Page 35 of Wicked Roses
“Chadwick—”
“Before you turn me down, just know it’ll be more incentive for me to keep trying. You remember our time at Dupoint Law. Youknowhow persistent I am. What’s the worst that can happen?”
I distract myself by pouring a liberal amount of lemon vinaigrette dressing on my kale salad. Chadwick’s telling no lies about his persistence; he’d asked me out many times during our law school days. My answer was always ano. He’s always vowed he won’t give up until that changes.
I’ve used up just about every excuse available. If I were in a better headspace, I’d probably be able to think up some more. As it stands, my brain draws a blank. My thoughts shift tomaybe.
For weeks I’ve avoided any real social interaction. The Fuel the Child charity dinner was my first and only attempt, and that went disastrously. So bad I’d gotten drunk, wandered to the top of a skyscraper, and almost shoved my hand down my ex-boyfriend’s pants.
Would a night out with Chadwick be so bad? It could be a way to ease myself into a semi normal personal life again…
Chadwick’s safe. A little annoying, but safe. Boring and predictable. Exactly what I need at an uncertain time like this.
“Tonight?” I ask.
He smiles wider. “How about Ostra? You like seafood, right? Pretty sure I can get us a last-minute reservation.”
“Ostra’s great.”
The second growing pain of living with your mafia ex-boyfriend is that he knows when you go on dates with other men. Something I don’t consider until the words leave my mouth and Chadwick winks at me, promising he’ll pick me up at seven sharp.
Ooops.
* * *
I convince Chadwick to meet outside Ostra a few minutes before seven. He sounds disappointed he won’t be able to pick me up himself, but then he seems to remember he’s fortunate enough I’ve agreed to go on a date with him in the first place.
When you live with your ex-boyfriend, you can’t have your dinner dates showing up on your doorstep—especially when said ex-boyfriend is a mafia boss and you’re an assistant district attorney.
That’s not to mention the security detail I’ve been assigned every waking moment that feels a lot more like chaperones than anything.
I sneak out of the loft first chance I get and nab a taxi to the restaurant.
“You look stunning,” Chadwick says when he sets eyes on me. His grin is broad and bright enough for a TV commercial advertising toothpaste. He’s taken a page out of Dad’s book and worn a colorful tie—lavender purple against the well-tailored fit of his slate gray suit. As his hand touches the small of my back to guide me inside, I’ve never been less attracted to him.
It’s a thought I can no longer shake. Going on a date with Chadwick Thomas is like going on a date with Dad. He’s the man who my family pictured me with, who Mom once tried to set me up with.
Chadwick has gone far out of his way for our dinner tonight. A standard table at Ostra wasn’t enough for him. He’s reserved us one of the private dining rooms. The server leads us to our table in the secluded room and announces the wine selections for the evening.
Chadwick cracks a joke about how the last time he dined at Ostra, the tannins in the Zinfandel were too potent. The server humors him with a polite smile and promises that won’t be the case this time.
The first thing Chadwick does once we’re served our wine and the server has walked off is sample his glass.
“I knew it. Theyaretoo potent.” He sips some more to confirm his suspicions and then gestures to my untouched glass. “What do you think?”
“Oh... err, very potent.”
I barely swallow a sip, though he doesn’t seem to notice. He’s moved on to telling me about the excellent pan-seared swordfish with mango chutney. He swears it’ll be the best meal I’ve had in days.
Between staring at his bright lavender tie, noticing the tiny checker marks in the pattern, and listening to him insist I take him up on his menu recommendation, I’m ready for the night to be over.
It’s nothing personal.
Chadwick is a great guy. On paper, we’re a perfect match. He’s intelligent, successful, and practical. He would be the ideal type of man to marry and have children with. Together we would be everything our families wanted out of us—an African American power couple to carry on their legacies.
Life would be so much simpler if I were with Chadwick.
But to say there’s no chemistry would be an understatement.