“Okay, great.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Sounds perfect.”
And it did. Her wonderful boyfriend was attuned to her wants and needs. He owned his own thriving business. Not that having a boyfriend with money was important to her. She preferred to earn her own spending money instead of having to rely on any man. Her father running out on the family when she was a kid had taught her that at an early age.
Plus, David was very attractive, well-dressed and impeccable in every way.
And they’d never gotten into a single argument. Not one. Although, she figured keeping the true nature of her job at PARA away from him probably helped in this area.
David was, in a word, perfect.
Are you really in love with your boyfriend? Jacob’s nosy question from earlier poked at her.
No, had been her immediate response, thanks to the clock’s spell that seemed to make her compelled to tell him the truth. A very dangerous thing indeed.
However, it was true. She didn’t love David, but she had faith that she’d grow to love him. All of this love-at-first-sight stuff was highly overrated. There was no such thing as love at first sight. Lust at first sight, maybe. And lust faded quickly. A solid friendship, like that she and David had, given enough time to grow and mature into love, would stand the test of time.
She nodded to herself. Time was all she needed. Time away from Mystic Ridge and time away from Jacob Caine.
As far as she was concerned, she never wanted to see him again.
JACOB had decided to never see Amanda the Strange again.
Ever.
It was over.
Completely and utterly over between them. Not that it had ever begun.
He pointed at the shot glass in front of him and the bartender obliged him by filling it up with Jack Daniel’s for the…how many was it? He’d lost count. Good job O’Grady’s let him keep a tab. He was good for it. He’d never try to get out of any debts he owed for this wonderful, mind-numbing alcohol.
Yes, he was drunk. Being drunk was good. He liked it. He wouldn’t like it tomorrow when he would have to deal with the unavoidable hangover, but hell if he gave a damn at the moment.
He eyed his watch—nine o’clock. He still had a whole lot more Saturday night to get through. He was going to keep drinking until he could wipe Amanda’s face and body out of his memory forever.
Goodbye, ghost girl.
“Hey!” He motioned for the bartender. “I think I want to make a toast.”
The bartender, whose name was Steve, eyed him wearily. “Yeah? What to?”
“To women.”
“That’s not much of a toast, man.”
Jacob held up a finger. “I’m not finished. To women who have screwed me and then screwed me over. May they all rot in hell!”
Steve’s lips quirked. “That I’ll definitely drink to.” He poured himself a shot, clinked glasses with Jacob, and they both sucked down the whisky.
“Again,” Jacob pointed at the glass.
“You’re not driving tonight, I hope?”
“No way. Left my car at home. The walk’ll do me good.”
“Fresh air, exercise and all that bullshit.”
“That’s right.”
Steve eyed him. “May I make a casual observation?”
Jacob waved a hand. “Be my guest.”
“Normally, when you come in here you’re not alone, and I never see you with the same woman twice. Which one are you trying to forget tonight?”
Jacob snorted. “Funny, I’ve already forgotten.”
He wished it was true.
He didn’t want to fixate on her. It was sad and pathetic. He didn’t do sad and pathetic anymore. He’d left that side of himself in Seattle two years ago when he’d moved here to start a new life.
“Maybe I’ll become a monk,” Jacob decided.
“That doesn’t sound like a very good plan to me.”
“I could try it. What’s the harm?”
Steve grinned at him. “You know what the best way to get over somebody is?”
“Tell me.”
“Get with somebody else. As soon as possible.”
Jacob leaned over the bar. “You are a wise, wise man.”
“That’s why I get paid the big bucks.” Steve’s grin widened. “And if you don’t mind me helping you out a bit, there’s a babe over in the corner who’s been giving you the eye all evening. I’d put money on her being a sure thing.”
Jacob swiveled around on his stool and looked in the direction the bartender had nodded. And sure enough, there was a beautiful blonde staring at him. She wore a short skirt and had fantastic breasts that practically spilled out the top of her tight red top.
“You don’t have to thank me,” Steve said. “Just send me an invite to the wedding.”
Jacob tested his legs by standing up for the first time in an hour and moved toward the blonde without thinking twice. Yes, this was exactly what he needed. He needed to forget Amanda. After all, she already thought he was a womanizer. And that was an accurate enough description, at least until lately. He loved women. Always had.
This woman looked easy to love. Or, maybe she just looked easy.