Her outfit wasn’t anything sexy. She wore fitted black pants with an oversized red shirt tucked in the front of the waistband. Gold jewelry hung from her wrists and neck, and she wore leopard print flats in case Darius wasn’t tall and had little-man syndrome like the last guy. She’d kept her look casual and elegant, but from the way Theo’s eyes smoldered, she could’ve been dressed in lingerie. Then he blinked, and the heat was snuffed out like a candle.
She stiffened, pulling away. “You gave me the information; I can get there on my own.”
“You don’t know who he is or what he looks like. What were you going to do, ask every single guy in the bar if he’s Darius Perez?”
That’s exactly what she was going to do.
“So tell me what he looks like,” she said.
“I’m taking you.”
She huffed and put her hands on her hips. “Has Ethan put you up to this? Did he ask you to be my chaperone?” God, when would Ethan stop being so overprotective?
“This has nothing to do with Ethan. Excuse me for wanting to help you out.” He, too, put his hands on his hips, mirroring her gesture.
They stood in the middle of the sidewalk glaring at each other, not paying attention to pedestrians walking around them and shooting them dirty looks. “Ethan didn’t plan this?”
“No, but if you want to find Darius yourself, go for it.” He turned to leave.
She hesitated for a moment, then called, “Wait.”
He turned to face her, one eyebrow raised.
“I don’t want to be late, so I may as well let you take me.” It would be better if Theo introduced them. She wouldn’t admit it to him, though.
He nodded in the direction of his Mercedes. “Get in.”
She slid into the passenger seat, her mind on other things. Once she was on her date enjoying the company of another man she’d forget about Theo, right? She had to believe it, or she’d have no hope in finding a husband.
What the hell was Theo thinking? He didn’t need to take Chloe to her date and introduce her to Darius; they didn’t call it a “blind date” for nothing. He’d been unable to get any work done all afternoon because he’d kept picturing Chloe on her date with Darius. Before he could change his mind, he was in his car heading toward her apartment.
Pulling up at the valet stand, he led her inside the noisy bar and to where Darius was waiting. At least he hadn’t stood her up like the last jerk. When Darius spotted them, he frowned at Theo like he was wondering what he was doing on their date. “Hey, Theo.” Then turning toward Chloe, he smiled. “And who is this?”
“Darius, this is Chloe Doyle. Chloe, Darius Perez.”
“Great to meet you.” Darius held out his hand.
Chloe took it and leaned in to kiss his cheek. Theo’s fists clenched by his sides as she greeted the handsome man. “Lovely to meet you.”
Darius pulled out a chair and gestured for Chloe to sit. When Theo didn’t leave them alone, they both stared up at him. “Arrh, are you joining us, Theo?” Darius asked with a frown. His dark-brown eyes narrowed.
Chloe glared at him, nodding slightly in the direction of the door. Awkward silence descended.
Theo shook himself free. “No, I’m not. Have… fun.” The word lodged in his throat, and he walked away.
Just as Theo was about to leave the bar, someone called out his name. He turned to find his friend Rafael Garza. “Hey, Rafael. Good to see you.”
“It’s been a while.” Rafael clasped his hand in a firm grip.
“Too long. How have you been? How’s the family?”
“They’re here with me—Ariana’s checking out colleges. Join us for a drink, and we can catch up more,” Rafael said.
Normally, Theo would be happy to. Since Rafael had moved to Seattle with his husband and daughter two years ago, Theo hadn’t seen him. But he didn’t want to stay at the bar while Chloe was on her date. “I’d love to, but—"
“Come on, Theo. Will and Ariana are at the table over by the window. They’d love to see you too. Ariana especially would love to see her Tito Theo.”
He really would like to catch up with his buddies. Theo glanced at the table where Raphael’s husband and teenage daughter were seated then at the one where Chloe and Darius were. If she didn’t turn around, she wouldn’t see him and think he was spying on her. “Okay, just a quick drink.”