“What? Me?” Jeanine started to stutter on her response. “I can’t go with you two. I, uh … have plans.”

“You do not!” I practically shouted because I knew for a fact that she had absolutely zero plans.

“Well, I still can’t go. Leave me out of whatever this is.” She gave us both a quick frown before disappearing to God knows where.

“Great. You scared my best friend away.”

I disapprovingly shook my head before James took a step toward me, closing the space between us. My body should have moved away from his in response, but it stayed deathly still, enjoying the cat-and-mouse game we played. Desire sprang to life inside me even though it knew it didn’t stand a chance. Giving in to James wasn’t something I could do, but I was tempted. The smell of his cologne surrounded me, and it took everything in me to not close my eyes and breathe it in. I wanted him even closer, and I practically dared him to make the small distance between us evaporate. I hated how attracted I was to him; it made me weak.

“Dinner, Julia. Say yes. I won’t stop asking.”

“No,” I managed to get out.

A quick guffaw escaped his lips. “Yes.”

“No,” I said once more, but if he asked again, I was definitely going to cave.

“Julia, say yes.”

My mouth opened to do exactly that when Todd Lestare interrupted us, “Are you almost ready to go, Julia?”

I stared at him in shock, my mouth still open.

“Um, almost,” I stumbled over the lie.

James’s expression turned downright murderous. “What is this?” He turned his head and focused on Todd, his jaw tense.

I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever seen him look so angry. Why was he so mad?

“I’m taking Julia to dinner to celebrate her win. She finally said yes. Only had to ask about ten times.” Todd winked, and I died a little inside. Getting me out of going to dinner with James was one thing, but piling more lies on top was more than I needed or wanted.

“Is that so?” James looked fiercely into my eyes and waited for me to come clean. He knew I was lying. He dared me to admit it, to say it out loud, but I couldn’t.

I offered him a weak nod instead.

He leaned in close, his lips nearing my ear. “Don’t go out with him,” he whispered, and I had to catch my breath. “Anyone but him.”

My mouth opened to respond, to tell him that I’d do whatever the heck he asked, but Todd stepped in again.

“Not sure what game you’re playing at, Russo, but we’ve got reservations to make. And I know that you, of all people, can understand that.”