like that she takes it at face value. Too many times have I tried to compliment a woman and had her try to talk me out of it. I like a confident woman.
“No other motives?”
“Well…” I exhale slowly, then grimace. “My boss is the one who bought your building.”
She inhales a sharp breath, eyes widening at the confession.
I don’t know her well enough to be able to tell if she’s mad or just shocked, but she’s quiet as she stares at me with a look I’m unfamiliar with.
Donny breaks her concentration as he sets the replenished drink in front of her.
Her eyes narrow to slits. “Guess that makes us enemies, then.”
“Afraid so.”
“So these are guilt drinks?”
“Yes and no. I’m hoping they’d help my chances if I were to ask you if you want to go out sometime.”
“Sometime?”
“Sometime.” I shrug, deciding to show all my cards. “Or tonight. Your call.”
A grin curls the corners of her lips upward, and I can tell that, despite her earlier claims, she likes the idea. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then ask me.”
My eyes are drawn to her exposed shoulder as she sets her chin in her hand, leaning onto the bar, waiting.
I have the strangest urge to lean down and kiss it.
Since when did shoulders become sexy?
Her gray eyes are lit with anticipation, and I hear the hitch in her breath when I bend toward her.
Despite her insistence on not going home with me, I have no doubt if I were to ask, she’d say yes.
“Tell me your name and I’ll ask you anything you want.”
She expels the breath she was holding on a short laugh, giving me a flirty smile. “I thought we’d settled on Juliet.”
“Is that what we’re going to do? Play pretend?”
It would be the first time I’ve done that with a girl.
But something tells me she’s not one for games.
“I—”
Her phone buzzes against the counter, dragging us both away from the moment as she shoves her hand into her purse.
She looks at the screen and frowns.
“I’m sorry,” she says, not glancing up. “I have to take this.”
She grabs her purse and rushes through the bar toward the bathrooms.
If I hadn’t watched her face fall with worry, I’d have assumed this was a gimmick to get out of telling me her name.
Now I’m just concerned and hoping she’s okay.
“You scare her off already?” Donny asks.
I stare after her. “I hope not.”
Because I fully intend to continue the conversation when she returns.
She’s standing just inside the short hallway; I can see her from my vantage point.
Her eyes widen, then a bright smile transforms her face.
It’s different from the smiles she’s been giving me, and I find myself a little jealous of whoever is on the phone.
Which is ridiculous considering I still don’t know her name.
“Dude!” A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, and I pivot toward the familiar voice. “Sorry we’re late. We got a little…occupied.”
The proud smirk on my best friend’s face transforms into a twist of pain when his girlfriend smacks him in the stomach.
“Dean!” she hisses, crossing her arms over her chest. “Can you not?”
“I could, but what’s the fun in that?”
“Ignore him.” She rolls her eyes, pretending to be annoyed by him. “Hi, Nolan.”
“Hey, River.” I smile at her, loving how she can go from evil to sweet as pie at a moment’s notice. She keeps Dean on his toes, that’s for sure. “How’s shit?”
She laughs at my phrasing. “Shit’s fine. Just trying to keep this idiot in line.” She hooks her thumb over her shoulder toward Dean. “I don’t know how you’ve put up with him all these years.”
“Excuse me,” he says. “I’m charming as fuck.”
“Charming is not the word I’d use for you.”
I agree, and I can say that since I’ve known him since we met at the bus stop in kindergarten.
“This place is busy.” River hops onto the abandoned stool, glancing around the bar. “I’m not seeing Maya anywhere. I texted her to let her know we’re here.”
“She’s probably in the bathroom. That woman has the worst bladder ever.”
At the mention of the bathrooms, I glance toward the hallway.
It’s empty.
She left.
My shoulders sag in disappointment.
I don’t know who she is or if I’ll ever see her again, but I have a feeling those gray eyes are going to haunt me.
“Speaking of…I gotta hit the head. Then I’ll find us a table.”
“You try pushing a child from your vagina and see how your bladder holds up!”
The a-little-too-loud words River yells at Dean’s back draw my attention.
“Do I finally get