Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2)

by Baker, Janice

  I gave him a sweet smile. “Thanks, friend.”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  As “friends” we went to a wing house for dinner sans Clark since he had some sort of date with a girl named Tina. I had no idea he dated.

  Scantily clad women serving us seemed to be Matt’s idea of getting back at me for taunting him. He even mentioned it several times. My response? I laughed and told him these women were just going to add to his frustration. My joke was rewarded with one of his sexy smiles that made my insides melt.

  We arrived at Allure two hours later. The last time I was here, for Matt’s happy hour for his team, I must have been too ticked off at him to really enjoy this place. As an old converted warehouse, the bar was made into a high class yuppie bar. I hadn’t noticed the VIP area and pool tables up toward the back the last time I was here. The place had a great vibe to it. A bar where you could enjoy dancing, but the music wasn’t overdone to where you couldn’t hear your friends you were with.

  Matt tugged at my hand, leading me over toward the bar. It seemed like the night was just getting started as there were still some seats available. Matt pulled out a bar stool for me to hop up onto.

  “So what do you like to drink usually?” Matt asked as the beautiful blonde female bartender approached us.

  “Merlot, I guess. I’m not usually much of a drinker.” He chuckled. “Well, that would be the reason I was so drunk last night.” I rolled my eyes as I mentioned that last part.

  “Sandy, this is Vanessa.” Matt introduced me to the beautiful woman behind the bar. Her blonde hair fell right into the crevice of her red halter top and I had a hard time not staring at her cleavage. She definitely looked like someone Matt would be drawn to and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’s thought about being with her.

  Sandy smiled at me and then glanced back at Matt, the scowl on her face gave me the impression he’s actually already been with her. I watched Matt shrug his shoulder with that damn half smile. My smile faded as I wondered how many more women that he’s slept with that we would encounter during our new “friendship.”

  A guy sneaked behind Matt and pressed his finger to his lips letting me know to keep his secret. Remembering the resemblance between the two from the wedding, I recognized the guy as Matt’s brother, Z. I watched Z wet his fingers and then press his index finger and thumb near Matt’s ear. As soon as he placed it near Matt’s ear, Matt jumped swatting at his ear before he finally realized what happened as he spun around to face his brother. Z was laughing as Matt threw a playful punch into his brother’s arm, while shaking his head.

  “Asshole,” Matt muttered at Z.

  Z was still laughing as the woman I remembered as his wife, Izzy, came up behind Z. She threw her arms around Matt, hugging him tightly as she giggled about her husband’s antics.

  “Tell your husband to grow up, Iz,” Matt told Izzy as he pulled back from her hug. Izzy shook her head, laughing as she came over to me and threw her arms around me too. I tried not to act to surprised as I returned her affections.

  As she pulled back, she responded, “He’ll never grow up and I love that about him.”

  Sandy placed our drinks in front of us and added in, “You’re the same way Matt. You’ll never grow up or settle down.” With that she slammed his beer down so that it foamed up. Matt just pressed his lips together and shook his head watching her walk away. He reached over the counter and grabbed some napkins to clean up the mess.

  Izzy tried to make small conversation with me, asking how work is going and how the conference went in New Jersey. Matt and Z seemed to talk about how the bar was doing and the business side of things. I glanced over to Matt and watched his face perk up as he watched someone walk in the front door. I turned my head and noticed the tall groom with brown disheveled hair and his beautiful bride walk in. Flynn clapped Matt’s back and gave Z a half hug. Mel hugged Izzy tightly and then she gave me a small hug. They started talking about their honeymoon and how it went and telling stories about the other couples they met in Barbados. I loved how they all interacted with each other and how close they all seem.

  Izzy turned to me with a smile and asked, “You’re coming tomorrow, right?”

  I glanced over at Matt, completely perplexed by what she asked me. Matt caught my eye and gave a slight head nod, wondering what I was silently asking him. Izzy turned to Matt, “You did ask her, didn’t you?”

  I realized that whatever they were talking about for tomorrow, he obviously didn’t want me to go or he would have already discussed it with me. I quickly answered, “I already have plans for tomorrow anyway.”

  Matt gave me that smirk and shook his head. “She doesn’t have plans and no, I hadn’t invited her yet, Izzy.”

  I was completely confused at that point and shot Matt a look wondering what he was talking about.

  Izzy started laughing. “I love the beginning part. You guys have no idea how to act around each other.” She and Mel laughed together and I sat there still not knowing what the hell was going on.

  “Oh we’re not together. We’re just friends,” I corrected them knowing they must think we’re together now.

  Izzy turned quickly to Matt, giving him a perplexed look, then turned back to me with a smile as she sarcastically told me, “Oh, of course you are.” She and Mel shared a quick glance before Izzy advised me, “You’re coming to dinner tomorrow night at Flynn and Mel’s house. We have dinner together almost every Sunday night so we have at least one home cooked meal in our lives.”

  Mel wrapped her arms around Izzy’s neck and quipped, “It all started with Izzy’s great cooking. You’ll love it.” She smiled at me. I glanced over at Matt, unsure if he really wanted me there. I just nodded, unsure of what to think or say. I grabbed my wine and took a sip pondering if I should go or make up an excuse.

  I glanced across the dance floor area to the other side of the bar and noticed a familiar face. Our eyes met and I almost choked on my wine. Matt reached over and patted my back, asking if I was alright. I glanced worriedly at him and mouthed, “Kara” to him. He looked over in the direction I just looked and met eyes with her. He smiled and raised his beer.

  “Come on, let’s go say hi,” he said as he tugged on my elbow. My eyes were wide as I couldn’t believe it wasn’t registering to him that we were together in a public place and there were other people from work here. They would see us…together. I tried to remember if he had touched me at all while we were here. It dawned on me that when we walked in, he held my hand leading me to the bar area.

  Matt turned to the gang as he grabbed his beer from the bar. “We’ll be right back.” He looked at Izzy. “Going to go say Hi to Kara.” Izzy nodded as she glanced over and waved at Kara. Kara waved back excitedly to her and then her eyes met mine again. Her smile fell when her eyes landed back to mine. My stomach dropped. Shit. She hates me now because I had been such a bitch to her, reminding her about the policy and here I was with Matt.

  “Hey Kara!” Matt hugged Kara excitedly as we walked up to their table, not holding hands. Kara was perched up on a chair next to two guys. I knew Tom, from Matt’s sales department and I had to assume the other guy was Ryan, Tom’s roommate. My assistant, Renee, told me she heard a rumor that Kara and Tom’s roommate were officially dating.

  “Matty! I wasn’t sure if I’d see you out here tonight. And I sure didn’t think I’d see you here with Vanessa.” Her smile dropped as she stared daggers at me with her eyes. Oh shit. I gave a small smile. “Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here at Allure,” she said with a jealous undertone in her voice.

  “Matt talked me into getting out more. As friends.” I nervously added the last part, but I think it came out more forced, as if I were trying to get her to believe we’re friends. We are. I reminded myself.

  Kara nodded slowly, her mouth pressed into a forced mini smile, if you could even call it that. She was pissed and I could tell. I wondered if Matt could see that also. I glanced over to him
and he immediately walked over to the guys and shook their hands, saying their greetings, leaving me with Kara. Alone. I briefly looked up and locked eyes with Matt. He pulled up that corner of his mouth and smugly mouthed, “Friends.” Jerk.

  I tried my best not to roll my eyes. Kara quickly turned around to see what I was looking at. Matt glanced at her and smiled before turning his attention back to the guys.

  Kara slowly turned back, glaring at me and lowered her voice. “I thought we weren’t allowed to inter-company date.” Hatred laced her voice.

  “We’re not dating. Matt and I are just friends.” I tried to say convincingly. Although I quickly remembered how my “friend” was just in my room watching me dress. Then images of hot amazing sex flashed through my mind. I flushed and tried to bring my attention back to convincing Kara that Matt and I are just friends.

  “It sure didn’t look like friends when you walked in holding hands. He had his hand on your back most of the time,” she sarcastically remarked. Her smugness was really apparent as was her anger for me.

  Crap. I couldn’t have her thinking we were dating and then possibly get us fired using my own policy. “My fiancé and I broke up and I think Matt is just trying to get me to get back out dating since my roommate is on a date tonight.” I told her with a sincere smile. Not so high and mighty now that you’re not at the office, huh, Vanessa. I told myself, but I was pretty sure that was what Kara was also thinking.

  Kara looked me up and down, her eyes softening slightly as she seemed to assess what I just told her. I was being honest with her. Matt and I really are just friends right now. Of course I slept with him at the conference, but there was no way anyone would know that. I was pretty sure Matt would never tell anyone. I hope.

  Kara seemed to accept what I just told her and nodded her head slightly, while tilting her pretty shoulder. She threw me a comforting smile as she relaxed a little more. She pulled out the empty bar stool and patted it. “Come on and sit,” She commanded in her sweet voice.

  Was she going to be nice to me? She seemed to look around the room before finally finding whatever she was searching for. She touched my arm lightly as her eyes lit up excitedly. I leaned in, anxious to hear whatever it was she was about to tell me. “Okay. Don’t look right away, but there is a guy right behind you wearing a grey t-shirt,” she squinted her eyes before continuing, “ohh, it’s a Volcrom shirt.” She nodded happily as she figured out what was written on it. “He’s a really nice guy and also came out of a relationship recently. He’s an accountant.” She stopped and bit her lip, her eyes still wild with excitement, “His muscles always ripple through his shirt. I think he sometimes likes to flex them just for show.” She giggled and then went on to tell me more.

  Oh my God, she’s going to try to set me up. Panic swept through me at the thought of meeting someone new. I glanced up at Matt, who was fully immersed in conversation with the guys. No help there so I glanced back to Kara, still panic stricken.

  She must have noticed my anxious look as she squeezed my arm slightly, “Oh don’t worry, he’s a really nice guy. He’s not macho or anything. He just likes to show off his muscles a little.” She tilted her head as she watched the guy a little more. Then she looked back at me. “His name is Luke. He’s super sweet and actually a little shy. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  Before I knew it, Kara grabbed my arm, yanking me up and out of my seat and dragging me towards…Luke. My heart started racing just looking at Luke, not to mention, meeting someone new. Wow. He was definitely into body building as I briefly looked at his huge arms. I wasn’t usually attracted to the body builder type, they always seemed so scary to me, but as I was stumbling behind Kara, Luke’s beautiful green eyes met mine and I noticed a calming kindness behind them.

  I arrived at the table, well, I sort of almost tripped to stand beside Kara. Kara’s sexy sweet mannerisms had all three men’s attention fully on her. I’m not much taller than her, but beside her petite slender body, I felt like an amazon woman.

  “Hey guys!” Kara trilled. “I haven’t seen you guys in a while. How have you been?” Kara commanded everyone’s attention at the table as they all grinned at her, grazing their eyes up and down her body. They all briefly said hello as Kara turned towards Luke, almost presenting me towards him by placing her hands on my hips turning me towards him.

  “Luke, this is Vanessa. She’s my HR director at my company. She just broke up with her fiancé, just like you just broke up with yours. Isn’t that a coincidence?” My face had to have burned the brightest shade of crimson at her very forward and uncomfortable introduction. It was like she was presenting me to Luke for his approval. I wanted to turn around and run.

  Luke held out his hand and smiled warmly at me. “Vanessa. I like that name. It’s really nice to meet you.” Kara stepped aside as Luke reached over for the empty bar stool and offered it with a sweep of his hand over the seat.

  I took his hand and before I knew it, Kara was gone and I was fully absorbed in an easy going conversation with Luke.

  Chapter 18

  Matt

  What the fuck is going on? I glanced over at Vanessa sitting there talking to that dumb ass, Luke. The guy has no freaking brain and can barely talk to chicks. I watched Kara saunter proudly back to our table, smiling as if she just built the Eiffel Tower. What the hell? I was just chatting with Tom and Kara’s boyfriend, Ryan and then I was going to grab Vanessa to head back to the bar and this shit happens.

  Kara sat down and took a sip from her glass. Her eyes were lit up as she glanced over at me. I tried my best to keep my voice calm and didn’t want to sound pissed, since Vanessa and I are supposed to be “just friends,” but this shit wasn’t gonna fly. “What’d you just do Kara?”

  “Well, Vanessa just broke up with her fiancé and Luke and Miriam have been broken up for awhile now; I thought they might get along.” She tilted that sexy shoulder of hers as if she did the best thing ever.

  Seething. Jealous. Shit. I’m jealous. I looked back over at the table and Luke was leaning in and so was Vanessa. Their knees were so close they were probably touching. I watched him as he waved Mandy over and ordered Vanessa a drink.

  “They’re perfect for each other. Vanessa has that hard edge to her and I think Luke likes that type of woman. I know he doesn’t like someone who’s too nice, so I think her bitchiness will really attract him.”

  “She’s not bitchy,” I snapped at Kara. Her eyes stared right into mine as I realized that came out a bit harsh. “I mean, she is at the office, but when she’s not there she can actually be pretty cool.” I tried to add, hoping she doesn’t see through me.

  “Sounds like you know a little more about her than I do,” she pointed out a bit snottily.

  Defending Vanessa probably led Kara to believe that we’re dating, which we’re not. We’re just friends. I took a swig from my beer. “She lives across from me. We talk a little more than we used to.”

  Kara’s brows shot up with surprise as she leaned in and asked, “She lives across the hall from you and Clark?”

  I nodded as both guys were watching the entire conversation take place; their eyes bouncing back and forth across the table like a ping pong match. Her boyfriend Ryan covered her hand with his, “You alright? Why is that such a big deal?”

  “Because she’s been such a bitch to Matty at work.” She looked back up at me. “Right Matty? She was such a bitch to you!” She exclaimed with a disgusted face.

  “Yeah, but I think that was because she was worried I’d take over at the office or something. I think she’s scared I’ll screw up the policies or something weird like that.” I tried to explain why I would talk to Vanessa now. I was hoping Kara would buy it without starting some strange rumor at the office. As I’ve said before, Kara likes to talk.

  Kara seemed to stare at me longer than the usual manner she’s looked at me. I glanced away quickly and took a sip. Of course my eyes immediately went straight to where Vanessa was sitting. W
ith Luke. Dick head.

  “Why are you grinding your jaw, Matty?” Kara asked. There was slight agitation to her voice.

  I watched as Ryan quickly asked Kara, “Why do you care so much about Matt and Vanessa, Kara?”

  Her eyes snapped to him and she quickly replaced her frown with a happy smile. “Oh, I don’t. I just know how Matty feels about Vanessa at the office, that’s all.” I watched her swallow quickly and took a drink from her glass. Ryan nodded his head as I watched him glance to Tom and then back to Kara.

  “Well, I’m going to head back to the bar. I’ll let you guys enjoy your night.” I shook hands with the guys and Kara met me as I started to pass her and gave me a swift hug.

  “I’m sorry, Matty. I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just that I know how she acted towards you at the office. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  I smiled at Kara, knowing how caring she can be. I know she’s concerned about me, she always has been. I nodded to her and gave her a reassuring smile. “I can take care of myself, Kara. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

  She pressed her lips together and nodded her head. “Okay, Matty. I’ll see you back at the office. Monday’s my new day as a sales person,” she trilled.

  I had forgotten all about that. She had to be nervous and maybe that’s why she was acting this way. “Hey, you’re not nervous about Monday, are you?” I pulled my brows together worried about her all of a sudden.

  “No. I mean, well, a little. I just don’t want to disappoint you, Matty.”

  I chuckled how she’s always thinking of others. “You’ll be fine, Kara. Don’t worry about me. I’ll help you out along the way. I know you’ll be great at sales.” She nodded happily and then reached up for a hug. I hugged her back noticing how tightly she was squeezing me. She was pissy one minute and happy the next. Maybe I should have started recording her time of the month.