Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Tell me more about this date,” I manage through clenched teeth. Danielle shrugs.
“I don’t know much about it myself. Just that I have to be with Seymour. Ugh. Knowing him, we’ll probably end up at Denny’s or Five Guys. Not that I don’t love Denny’s and Five Guys, but you know what I mean.”
I think for a moment. How do I keep the curvy girl to myself? Suddenly, inspiration strikes.
“Listen, why don’t I send Star and Lacy in your place? I’m sure Seymour would be more than happy to have the company of not one, but two beautiful girls for the night.”
It’ll cost me an arm and a leg because Star and Lacy charge by the hour, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ask for a bonus after spending time with Seymour. But it’s worth it if it means that Danielle won’t have to sit through a date with him.
The curvy brunette gasps and lets out a delighted giggle as she nods her head. “Barron, I love your mind! That sounds like a wonderful idea. Thank you.”
“Great. But can I ask why you were going to go out on a date with him in the first place? He doesn’t exactly seem like your type.”
“Oh,” she blushes. “Well, I kind of owe him a favor since he asked you to let me keep my job, or at least, that’s how he sees it. So, I agreed to go out with him because I doubt he’d let me hear the end of it if I didn’t, and besides, fair is fair.”
“Okay, that was a convoluted answer,” I growl. “But sending him out with Star and Lacy is more than enough repayment. Now you two are even, and you don’t have to worry about going out on a date with him any time soon.”
Danielle giggles, nodding happily. “Yeah, I guess I don’t…” she smiles. “You really are my knight in shining armor, Barron.” She throws me a brilliant smile, and to my surprise, my heart expands. It feels good to give her what she wants, and I relish the role of rescuing a damsel in distress. But then Danielle peps up.
“Can we go on the date with them? Not with them,” she clarifies with a giggle. “I just want to see how Star and Lacy handle Seymour.”
I wink.
“Sure thing. I’ll set it up. It’s going to be comedy at its finest.”
Danielle claps her hands while bouncing in her seat.
“It will!” she says in a gleeful tone. “Oh my god, you’re the best, Barron. Seriously, I can’t wait.”
I grin again because it feels good to give the curvy girl what she wants. Even better, I’ve just scheduled another date with Danielle, and now I’m the one who can’t wait.
5
BARRON
“You don’t think this is a little ridiculous?” I whisper-yell as I follow Danielle toward the back of the restaurant, ducking and dodging to hide behind the staff and other diners as we pass by.
“Yes, but we can’t risk having Seymour spot us!” she hisses back. “If he sees me, there’s no telling how he’ll react. Besides, what’s the point of spying on someone if you don’t get to wear the proper outfits for it?”
After all, Danielle insisted that we both dress in all black attire in order to ‘blend in.’ Trellis is a nice restaurant, and as a result, I’d argue that we stick out even more now. Everyone else is dolled-up in expensive-looking dresses and suits, and the two of us are prancing around in black cargo pants and t-shirts. Maybe Danielle took me a bit too seriously when I suggested that we come and ‘spy’ on the girls and Seymour while they have their date.
But hey, I’m not complaining. As ridiculous as it may be, Danielle seems to be having a lot of fun, which is all that matters. She hasn’t stopped smiling and giggling since we snuck in from the side door. Clearly, she’s having the time of her life while we’re on our little ‘mission,’ and honestly, her bubbly demeanor and childlike excitement are starting to rub off on me. It’s nice not to have to take things so seriously all the time, and I don’t feel as if I have to behave like “the consummate professional” when I’m with her. It’s a relief to let down my guard for a change.
So I go along with Danielle’s plan, allowing her to pull me down into a seat next to her at a table in the darkest area of the restaurant.
“Perfect!” she whispers. “There he is, see? We have a clear view of their table.”
It’s true. Seymour Hinds is about thirty feet away, running a comb through his hair as he stares at his reflection in the napkin holder on the table. I can’t help but roll my eyes as I watch the thin man chuckle and admire his reflection.