CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 252 MEET HER AGAIN

Joseph’s POV

"Last call, gentlemen!" The bartender said loudly.

I finished my bourbon and turned to Ryan. "This is exactly what I needed after this week."

Ryan nodded. "Eleanor finally let you off your leash?"

"More like she decided to set me free," I laughed. "She’s been fixing the company. She said I was quite a handful this week."

"That woman deserves a raise," Ryan said. "You were spiraling, man. Almost as bad as your old man."

I felt bad at the comparison to my father.

"Yeah, well..." I stopped when I saw movement at the entrance. "Shit. Look who just walked in."

Ryan turned to see Sophia Walter walking in with her friends Vanessa and Ella.

"Time to go," Ryan said. He stood up. "Last time I was around Ella, she wouldn’t stop asking about Draven. That woman doesn’t understand what ’he’s not interested’ means."

"Let’s get out the back," I said. I threw some cash on the bar. We were halfway to the exit when I heard Sophia call my name. I pretended not to hear.

We made it to the parking lot. Ryan let out a breath. "That was close. I don’t need another night of Ella asking me to put in a good word with Draven."

"Didn’t she show up at his office uninvited last week?"

Ryan nodded. "He banned her from the building."

"Seriously?" I laughed. "Maybe I should send my resume to Thorne Enterprises. Sounds more entertaining than my place."

Since it was Friday night, we decided to go to a strip club.

We drank and talked at the club until four in the morning. Then Ryan and I said goodbye.

The buzzing of my phone woke me from deep sleep. I reached for it with my eyes still closed.

"No, Eleanor, I swear I’m not hungover..." I said.

"Who’s Eleanor, Uncle Joseph?" A young male voice laughed.

I opened one eye. "Antonio? What time is it?"

"It’s two in the afternoon. Late night?"

I groaned and rolled onto my back. "Why are you calling me?"

"I need your help," Antonio said quietly. "I need woman advice."

That woke me up. My eighteen year old nephew was like me at that age. He was more interested in partying than anything serious.

"You? Need woman advice? What happened to love them and leave them?"

"I met someone... different."

I sat up. "Different how?"

"Can we meet at Harbor Bay Mall? I’ll tell you everything."

I groaned. "The mall? On a Saturday afternoon? Are you trying to torture me?"

"Come on, Uncle Joseph! I’m not coming to your penthouse where you’ve probably got some naked model waiting."

"Fine," I said. "Food court. One hour."

An hour later, I was at Harbor Bay Mall. The food court was packed with teenagers, families, and tired fathers. I spotted Antonio at a table near the fountain. He was checking his phone nervously.

My nephew had inherited the Garcia good looks.Blonde hair, strong jaw, and confident posture from being part of the Nightbane Pack’s Alpha family. But today he looked nervous.

"Uncle Joseph! Over here!" Antonio called.

I joined my nephew at a table.

"So, who’s this girl that’s got you all twisted up?" I asked.

Antonio sighed. "She’s amazing. Smart, beautiful.She doesn’t know I exist. Well, she knows I exist, but only as the guy who throws parties and hangs out with the lacrosse team."

"And the problem is...?"

"I don’t know how to get her to take me seriously! She thinks I’m just a rich party boy."

I raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you?"

"I want to be more," he said. His voice was sincere. "Mom’s always saying I need to grow up. Maybe she’s right."

I was about to give some Garcia wisdom when a familiar figure was walking toward our place.

It was her. The woman from the shop who’d humiliated me with that sex toy for my mother. She looked even better than I remembered. She wore simple jeans and a burgundy top.

"Uncle Joseph? Hello?" Antonio waved his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, kid." I didn’t take my eyes off the woman. "I just spotted someone I need to have a conversation with."

Antonio followed my gaze. "Whoa. She’s gorgeous."

A plan formed in my mind. "Want to see how a real master works? Watch and learn."

My nephew’s eyes widened. "No way. You’re going to hit on her? Right now?"

"Why not?"

Antonio studied her for a moment, then looked back at me with a smirk. "I bet you can’t get her number."

"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You heard me." His smirk grew wider. "She looks way too classy for your usual approach."

Dean growled in my head. The pup is challenging us.

I felt my competitive nature kick in. "What are the stakes?"

"If you get her number, I’ll stop throwing those weekend parties Mom hates. And next time she starts lecturing you about settling down, I’ll defend you."

Flora, my sister, was always talking about my bachelor lifestyle. Having Antonio as an ally would be helpful.

"And if I don’t?"

"You admit that your reputation as a ladies’ man is overblown, and you come to my lacrosse game wearing a World’s Okayest Uncle t-shirt."

I extended my hand. "Deal."

Antonio shook it and grinned. "This should be entertaining."

I stood up and straightened my jacket. I made my way toward my target. She was at the counter ordering. I slid in beside her.

"Well, well. If it isn’t the woman who tried to send me to a grave via embarrassment."

She turned. Recognition and then amusement flashed in her eyes. Up close, she was even more stunning. Deep blue eyes with flecks, full lips.

"If it isn’t Mr. Sex Toy," she replied coolly. "How’s your mother enjoying her blessed gift?"

I felt heat rise in my cheeks.

"Unfortunately, it caused me permanent psychological damage."

"Pity for you." Her lips curved into a wicked smile.

The cashier cleared her throat. "Your total is $12.75, ma’am."

Before the woman could reach for her wallet, I handed over a twenty. "I’m paying for the lady’s lunch."

"I don’t need you to pay for me," she protested.

"Consider this my way of getting your attention." I turned back to the cashier. "Keep the change."

The woman took her receipt and stepped aside to wait for her order.

"Can I at least know your name? I’m Joseph Garcia." I extended my hand. "And you are?"

She hesitated before taking it. "Ava Flynn."

Her touch sent an unexpected jolt through my system. Dean suddenly became alert and pushed forward with interest. Strange.

"Well, Ava Flynn, I think you owe me."

She raised an eyebrow. "For what exactly?"

"Emotional distress. The image of my mother opening that package still haunts me."

Ava laughed. "And how exactly am I supposed to make amends?"

"Your phone number would be a start."

Her smile faded slightly. "I don’t think so."

"Come on. One coffee or have a dinner. Let me tell you exactly how awkward the conversation with my mother would have been."

"And why would I want to have dinner with you?"

I grinned. "Because I’m charming, successful, and incredibly forgiving about the whole sex toy incident."

She laughed again. The sound stirred something in my chest.

"Tempting," she said, gathering her things. "But I think I’ll pass."

I frowned. "You’re rejecting me?"

"Don’t take it personally. I’m just not interested in dating right now," she stood up. "Especially not someone who looks like he goes through women faster than most people go through toilet paper."

I stood up too. I was genuinely taken aback. Women didn’t reject me. Ever.

"How do you know what kind of man I am?" I asked.

"I’ve met enough Josephs in my life to recognize the type," she said. "Enjoy your day, Mr. Garcia."

She walked away. I stared after her in disbelief.

I returned to Antonio’s table. I felt strangely off balance. Women didn’t walk away from me. Especially not when I was making an effort.

Antonio was cackling. "That was your master technique? I think I just watched the great Joseph Garcia strike out for the first time ever."

"She’s playing hard to get," I muttered.

"I guess you have finally met your match," he teased. "I’m starting to think Mom shouldn’t worry about you settling down. You couldn’t get a date if you tried!"

"The bet’s still on," I insisted. "I’ll get her number."

Antonio stood and patted my shoulder. "Sure you will, Uncle Joseph. In the meantime, I’ll pick out that t-shirt."

As I watched him leave, I felt a bit defiant, but I was still thinking about that woman.