World's Worst Boyfriend: A Romantic Comedy Adventure (Fake It Book 3) by Carina Taylor (ebook reader online txt) 📗

design. She was still talking about the new project when I parked the car and walked around to open her door.

“And the budget he’s giving me to work with! Fletcher, it’s amazing. I mean, either this guy is the greatest husband, or he messed up big time and is trying to fix it.”

I cringed thinking about the fact that I was the one who messed up big time and was trying to fix it right now. Obviously on a much smaller scale than a complete interior reno.

“Sorry we had to park so far away. Do you want me to drive back around and drop you at the entrance?” The restaurant was downtown and didn’t offer much in the way of parking. It had a valet service, but I had trust issues when it came to my cars and handing off the keys to the castle to just anyone.

“No, I’d rather walk with you.” She didn’t even question the fact that I didn’t use the valet service. She knew I was skeptical. I didn’t want my car stolen. What easier way than to pass your keys to a stranger?

I grasped her hand, trying to close the distance growing between us, and we walked down the street toward the restaurant. The streetlights lit the way, casting our path in a romantic glow.

“Are you warm enough?”

Saidy sighed and nodded. “You know, Fletcher, I was starting to get worried about us. But tonight—knowing you want to be here with me, making the effort to make this special, makes me feel so much—”

She was interrupted when a loud voice called, “Fletcher!”

I turned to look and spotted Jenkins, Sullivan’s ‘acquaintance’ for lack of a better word. He was around Sullivan’s place more and more lately, and it had to do with the big deal coming up. And hang it all, he was the last person on Earth I wanted Saidy to meet.

He handed a ticket to the valet and sauntered over to stand next to us. I was taller than him by a couple inches, but he was definitely broader. I shifted my body to be in front of Saidy.

“Is this your old lady?” Jenkins asked with a chuckle.

“Old lady?” Saidy asked sharply.

Not good. She’s about to blow.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn’t want him to know Saidy was my girlfriend. I couldn’t. This guy was…bad news. While we’d never been able to tie anything to Sullivan, Jenkins was another thing. He’d already served time for assault and battery. There were a couple dead bodies that had connections with him as well, though he hadn’t been charged due to lack of physical evidence. No. I couldn’t have her connected with him in any way.

He was a fixer. If there was a chance they found out I was a cop, and that she was my girlfriend, they’d take care of any loose ends. Taking care of me would be expected; taking out my girlfriend would only be a bonus in their eyes.

“Your girlfriend?” He prompted as he stared at her. “If I’d known you had a girlfriend this pretty, I would have made a point to get acquainted much sooner.”

I squeezed Saidy’s hand tight, hoping she wouldn’t speak out. “I’m too young to tie myself down with an old lady. There’s too many to see. I get tired pretty easy.” My stomach churned at the lie. Dinner didn’t sound so great anymore.

Jenkins grinned and peered over my shoulder to look at Saidy. I held tight to Saidy’s hand, keeping her behind me.

“I’ll see you later,” I said through gritted teeth as Saidy pinched the skin behind my elbow.

I dragged Saidy after me toward the restaurant entrance. We paused there and watched as Jenkins climbed into a car brought over by the valet. Tugging Saidy into my chest, I bent down to kiss her when Jenkins turned to look at us.

“If you put those filthy, lying lips on mine, I’ll bite them,” Saidy ground out.

I wisely pulled back. No empty threats on this one.

I risked taking my eyes off of her for a moment to make sure that Jenkins really had pulled away. His car was gone, thankfully.

“What other women are there?” she demanded as she adjusted the strap of her giant purse hanging over her shoulder.

I opened my mouth to explain, but she cut me off. “You know what? I’m not someone to toy with. I thought we meant something to each other, but apparently not anymore. You enjoy this dinner by yourself. This old lady is going home.”

“No—you mean the world to me. You have to believe me.”

She didn’t look like she believed me.

“You were talking about me to that man like I was gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe!”

“I don’t like the guy.”

“Well, I’d hate to know what you say about me to your friends then!” she exclaimed.

“It’s not like that! I just wanted him to leave you alone! Didn’t he creep you out at all?” I thought about throwing myself on my knees and praying that she’d had one of her infamous gut feelings about Jenkins.

Her eyes flickered back and forth from my face to where Jenkins’s car had been.

“Fine, yes, he gave me a bad feeling,” she admitted begrudgingly.

Prayers did get answered even if you weren’t on your knees.

“But I’m still mad at you.” She poked my chest with her index finger before she slipped past me and started to walk away. I snagged her elbow before she could get too far. “I’ll drive you home.” Because what could I say? Not the truth. Definitely not that.

“I don’t want to look at you.” She ground out as she jerked her arm away.

“All right. Don’t look at me, or even talk to me. Whatever you want. But please just let me drive you safely home.”

She narrowed her eyes at me and then gave a jerky nod. She stomped back in the direction of the car.

Then slammed the door when she climbed in.

It was a silent, chilly ride to her