Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 29

The divorce wasn’t official yet—she hadn’t even met with a lawyer—so she had no intention of spilling the secret before anything was settled. “It’s nothing,” she replied.

Across the room, Finley Walker suddenly stopped in his tracks when he saw the pair by the window. “No freaking way,” he muttered under his breath.

The people with him followed his gaze, then echoed in disbelief, “No way.”

“Finley, wasn’t Charles supposed to meet you to talk business? How’d he end up across from Daniel’s wife in a romantic restaurant?”

Finley wished he knew. The sight of Charles and Amelia sitting together in a place meant for couples made his skin crawl. He quickly grabbed his companions and hustled everyone back to the office.

Once the door closed, both Finley and his friend lit up cigarettes, each lost in anxious thought.

Seriously—your buddy having dinner alone with another friend’s wife in a place like this? No matter how you sliced it, it didn’t look right. But should they say something?

“Finley, you’ve got to tell Daniel. No matter what, Charles can’t cross that line,” his friend insisted. “Even if Daniel doesn’t care, there’s still the marriage certificate. Morally and legally, it’s off-limits.”

Finley exhaled a troubled stream of smoke. Both Charles and Daniel were his friends; it was like being forced to choose between his left and right hands. Before he could work through the dilemma, his phone rang on the desk, making both men jump.

He checked the caller ID. Problem solved—no need to agonize anymore.

On the other end, Daniel’s voice was curt and direct. “I saw Amelia charged something at your restaurant. Tell the manager to keep her there. I’m coming over.”

…

When Sophia returned from the restroom, she spotted Charles. She’d always thought he was all right, so she sat down and chatted with him for a bit. But after a few minutes, her expression soured. With a parting shot—“Some people’s delicate stomachs just can’t handle the finer things”—she hurried off to the restroom again.

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh. Across from her, Charles watched the smile on her lips, momentarily silent.

Noticing his gaze, Amelia touched her face. “Do I have something on my face?”

Daniel looked at her cool, sharp face. Whatever anger was left inside him started to fade. He reached out and pinched her cheek. “So you use my card to treat another man to dinner, and then get snippy with me? Amelia, you really are one of a kind.”

He wasn’t sure if he was teasing or mocking her. Then he glanced at Charles. “And you—having dinner alone with your buddy’s wife, and charging it to his card? It’s not like the Johnson family’s bankrupt.”

Charles was about done with him.

“Well, well, look who decided to show up,” Sophia called out, returning from the restroom and catching sight of Daniel. Her tone was pure sarcasm. “The legendary ladies’ man himself.”

One look at Sophia and Daniel realized she’d gotten the wrong idea.

His handsome face froze for a brief second—just one. “So that’s why Amelia’s been so feisty lately—bad company rubs off, I guess.”

“Look who’s talking! You’re the toxic influence here, not her!” Sophia bumped him aside and plopped down next to Amelia. “If you want to pick a fight, at least give people a reason. Hands off my girl—go bother your own first love!”