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

about it.
    When their orders arrived, they were brought by a male server. The previous girl was probably too mortified to come back to their table.
    "So how come you guys only ordered drinks? Not peckish?" Will asked.
    "No, we had a big lunch at a Thai restaurant. We were so hungry we ordered too much," Rob responded.
    "What made you so hungry?" Will's eyes were full of mischief.
    "A combination of things," Rob said with a smirk.
    "So I take it you got off at the right spot at Crows Nest yesterday?" Will teased.
    "Thanks for asking, Matthews," Rob responded with a glare at his friend. "I certainly got off at the right spot. At the right time, too."
    Clarise piped in. "Haven't you been to Crows Nest before, Rob? I thought you lived in the North Shore before you moved to Melbourne."
    "Yeah, I did, Clarise. Will was just concerned I might have forgotten how to get around Sydney using public transport."
    "No, it wasn't the getting around I was concerned about. It was the getting off, " Will clarified with a broad grin.
    "I know the button to push on those buses when I want to get off. I've been on them many times before," Rob replied with a piercing stare.
    With the conversation being as strange as it was, it dawned on Jessa that the men weren't talking about using public transport in Sydney. She thought about how many times Rob got off last night and that morning. It was impressive. He certainly didn't have any problems in that area. It still intrigued her that he might have had troubles with it in the past.
    "You had problems getting off before?" she heard herself ask Rob. She didn't know what came over her. Maybe she was looking for an ego boost.
    Will roared with laughter and Clarise gave him a disapproving look. "Will!"
    "I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I find that so funny," Will said to Rob as he tried to contain his laughter. "Anyway, are you going to answer Jessa's question?"
    Rob sighed loudly then looked at Jessa. "No, I've never had any problems getting off. Will assumed I had issues with it when the situation was I didn't get on . You can't get off when you don't get on first."
    She frowned. "Why didn't you get on?"
    "It wasn't the bus I wanted. It was highly frustrating waiting for a particular bus, but it was worth it," Rob told her with an upward tug of his lips.

    *******

    The smile Rob gave Jessa was full of meaning and it didn't escape Will's attention.
    He was keen to know what was really going on. Jessa's melancholy face and courageous smiles told a lot but he wasn't sure about Rob. He decided to give Rob some food for thought. He knew what it was like not to realise how much you really cared about someone until losing them was staring you in the face. Much as he'd enjoyed ruffling Rob's feathers, he didn't want him to miss his chance with Jessa. She had four other dates lined up.
    "So when do you come back, Rob?" he asked.
    "In two weeks."
    Will reached for Clarise's hand under the table and squeezed it in warning before turning to Jessa. "Hey, Jess, I heard you have four dates lined up for the next two weeks."
    Rob's startled reaction was subtle but it was there. His expression was stony as he looked at Jessa and waited for her to respond.
    Jessa glanced at Will with surprise. She didn't seem to know how to answer him. He winked at her and gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile. She smiled back at him with understanding in her eyes. "Yes, I do."
    Clarise joined in. "Have you chosen the outfit you're going to wear for Tuesday?"
    "Not yet. But it'll be one of those you girls helped me choose."
    "What's the name of the first guy you're going out with?" Will asked in a curious tone.
    "Warren, I think."
    "What about the guy for this Saturday?"
    "Simon."
    "How come Warren gets a Tuesday date and Simon snags a Saturday?" Will asked.
    Jessa shrugged. "It was the night Simon suggested and I happen to be available."
    "I bet Simon really likes you; that's why he asked for a Saturday night date."
    Rob