Game, Set, Match (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) (Love Match) by Nana Malone

opened her mouth to interrupt, but Jessica beat her to it. “No, Simon. Nick’s too polite to tell you, but you’re not invited. He wants a night with his idol, not a business dinner.” Simon sputtered as Jessica rolled her eyes at him before turning a dazzling smile in Jason’s direction. “I’m sure Jason and Izzy want to catch up too.”
    Wait, what? That wasn’t how this was supposed to go. “Unfortunately, tomorrow night won’t be possible. I’m swamp—”
    Jessica, Simon and Nick spoke at once, for the first time, all three on the same side, though, for different reasons.
    “What woman wouldn’t want to spend the evening with someone as charming as Mr. Cartwright here.” Jessica gave her a smile that was all innocence before turning a more conniving version toward Simon. Damn it. Whose side was she on anyway?
    “Mom, c’mon. You don’t have to work every night,” Nick wheedled.
    “We’d all love to have dinner with you. I’d love to hear all about you and Izzy at school. It’ll be a good catch up time.” Simon beamed at Jason, as he ignored Jessica’s attempts to unsettle and uninvite him.
    Trapped, she looked around at all four of them. Nick’s hopeful face, Simon’s plastered expression, Jessica’s ill -concealed jubilation and Jason’s smug grin.  Fuck.  “I’m sure Jason’s far too busy to join us on such short notice.”
    “Like I already said to your future tennis prodigy here, I’m wide open and looking forward to it.” Nick looked happy, but she felt far less than happy as Jason added salt to the wound. “You gonna cook me something special, Izzy?”
    Nick and Simon pulled faces, but Nick spoke the shared sentiment. “I don’t think you want her to do that, Mr. Cartwright. Maybe Maria could make—”
    Was her cooking that bad?  She smiled at the three men malevolently. “Nonsense, Nick. I’d be happy to make something nice for dinner.”
    Before running off again, Nick gave Jason the no go signal.
    Jason didn’t seem to heed Nick’s warning and gave her a look that told her he meant business, despite Simon’s presence. “I look forward to dinner, Izzy.”
    As soon as Nick was out of earshot, she turned to Jason. “You don’t have to come.”
    “Are you kidding? It’ll give us a chance to catch up.” He turned his superstar grin on Simon. “Like Simon said, old friends, together for a whole night. And I can learn about your life. Besides the fact you’re a photographer, and you have a son, I know nothing about you.”
    Simon interjected, “Don’t forget the best girlfriend a guy could ask for.”
    “How could I forget something like that?”
    Izzy chewed her bottom lip even as she shot a look of reproof to Simon. “This isn’t something you can just say you’ll do and be flighty about, Jason. I won’t have Nick disappointed.”
    Jason’s eyes darkened, and he worked his jaw. “I’ll be there.”

Chapter Nine
     
    Several hours after Izzy shooed an overexcited Nick off to bed, the sound of music reverberated from Izzy’s purse. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. But it could be Sabrina. Her mother. Simon with a job.
    Annoyed, she tossed off the jasmine scented quilt and padded over the cold hardwood floor to the dresser. The moment she opened her bag to rifle through it, sounds of 2 Live Crew’s,  Me So Horny  filled the air. Stunned, she didn’t know whether to laugh or throw her phone under the bed. She’d have to buckle down in the morning and read the damned manual to change it.
    If she hadn’t been so annoyed, she’d see the humor in song choice given the indication on the LCD.   Jason . Damn him. Couldn’t he just leave her in peace? She selected the message icon and held her breath in preparation for the message.
    Did I mention you looked beautiful today?
    Fairies beat wings of need deep in her belly. He had a way of reducing her to an awkward seventeen-year-old without much effort. Forget leagues, Jason Cartwright played games out