The Game of Love

2

Oh no, Jade thought as she spotted the man in front of her cafe.

The grey tee that he was sporting didn't do much to hide the tattoos that graced his honey brown biceps, a smile on his lips as he pulled the door open.

The chime caused Jade to jump to her feet as she ran towards the door, blocking his path. His right eyebrow arched, giving Jade the perfect view of his face, his defined jawline, smalls eyes, the mole under his left eye and the complimentary scar beside it. He was mixed, Jade could tell but she couldn't quite figure out with what.

If anything the man was attractive but not her type, the tattoos were a turn off for her. She definitely couldn't take someone like him home to meet her parents.

"Do you intend to move today or are you leaving?"

His question caught her off guard, her eyes widened. Did he really ask her if she was leaving? His snappy tone ruined his attractiveness as Jade's eyes cut into slits at the man.

"I'm sorry but we're closed. I'm sure the doubles shed down the road can provide you with sustenance."

She applauded herself in her mind for her witty comeback as he twisted his jaw.

"Oh so you think you're funny?"

His nostrils flared as a cocoa brown hand wrapped around his own, pulling him out of the way. The familiar face that Jade had no intention of seeing this morning was in front of her.

"Jade."

Theo smiled, one that couldn't quite reach his eyes as Jade looked at him from head to toe.

The sandals that graced his feet, to the three quarter jeans and black tee, what did her best friend see in this man?

"Theo what are you doing here?"

At the mention of his name, Stephanie was at her side, pushing her friend out of the way as her arms wrapped around the man. The sinister smirk on his lips indicated that he had won some unknown battle, Jade was not even playing with him.

"Stephanie, why is your man here?"

Stephanie's smile was bright and Jade had no intention of returning it.

"I invited them, Theo is apart of the announcement."

She said pulling him towards the table as two men followed behind him. The one she'd had an encounter with sending a death glare her way as realization suddenly sunk in.

The first man she encountered for the day.

Her steps faltered, it couldn't be him. Anyone else but him, she groaned inwardly as she found her seat. As luck would have it, he was seated across from her, his dark brown orbs piercing into hers. It was like he was challenging her to say something, studying her as if he could ever know anything about her and Jade smiled.

The task didn't seem so hard after all, she'd play the remorseful business owner and supply him with non substantial information about her that would make him her prey.

Look at him, a woman like her on his arm, Jade knew he wouldn't let that opportunity pass him by.

"Jade and Kyra, these are Theo's friends, Jordan and Adrian. Adrian and Jordan, these are my friends, Jade and Kyra."

Jade nodded in both their directions, plastering a smile on her lips. The fact that Theo and his friends were here, meant that whatever announcement Stephanie had to make, involved the man. She was silently praying that her friend was not pregnant or getting married.

"Guys dig in, there's enough food for everyone."

Jade watched Adrian's upturned nose as he looked at the platters in front of him, opting for fruit instead of a meal. That felt like a jab to her cafe and Jade took it personally as the group fell into comfortable conversation.