The Mistake (Bad Bridesmaids #1) - Noelle Adams Page 0,15
doesn’t sound much like you.”
“I’m not saying I’m never going to get married again. But it’s going to be a really long time at least. I love my job, and I love Eva, and I love our little apartment. I’ve got great friends, and Keith is always there to help when I need a chain saw or something hung on the wall.” Keith had been Serena’s best friend for as long as Amanda could remember. He was an engineer who still lived nearby. “I don’t need a husband right now, dragging me down.” Serena smiled. “Anyway, I’m done with the whining. Someone else talk about something.”
“I’ve got nothing to talk about,” Amanda said. “Nothing new going on with me.”
She’d sometimes wondered if there was a mischievous fate who liked to determine her life. It seemed at work again just now because no sooner had she said those words than Robert Castleman walked into the restaurant.
Their table was in a far corner, but Amanda’s back was to the wall, so she could see the entrance. And there he was. Right then. Wearing a black dress shirt and tailored gray trousers and looking handsome and expensive and effortlessly sexy.
Behind him walked in an attractive thirtysomething woman. The two were obviously on a date.
Great. Exactly what Amanda needed to see just then.
“What’s the matter?” Serena asked, obviously recognizing Amanda’s distraction.
“Nothing. Just that your uncle walked in, Taylor.”
Taylor turned around. “Really? Oh, he must be on a date.”
“She’s pretty,” Serena said. “Has he been seeing her long?”
“Robert doesn’t see anyone long. I have no idea who she is, but I’m sure it’s not serious. He’s never serious.”
The words shouldn’t have reassured Amanda, but they did. Robert had every right to date whomever he wanted, and he also had a right to fall in love with them. It wasn’t Amanda’s business. She’d shared nothing of consequence with the man. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him since that night. The evening of her sister’s wedding had clearly meant nothing to him.
Just like it meant nothing to her.
It wasn’t her fault she kept thinking back to it.
It was probably just lingering embarrassment.
Robert saw them just then. He gave a half smile and raised a hand in greeting.
They all smiled and waved back, Amanda less sincerely than the others.
Hopefully he wouldn’t be compelled to come over and talk to them. He had a date to focus on, and they didn’t need to waste time with meaningless small talk.
“Should we order another bottle of wine?” Taylor asked dryly.
“What? Why?” That was Serena, innocently unaware of what their friend’s tone meant.
Amanda wasn’t unprepared. And she wasn’t surprised when Taylor continued, “In case Amanda wants to get drunk with him again tonight.”
“I did not—” Amanda broke off her automatic objection, then muttered, “Oh, shut up.”
Taylor laughed while Serena looked back and forth between them in surprise.
“When did you get drunk with him?”
“I didn’t. I mean, I kind of did. At Stacey’s wedding. But it wasn’t a big deal. I was just letting off some steam after all the stress of planning the wedding, and he was someone to talk to.”
“He seemed to enjoy it,” Taylor admitted in a different tone. “I’ve never seen him like that before.”
Amanda tried to hold back the question but couldn’t. “Like what?”
“I don’t know.” Taylor shrugged and raised her eyebrows the way Robert often did. “Invested. Or something. It was a strange night. But you’re right that it clearly didn’t mean anything. He’s been back to normal ever since.”
Amanda wasn’t sure what she thought about that conclusion, but she told herself it was a good thing. Everything was back to normal. And what she’d stupidly shared with Robert didn’t mean a damned thing.
It really didn’t.
“How’s everyone doing?”
The cool voice with that underlying texture of warmth broke into their conversation. Unexpectedly since Amanda had been rigidly disciplining her gaze and thus hadn’t tracked Robert’s movements.
But he was standing next to their table now, giving them all a polite smile.
His eyes didn’t meet hers, and it felt intentional.
“We’re all fine,” Taylor said bluntly. “And you don’t want to waste time talking to us when you’re on a date.”
“I’m not planning to waste time. Just saying hello.” He sounded absolutely natural. Friendly but not overly so. He was greeting them the way anyone would if he’d run across acquaintances in a restaurant like this. “I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening.”
That was clearly a concluding statement. He wasn’t going to introduce them to his date,