“Tati, we’ve been over this.” More times than I can remember.

Todd doesn’t want anything serious with anyone, let alone his good friend.

“We’re friends,” I say.

“And I believed that—until Davis came into the picture. Haven’t you noticed how different Todd’s been acting? How he seems down and not his usual sarcastic self?”

She hands me the bag of chips, and I swipe it from her.

“Thought you’d need those,” she says.

“You don’t understand, Tati. I honestly thought you were right months ago. He’s firm that he doesn’t want anything with anyone. Seriously, why would he ask me to flirt with Davis if he were interested?”

“What? He did?” Her eyes glance down and her lips purse. “Maybe he didn’t realize it himself until he saw you with Davis. Yep, that’s it.” She has a smug look on her face, happy she was able to come up with something so fast.

I can’t deny that my interest in Todd has been there since he moved in. Every girl on this planet would be attracted to him, but he’s not at all what I stereotyped him to be. But I’m not naive enough to think I could change a guy, and Todd has been clear on the fact that he’s not looking for forever and always.

“Lia, you need to have a heart-to-heart with Todd. Get it out in the open.”

“I’m with Davis now, Tati. It’s over.” If only my heartbeat wouldn’t speed up with the hope that Todd actually has interest in more than friendship with me.

Her shoulder pops up. “Do what you want, but I’m telling you, he likes you.”

“Doubtful.”

Her cell phone dings, and she grabs it off the coffee table. She smiles wide.

“Go, Tati.” I shake my head.

She giggles. “You’re good, though, right?”

“Go!”

Tati leaves the room, and I pull my phone out of my pocket.

Me: Are you going to the gym tomorrow?

Todd: I’m doing a cycling class at nine.

Me: I’m game.

Todd: I’ll save you a bike.

Me: Thanks.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Todd

Davis stops me in the hallway. “I’m going to LA for at least a month.”

“Okay.” There isn’t much else to say, except for ’see ya’.

In the past few weeks, he’s been a thorn in my personal and work life. He refuses to take my suggestions about the menu. He spread the word to investors not to go into business with me. The topper was pulling the shit with Noodle. The fact that she believed his bullshit story goes to show how much she must like him. I’m grateful for the opportunities he’s given me over the past few years, but it’s time for me to move on.

“Can I talk to you?” He holds his office door open.

I follow him and stand in front of his desk, my arms crossed, waiting for his instructions.

“Sit down, Todd. I know we’ve had our differences, but I need you to help me out while I’m on this trip.”

This piques my interest because I’ll continue to use him to escalate my career. He would do the same if the roles were reversed.

“I’m handing CHOPs over to you for the next month. It’s yours. You decide what the specials are. You make the decisions on all the food. Shawn will still do bar and seating. We’ll talk every week and go over orders. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“That’s awfully nice of you.”

Davis has another trick up his sleeve. His determined eyes are a dead giveaway.

“What do you want?” I ask.

“When I return, George Hunt is opening a new restaurant. He’s been looking for a new chef to run it.”

Here’s the piece of meat he’ll dangle in front of my face. I’ve been in this exact chair twice since I started. I might have fallen for it the first time, like the lion he thinks I am, but not this time.

“Okay. For what price?”

“It can be yours. He trusts my recommendations because they’ve never failed him.”

There it is. Let’s hear this one. I know exactly who it has to do with.

“But?”

“You back away from Lia.”

Bingo, baby.

“We’re friends.” Sort of.

He doesn’t need to know that I’ve been waiting patiently for her to realize the dick that he is.

“Bullshit. You and I both know there’s more there.” Davis stands, rounds his elaborate desk and sits on the edge of his desk.

Is he trying to intimidate me?

“I won’t lie. There have been times when it’s crossed my mind.” I rise to my feet, so he can see I’m actually a few inches taller.

“If you want the head chef position and part equity in Hunt’s restaurant, you’ll find a way to distance yourself from her.” He crosses his arms.

I fight the urge to laugh in his face.

Even if I were out of Noodle’s life, how could he not feel like second choice?

“That easy, huh?”

“Yes. That easy.” He holds his hand out in front of me, like a handshake is worth something to him.

Davis is the kind of guy you need to nail down with a signature.

“For one month, I run the restaurant and distance myself from Lia, and then the position is mine,” I clarify, just in case the snake tries to change things around.

“Yes.”

Davis’s hand rests in front of me. I look down at it hanging in the air and back to him.

“Got it.” I shake his hand.

“Great. I’m glad we could agree, Todd. I’m going to be late for my flight. Talk to you at the end of the week.”

He grabs his bag and leaves out the door without me saying anything back. Once he’s gone, I lean back in his chair and place my feet on his desk.

I have one month to steal his girl—strike that, to claim my girl.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Amelia

I run into the cycling class and find Todd in a heated discussion with another guy over a bike.

I patiently wait behind the guy, biting my lip. Todd’s annoyed eyes bore into mine, and I scrunch my shoulders. My innocent act has worn thin with him, I’m sure, but in my defense, the bus was late.

“I’m sorry.” I tap the guy on the shoulder.

His eyes give me a once-over before a huff escapes his throat.

“He was saving it for me. The bus was running late,” I say.

“Whatever.” He breezes past me with a knock into my shoulder.

“Hey, jackass!” Todd screams, moving to climb off his bike.

“Stop it. It’s fine.” I shake my head.

But Todd’s eyes follow the guy until he leaves the room. “I’d kick his ass for you.” The aggravation washes away from his face.

“I know, but I don’t want to visit the police station today.”

Todd locks his foot back into the pedal, and then his legs go way faster than I plan on doing at any point today. Out of the corner of my eyes, I watch his leg muscles constrict the faster he goes. I place my water bottle into the slot and drape my towel over the handlebars.

For some reason, my focus keeps wavering toward Todd and his body. Tatiana’s words from last night come to mind, and warmness puddles in the pit of my stomach.

Could he want more?

“Are you going to prepare to actually climb on the bike and work out?” he asks me.

My eyes snap up to his face. His head is cocked in my direction, and his lips curl at the ends. My heartbeat picks up with just the thought of us being wrapped together as one after a long marathon of sex.

“Yep.” I hurriedly climb onto the bike and lock my feet in. At least I still had the cycling shoes I bought the last time I was on my workout binge.

My legs burn from the small amount of circles, and I fear I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this class. Maybe I should have started with some aqua aerobics first.

Todd sits up, and his feet continue to move like he’s on a leisurely bike ride through a park. “So, I had a meeting this morning.”

“You did?”

“With Davis. How are you holding up?” His edged jaw clenches, and he concentrates on something in front of him.