Davis

BROOKE

Well, this has been a terrible night. But, ~how could I expect anything less?~ I think to myself as I swirl my merlot around in my glass.

“So, Brooke, what do you do for work?” Davis asks.

“I’m a physical therapist.”

“Like a workout trainer in a gym?” He tilts his head in question.

“Well, I’m much more than just a trainer,” I say, slightly offended that he just downgraded my career. “I have a doctorate in human anatomy, so when a client comes in I examine them and develop a treatment plan.

“Either to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function from an injury, or even prevent a disability.”

“Hmm, interesting.” He shrugs it off like nothing, which really makes me want to defend my career even more.

“Well, I find it very rewarding when I can improve people’s quality of life and have a positive impact on their lives!” I add, snooty. “So, you’re a financial adviser?”

“Oh, you know, some people call me the doctor of finance!” He laughs like a pompous, self-centered asshole.

“Oh,” I say, playing along, “you went as far as getting your doctorate degree for finance?”

“No, I’m already that good at what I do,” he says smugly.

Wow! Is this guy for real?

“So, how old are you, Brooke?”

Isn’t that a question in the rulebook of what not to ask any woman, especially on a first date? “I’m thirty-five,” I answer reluctantly.

“Wow, I have to say, you look amazing for your age.”

Ummm, thanks? I…think… This guy is getting more and more unappealing!

“I mean, you’re gorgeous!” he adds, looking me up and down.

“Thank you,” I say, trying to stay polite.

“So, why are you still on the market?”

~Seriously? Because of ASSHOLES like YOU!~ I think.

“I guess I just haven’t found the right person…”

“Hmm.” He strokes his clean-shaven face, thinking about my answer.

Ugh! The look of him slowly moving his eyes up and down my body, undressing me in his mind, is enough to make me want to throw up.

I look around the room, desperate for anything more interesting than looking at David and listening to him speak. Oh, I mean Davis.

I nod and smile like I’m listening to him, but really I’m looking past his shoulder at a huddle of people whipping out their phones and snapping pictures.

What is going on? The crowd parts and I’m shocked to see Colin walking through looking completely agitated as he holds a woman's hand.

I recognize her from the tabloids. Colin’s model girlfriend, Natali Summers. She seemed to be loving the attention.

She’s flaunting her tan body in a tight, glistening gold sequined mini dress and strutting her long legs in gigantically tall stiletto heels, while she smiles and waves at the people gathered around.

I can’t pull my eyes away, focusing on Colin’s clenched jaw and angry eyes. Oh my god! Don’t tell me he doesn’t like the attention? The paparazzi and people wanting his autograph and picture?

That can’t be possible! He always looks poised and confident in his interviews after the games, and at press conferences where he dazzles reporters.

I snap myself out of my daze, but just as I’m glancing away, he looks in my direction. ~Shit!~ I duck my head, trying to hide my face with my hair without looking too obvious in front of Davis.

“Brooke?”

Great! Cover blown! Colin’s standing over me now. Like the idiot I am, I try to play it off like I hadn’t seen him first.

“Oh, Colin! Hi! Funny seeing you here!”

Jesus, can I please go crawl in a hole now?

“Natali,” he says to the woman on his arm, “this is Brooke, my physical therapist.”

“Hi,” Natali says.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” I politely reply, but apparently she doesn’t care enough to take her eyes off her phone.

Colin glances over toward Davis, who’s watching him from across the table.

“Oh! Sorry!” I say. “This is Davis. Davis, this is Colin.”

“Davis?” Colin says like he recognizes the name. He’s staring at me as he extends his hand, giving Davis a firm handshake.

“Nice to meet you. Care to sit down?” Davis offers. I’m sure he’s just trying to be nice, assuming Colin won’t accept the offer.

But Colin immediately agrees, grabs two seats from the empty table next to us, and slides them over to our table. He waits politely for Natali to sit down first; she glares at him for a long moment before obliging him and slumping down in her seat.

As Colin takes the seat next to me he leans toward me and whispers in my ear, “You look really nice tonight.”

“Th-thanks?” It comes out like a question. I’m shocked! What is he doing? He has a girlfriend, who’s sitting right next to him!

The waitress interrupts by refilling our wine glasses and bringing the dessert Davis ordered.

“Babe! Let’s go! We’re meeting everyone at the club down the street,” Natali says, glaring at Colin.

“Why don’t you head over and I’ll meet you there?” Colin suggests.

She shoots daggers at him before dragging her chair backward, making a horrible screeching sound on the floor as she gets up and storms off like a bitchy little schoolgirl.

“It was nice to meet y—” I try, but I don’t even finish the word before Natali is far enough away she wouldn’t hear me anyway.

“Mmm, wow, this is delicious!” Davis exclaims as he takes a bite out of his piece of dark chocolate cake, drizzled with warm peanut butter sauce.

He scoops another piece with his fork and holds it across the table for me to try.

“No, thank you,” I say politely.

“Oh, come on, just take a bite. It’s delicious,” Davis tries to entice me with a wheedling voice that puts my nerves on edge.

“I bet it is,” I say calmly, “but I don’t eat anything with peanuts in it.”

“Are you allergic?” he asks, still holding the piece of cake over the table.

“No.”

“So then it won’t kill you to take a little bite,” he pressures again.

“No! But it will kill her daughter, so she doesn’t want any!” My mouth almost hits the table dropping open when Colin interjects like that.

Davis pulls his fork back to his plate and looks at Colin, annoyed. Then he focuses back on me. “You have a daughter?” he questions, sounding bothered and surprised.

I feel like a deer in headlights, with my mouth still open and totally frozen. I never intended to tell Davis about Sydney, since I assumed there wouldn’t be a second date after this disaster of an evening.

“Umm…well, y-yes, I do,” I answer, looking down at the table.

“Are you divorced?” Davis asks.

“No.”

“Widowed?”

“No, never married,” I say impatiently, waiting for his judgment to start.

“Oh. So, you’re a single mother. That answers my question,” Davis says simply.

All that comes to mind is his question from earlier, ~Why am I still on the market?~ Just like that, I want to leave, politeness be damned. “That must be difficult,” Davis adds.

I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Colin interjects again. “Actually, Brooke is an amazing mother and runs a very successful company. I’d say she’s doing a great job handling things on her own.”

Davis looks over at him with another dirty look. “I thought you were just a client of hers?” he snaps, but then we’re all interrupted by my phone ringing.

I look down at the caller ID and see John calling. My heart sinks thinking about Sydney, so I answer right away, shooting both men at the table a quick apologetic glance.

“Hel—” I can’t even finish speaking before John’s voice interrupts, blaring over the phone.

“We need to talk. Now!” John screams.