would never acquire.
“Hey,” Jamie said as he came around the bar. “How’d it go today?”
He didn’t hesitate over the lie. “Nothing unusual. But that bastard Kendall is still leading me on. Maybe dinner tomorrow. Maybe not.”
Jamie grunted in answer and began washing pint glasses.
“And you?” Eric asked. “Any luck getting in touch with your friend?”
Jamie didn’t look at him. “No. But I talked to his roommate. Apparently Anthony was invited along on a spring-break trip to Cancun and decided he couldn’t resist.”
“Shit,” Eric snapped, grabbing a towel off Jamie’s shoulder to wipe down the bar. Not that it needed wiping down. Jamie was meticulous about that, at least.
“Unfortunately, my backup bartender is out of town, too. But Tessa is going to try to help tomorrow, so I can—”
“No. She’s been busy enough with tax season. Let her do her job.”
Jamie grabbed the towel back and dried his hands. “Look, I’m sorry. Shit happens, man.”
Eric met his brother’s eyes. Jamie’s green eyes looked nothing like Eric’s. That reminder was enough to make Eric look away, out over the tables of happy customers. It also threw cold water on his anger. “Yeah. It’s all right. We’ll deal with it.”
“I’d still like to come to the dinner. Maybe I can get away.”
Eric shook his head. “I’m telling you, it’s not a good idea. He’s not going to like you.”
“Everyone likes me,” Jamie said with a smile.
“God, you’re obnoxious. Which is exactly why this guy won’t like you. He wants to be the center of attention. He won’t appreciate it when the waitress flirts with you and not him.”
“We’ll see.”
“No, we won’t see. You hold down the fort. I’ll take care of the distribution.”
For a moment, Jamie looked as if he might protest. His mouth tightened, his eyes narrowed. Eric was curious what he was about to say, but then Jamie just ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Did Henry work out?”
“Yeah, he was great.”
“I’ll take over the dish-washing while he’s working with you then.”
“Thank you. That’d be great.” A customer raised a hand at the far end of the bar, so Eric slapped Jamie on the back. “I’ll be in my office for a few minutes before I head out again. Are you okay here? You need a break?”
“I’m good.”
Eric was relieved he wouldn’t have to stand in at the tap. He’d had his share of socializing for the day, aside from one very specific person he wanted to see. He told himself he’d chosen the wine bar because it was quiet and they wouldn’t have to deal with the crowds at the hotel. The real reason was that it was quiet and they wouldn’t be seen by the crowds at the hotel.
And if he was really going to use Jamie’s name to pursue an unwise affair, the fewer people around, the better.
But was he truly going to do it? At this point, it would be more than awkward to correct her. But it would be irresponsible not to, and Eric was always responsible.
He was also always boring, serious and stressed out. Jamie, on the other hand, seemed to have found the secret to eternal satisfaction: do what feels good.
Eric had no doubt in the world that Beth Cantrell would feel good.
He glanced at his watch. Just past eight-thirty. He had time to get a little work done before he headed out. He also had time to change his mind and tell her the truth.
For the next five minutes, Eric stared at the computer and brooded. Not quite the same as working.
He’d meant to tell her his real name. He really had. He was Eric, after all. The brother who always did the right thing. The brother who would never use falsehood as a seduction. Then again, Eric didn’t really engage in seduction at all. He dated. Sometimes. But with Beth it wasn’t about a date. He wasn’t hoping for the beginning of a relationship. There was something hotter than that between them. Something urgent. Wasn’t there?
Maybe if he hadn’t watched her eat that torte, he could’ve just let it go. But he had watched her eat it. She’d savored it. Moaned over it. Her eyelashes had fluttered and closed. Her lips had parted on a pleased sigh. Her tongue had darted out to moisten her mouth and capture his attention.
There’d been nothing good or clean about her then. Not one single thing. And she made Eric want to be dirty, too.
Maybe it was the wrongness of what he