Heart Robber (Lifestyle by Design Book 2) by Miranda P. Charles

imagine her being happy with someone she only saw once or twice a month and he couldn't imagine himself being patient enough to wait for those few-and-far-between days to be with his woman.
    And what on earth was he doing contemplating a relationship with her, anyway? He didn't need one and didn't want one.
    A casual arrangement was still the only option as far as he could see. No commitments, no strings. Just enjoy each other when they could. He couldn't see how anything else could possibly work.
    He pulled out his phone when he felt it vibrate. It was a text from Will.
    "Will wants to meet me for coffee at around three-thirty in the city," he informed her.
    "Okay," Jessa replied. He saw the disappointment she wasn't able to hide.
    "Why don't you go with me? Clarise will be there, too."
    The invitation was out before he could stop himself. What would Will and Clarise say? He didn't want to confuse their friends. What would they think if he and Jessa turned up together?
    He gave himself a mental shake. Will and Clarise knew the score between him and Jessa. And they were their friends, who undoubtedly cared about the both of them, no matter what choices they made regarding each other. Besides, it would mean some more time in Jessa's company before he left.
    He saw the hesitation in her eyes. He was about to cajole her into going when she answered.
    "Okay, sure. I'll go with you."
    He smiled in relief.

    *******

    Clarise and Will were already seated on a booth when Jessa and Rob got to the coffee shop. The two lovebirds were cuddling, no less, with Will's arm tightly around Clarise.
    Jessa felt a stab of envy. She had been of two minds about joining them for coffee because they'd be in the company of two people absolutely smitten with each other. It would just highlight to her what she would never have with Rob. But she couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend some more time with him before he left. She didn't want to say goodbye yet.
    When they were all seated, a young female server, who looked no older than nineteen, walked to their table as she fiddled with a device in her hand. She looked up to take their order and her eyes landed on Will first, who was still consulting the menu. She stared at him, her lips slightly parting. She was silent and unmoving for long seconds.
    "Ahem. I'll have the chocolate pancake and a skim latte, please," Clarise said rather kindly to the girl staring at her boyfriend.
    The server blushed furiously. "I'm sorry. What was that again?"
    Clarise repeated her order and the girl tapped it on her handheld device. The server then turned to Jessa, who only ordered a hot chocolate. When she turned her attention to Rob, her jaw dropped and her sharp intake of breath was audible. When she recovered, she tapped in Rob's order for a cappuccino.
    She started walking away when Will called out. "Excuse me, you haven't taken my order yet."
    "Oh, I'm so sorry! What would you like?" The poor, embarrassed girl was red. She couldn't even look at Will.
    "I'll have a flat white and a fruit flan, please."
    "Okay," the shamefaced girl squeaked as she hurried away.
    "You guys enjoyed that, didn't you?" Clarise said with mirth in her eyes.
    Rob just smiled, while Will squeezed Clarise tightly and gave her a loud kiss on the lips.
    Jessa glanced around uncomfortably. Normally, she enjoyed seeing Clarise so happy with Will. But she was acutely aware of Rob sitting next to her, and the fact that she couldn't have him the way she wanted - the way Clarise had Will. It made her bluer than blue.
    The men started talking about business and she tuned out. She tried to look nonchalant and pretended to observe the other patrons at the place while she worked to suppress her emotions threatening to bubble up to the surface.
    She gasped as she felt her foot being kicked under the table. Clarise gave her an are-you-okay look. She tried a big smile. She should have known Clarise would notice. But this wasn't the time and place to talk