The Allure of Dean Harper (The Allure #2)(13)

Dean gripped his menu tighter, running his eyes down the list of items. “I’d prefer to order my own food.”

Josephine and I exchanged a knowing glance and I held back a laugh. What a shame, though, really. It would have been fun to prove to him that I knew what I was doing.

“Could I start anyone off with a cocktail?” the waiter asked, appearing to the right of Casey with his notepad and pen in hand.

“I’d like a rickshaw,” I said with a smile, not bothering with the cocktail menu.

“Oh! What’s in that?” Josephine asked.

“Tito’s vodka, lime, and fresh basil. It’s a good cocktail for the start of a meal. Not too filling.”

Julian smiled. “Let’s get a round of those for the table then.”

Dean spoke up, directing his dark stare at the waiter. “I’ll stick with an old fashioned.”

Josephine rolled her eyes. “Dean, you’re being a stick in the mud.”

Casey laughed. “Yeah, I agree. C’mon, babe. It’ll be fun if we all get the same drink.”

He shook his head and dropped his menu to the table, clearly struggling to keep his temper at bay. Was it that hard to be at dinner with us? Were we such terrible people to be around? Or was it just me?

I tilted my head and studied him. “No worries, Dean. You order want you want.”

“I need your permission even less than I need you to order for me.”

Silence hung around the table as we stared each other down. The waiter cleared his throat and then spoke up. “Okay then, I’ll get the table four rickshaws and one old fashioned.”

I held up my finger. “Actually, let’s make that five rickshaws and an old fashioned. Just in case.”

Dean’s jaw ticked back and forth as the waiter walked away to fill our drink orders. “There’s a fine line between persistence and annoyance.”

My cheeks flamed at his critique, but a fire grew in my veins. If he wanted to take this dinner from pleasant to painful, why should I bother doing anything otherwise?

“Is that the same line that falls between being a control freak and just being an *?”

“Okay!” Josephine interrupted with a shrill voice. “Let’s talk about something else now. Who’s watching Game of Thrones? How awesome are Daenerys and her dragons?”

If I had pet dragons, Dean would have already been burned to a crisp long ago.

“I’m going to use the little girls’ room,” Casey said.

I pushed my chair back and stood to join her.

“Mind if I tag along?”

Her smile faltered, but she nodded. I trailed after her, trying to ignore Dean’s heavy stare on my back. I’d thought my hatred for the man had reached an all-time high when he’d fired me, but somehow he’d found a way to ensure his spot as number one on my worst enemies list.

I was washing my hands in the sink when I met Casey’s eyes in the mirror. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what she was doing with Dean. She was pretty and nice; Dean would suck the life right out of her.

She offered me a tentative smile and before I knew it, evil, albeit funny lies were starting to spill out of my mouth. Dean had played his cards in front of the entire table and now I was going to play mine.

“That’s so great that you’re willing to date Dean even with the, uh, y’know…” I motioned in a circle below my waist. “…situation down there.”

She tilted her head with narrowed eyes. “What?”

I shot her a pitying smile. “Yeah. It’s pretty bad. He almost lost it all together after the electric shaver incident last year.”

She swallowed and then dropped her lipstick back into her purse. Even with her head down I could see her eyes widen in shock.

“Are you serious?”

“Oh no.” I clapped my hand over my mouth as if I’d just spoken out of turn. “I’m sure he was going to tell you soon,” I said, squeezing her shoulder. “I think he just wanted you to get to know him first.”

She groaned and threw her head back. “How long did he think he could go without telling me? Guys like him think they can get away with shit like this just because they’re rich.”

I nodded as if I completely understood. “I know. Personally, it wouldn’t bother me. Except, well, Julian let it slip that Dean refuses to give…” I lowered my voice. “…oral. Even now.”

One of Casey’s eyelids twitched slightly. “I am so over men in this city.”

“Try to cut him some slack. I think he’s just guarded after the Russian mail-order bride fell through last year.” I sighed. “Anastasya.”

Too far? Maybe.

She heaved out a breath and shook her head. “Whatever. I don’t need this. I’m a Knicks cheerleader. Do you know how many guys I could get?”

I nodded with an understanding smile. “Hundreds, I bet.”

“Thanks for telling me though. Girl code, right?”

I grinned. “Exactly.”

We finished primping. She let me borrow some of her red lipstick and I swiped it across my pout, feeling as if I’d just played a winning hand. My hair looked good and there was a healthy glow on my cheeks from walking around the city all day.

Was I being devious by sabotaging Dean’s date?