Free Watching You by Gemma Halliday Page B

riveted to the newcomer.
    “ I swear I’m usually not this big of a kltuz,” Isabella told him.
    “ Hmm,” the man looked down at her, narrowing his eyes. “So, let me guess - you bumped into me on purpose just to meet me?”
    “ No!” Isabella laughed, though Dale could see a blush tinge her cheeks.
    “ Leo,” the man said, offering her his hand.
    She shook it. “Isabella.”
    “ That’s lovely. Spanish?”
    “ Italian.”
    “ Mmm… my favorite.”
    Dale adjusted his ball cap. He took a big gulp of coffee, burning his tongue, as the pair made it to the front of the line, Bella paying for the asshole’s drink.
    “ You work nearby?” he asked.
    Bella nodded. “Dunwood and McKittridge.”
    “ Uh oh. You’re a lawyer.”
    “ Is that bad?”
    “ Not bad. But always expensive.”
    She smiled at him. A slow, soft thing that said she’d had to think about it, had to decide if this man was worthy of her smile. And apparently, he was.
    What Dale wouldn’t give for a smile like that.
    He let out a long breath through his nose, skipping to another unread page of the paper.
    “ And you? What do you do, Leo?” she asked him as the kid behind the counter handed him the fresh drink.
    “ Stockbroker. Meryl Lynch.”
    Figures.
    Dale downed another gulp of coffee, cringing as an unstirred clump of sugar dissolved in his throat.
    “ That sounds interesting,” Isabella responded.
    “ Liar. Stocks are boring as hell.”
    She laughed. Not a nervous giggle or a polite chuckle, but an actual deep in the gut laugh.
    Jesus, was she really falling for this guy’s bullshit?
    “ Listen, I hate to cut this short,” Leo said, looking down at his watch. Gold Rolex. Fucker. “But I’ve got a meeting with a client.”
    “ Oh.” Dale could have sworn she actually sounded disappointed.
    “ But, I’d love to continue this over dinner. Tonight? Say eight o’clock?”
    Her face brightened up like she was seeing the sunshine for the first time. “I’d love to.”
    Dale watched as she pulled a business card from her purse, handing it over. Leo tucked it in the pocket of his coffee stained jacket, then gave her a wink before leaving.
    And actual dirty uncle wink. What an ass.
    Dale tossed aside his paper, stalking out of the cafe. He threw the dregs of his coffee in the nearest waste bin before sprinting across the street to his car.
    He got in, took deep, long breaths, taking stock of the situation as Isabella emerged and got into her Lexus heading west.
    For once, he didn’t follow her.
    Instead he focused on the red BMW pulling out two cars up on the left side of the street.
    Leo.
    A complication that wasn’t in Dale’s plans.
    A complication Dale didn’t need.
    He put on his blinker, merging into traffic a beat behind the flashy Beemer.

    * * *

    “ This place is lovely, I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.” Isabella smiled up at Leo, laying one manicured hand on his arm.
    “ You’ll love the risotto,” he assured her. Then skimmed the small of her back, steering her possessively toward a dimly lit booth near the back of the restaurant.
    Dale ground his teeth together, turning on his bar stool so his face remained hidden from the pair. This was the sixth time in as many days that they’d been out together. It was pissing him off. Suddenly everywhere Dale went, there was Leo. Isabella talked about him to her friends, met him for lunch, coffee, drinks. Dinner, movies, even an evening at the opera for fuck’s sake. Didn’t this guy have any other life? She had no routine anymore. Nothing was predictable. Dale didn’t like it.
    And he didn’t like this asshole, either.
    “ Champagne?” Leo asked, signaling the waiter.
    She nodded, wisps of dark hair falling in her eyes. He loved it when it did that, shifted across her face that way. Sexy as hell.
    Leo noticed, too, sending her a salacious look before perusing the wine list. Probably looking for the most expensive bottle he could find. Show