She squeezed her eyes tight. Maybe he wouldn’t see her.
“Alex, is it okay?” Dean nudged her arm again.
She glanced at him. “Yes, it looks great.”
Cane was five feet from the table. She dropped her head under the table in search of something...anything.
“Alex, what are you doing?” Dean lifted up the cloth and peered at her.
“Oh...I...um...dropped my watch. I can’t seem to find it.”
“The one on your wrist?” Dean raised an eyebrow at her.
“No, I have a spare one. It was in my lap and then it slipped.” Alex moved her hands around the floor. If she had dropped a watch, it would not be hard to see. The floor was impeccably clean.
“Found you.” Cane’s deep blue eyes sparkled when they locked with hers. No. Why? Why couldn’t he keep going?
Alex let out a slight laugh. “Ha. Yes. I found it.” She pretended to grab something off the floor and stuff it into her purse. Cane was like a giant as he gazed at her from his full height. She immediately wanted to stand up so she wouldn’t be so incredibly small in her seat.
“Cane Clayburn, I’m a big fan. Like huge. Like I’ve got every single one of your jerseys and even the one from the build a bear workshop.” Dean laughed. “I probably shouldn’t admit that. But seriously, man, huge fan.”
Cane nodded his head. “Thanks, it’s always nice to have fans.” He eyed Alex. Her jaw was clenched tight. Move on. Go back to your table or leave the restaurant.
“Hey, would you be willing,..um...would it be okay if I got your picture?” Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Sure thing, man. Happy to give you a picture. Pictures are fun. My girlfriend sent me one today that man...anyway, let’s take the photo.” Cane’s gaze burned on her skin causing little pinpricks of desire and mortification. Not a pleasant combination. Why did he have to be such an ass? And so damn hot.
Dean stood up. “Here Alex, take a few just in case I blink, okay?”
Alex used every morsel of self-control not to run from the table and this horribly awkward moment. The way Cane’s eyes flickered dark blue with sparks of turquoise made her want to hit him on the head and shake off that look. It was obvious he was enjoying this moment. She pressed her lips together and stood up.
“Sure.” She took the phone from Dean and hit the circle button enough times that she had hoped one of them would have ejected Cane from the restaurant, but much to her dismay it didn’t.
“So, is this a date?” Cane focused on Alex’s face.
Alex bit her lip.
“Our third.” She smiled at him and squeezed Dean’s hand.
Cane glanced down for a second. It was what he did during a blitz play. Alex had studied Cane’s reactions on reels too many times to count. He was caught off guard. Good.
“Enjoy your meal. I hope you don’t lose anything else under the table.” Cane’s body moved passed the table. Alex wanted to respond but there was nothing left to say. She appeared like the player she had called him and she wasn’t. She did date but not sleep around. She had only had sex with Cane because he’d challenged her and he was incredibly hot, sexy and God, so big. And other things that only she seemed to be aware of. Why did he have to be such an ass? And why did she have to be stuck on this date with such a boring guy. Order the meal and get out. That was her game plan.