Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate(9)

“Do you think I don’t know that?” she bit out. “I had to deal with my grandfather’s anger after I left. I’d do it again, though. I didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

“And I deserved a f*cking explanation.”

“Well you just got one. Can we leave it alone now? It was a long time ago.”

“You’re the one who’s been holding onto it all these years, Eva. Not me.”

“Oh, my freaking…would you both just shut the hell up?” Dean interfered. “You both were at fault. Make peace already.”

Adams eyes flashed to Dean. He’d almost forgotten Dean was in the car. “This is none of your business.”

“Leave him alone,” Eva spat out at Adam.

“Eva, stay out of this!” Adam yelled at her. He shoved Dean to the floor.

Eva rolled her eyes at Adam and slammed back into her seat with a huff.

“Did you just? Did you just…roll your eyes at me?” Adam asked incredulously.

Eva looked directly into Adam’s face and rolled her eyes so hard that Adam couldn’t see her pupils anymore. Then she added in a long, loud tooth-sucking for good measure.

Dean was still on the floor of the limo in a guffawing heap when they pulled up in front of the restaurant.

***

Eva tried to keep her mouth from dropping open as she was led through Jean-Georges, one of the most elegant restaurants in the city. As the hostess wound through the tables topped with crisp white cloths, Eva was almost certain she spotted at least three different celebrities. She also noted the flirtatious look the hostess gives Adam and tried to stop herself from scowling at the girl.

She smiled at Dean when he pulled out her chair and settled in, taking in the gorgeous views of Central Park. She was so distracted by the scenery and the understated elegance of the white and cream décor that she didn’t even notice when their client arrived for their power lunch.

“Herr Schmidt, may I introduce my executive assistant, Eva. Eva, Herr Schmidt, our German client representative.”

Eva extended her hand, hoping that she was being as professional as possible, and was shocked when Herr Schmidt tugged her forward a bit and raked his eyes across her body several times, giving her hand a squeezing caress before finally letting go.

“She’s a lovely, lovely fraulein, Mr. Frost. Tell me, how do you get any work done with such a schonen breiter arsch wagging around, eh?” Herr Schmidt boomed in his thick accent.

Adam looked as if he was ready to bite the rep in half. He’d probably do it if this vulgar German wasn’t an important client of the firm. Instead, he gave the rep a tight smile. “Shall we order?”

Dean leaned over to Eva and whispered, “He’s talking about your luscious curves. In a slightly unpolished way.”

“Should I be flattered or look offended?”

“Flattered if I were you.” He gave her a wink. “He’s right, you know, you are distracting.”

Eva gave Dean a playful whack with her menu before opening it and perusing the selections. Since she was only familiar with a couple of the items she ordered the risotto. She was surprised to hear Adam conversing with the waiter in perfect French. That was a skill he definitely didn’t have in high school.

“I canceled your risotto and ordered you the diver scallops. I hope you don’t mind, I remembered seafood is your favorite and I thought you’d like them. They’re delicious here,” he said to her.

“Sure, yeah. I mean, yes, thank you,” she said and took a large sip of her water so she didn’t have to say anything else. Was he being nice to her? Trying to make up for his behavior in the limo? And she couldn’t believe he remembered her favorite food. She was unsure what to make of this particular development.

Eva was hardly paying any attention to the conversation. Her notepad remained blank next to her glass as the men were discussing contract renewals because Eva had her past with Adam on her mind. I was half in love with him eight years ago…and I know he loved me. But he let Rachel kiss him. She glowered at him across the table without realizing it and was startled out of her thoughts when Dean gave her ankle a light kick under the table. When he threw her a questioning look, she tried to bring her attention to the conversation at hand.

The discussion was halted when their order arrived. She was picking at her scallops, which were as delicious as Adam promised, when she felt a hand land on her leg. Startled, she looked down to see Herr Schmidt’s thick knuckled fingers massaging her knee. She shifted, tugging her leg away from his wandering hand and giving him a tight smile.

Which apparently was the wrong thing to do. Herr Schmidt had evidently mistaken her smile as an invitation because he abandoned all pretenses of a business meeting and started leering at Eva, his eyes darting over her cleavage. She cleared her throat and tugged her dress up in the front.

“So, Eva, such a beautiful name, tell me, what do you do for fun after work?” he said to her, taking her hand, and holding it hostage in his.

“Um, not much really. I like to walk in Riverside Park sometimes.”

“Ach! Beautiful girl like you, you should be out, being shown off, no? I am here for few days more. Would you like to go out with me, to dinner? To show? I am in very nice hotel.” He gave her a wink.

Yikes. His wink was creepy unlike Dean’s. “Uh, I’m, uh…” she looked to Dean and Adam for help. Dean was giving her one of his patented mocking looks, lips quirked, one eyebrow cocked, looking for all the world like he was trying not to laugh. Adam’s face, on the other hand, was thunderous. His face darkened and his eyes were shifting, Eva noticed an amber spark before he got his emotions controlled.