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I glance at my drink, which is still three-quarters full. “Maybe after our drinks.”
As thrilling as it is to have an older man pay attention to me like this, I don’t want to be the person who falls in bed with a stranger because I’m angry at another man.
But dinner? Dinner I can handle.
As long as he’s not expecting anything beyond that.
I take another sip of my cocktail, the sweetness of the sugar on the rim tamping the sour a bit. “What kind of law do you practice?”
“Corporate,” he says. “When you mentioned Don Steel, I took note because I had just become partner when he started at our firm.”
This time my eyes do widen. “Really? Wow.”
“He was an up-and-comer too. We were ready to make him a partner when he left.”
“Yeah. To take the job as a favor to his mother, who was retiring.”
“Right. I never understood why he gave up such a lucrative spot in the law firm.”
“The Steels aren’t exactly hurting for money,” I say.
He takes a drink of scotch, and a small moan vibrates from his chest as he swallows. “True enough.” He gestures to Garrett. “Garrett, could you call over to the restaurant and see if they can take this lovely young lady and me for dinner?”
“You got it, Mr. T.”
I smile and take another drink.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Dave
I’m trapped inside a hazy, fragmented reality, drifting in and out of consciousness. My senses are overwhelmed by the discordant symphony of sirens wailing, voices shouting, and the distant thud of my own heartbeat.
The world around me blurs and distorts, like a fever dream. Shapes and colors meld together in chaotic patterns, and I struggle to make sense of what’s happening. There’s an intense burning sensation in my chest, each breath a laborious effort. I taste blood, metallic and acrid, as it trickles down my lip.
A touch on my shoulder sends a jolt of awareness through my foggy mind. I can vaguely discern the silhouette of a paramedic. His voice is a distant echo as he and his team speak urgently, trying to keep me tethered to this precarious reality.
Someone moves me, and my body protests with a dull, throbbing pain that pulses in rhythm with my erratic heartbeat. The world outside is a whirlwind of flashing lights, blinding and disorienting.
Through half-closed eyes, I catch glimpses of the remnants of my car, twisted metal and shattered glass. My vision blurs further, and my eyelids feel like lead, pulling me back into the murky abyss of unconsciousness.
But I fight to stay present, to cling to the fragments of the world around me. I hear snippets of conversation, snippets of hope. The paramedic’s voice reassures me that help is on the way, that they won’t let me slip away.
The hum of sirens draws closer, growing louder and more urgent. I’m cocooned in blankets and straps. The world outside is a swirl of motion as they load me into the ambulance.
Not again…
Please… Not again…
Chapter Thirty-Four
Maddie
The hotel restaurant’s interior is pure elegance. Crystal chandeliers hang from the lofty ceiling, and velvet drapes in a majestic violet adorn the windows. The tables are dressed in crisp white tablecloths, and the plush, high-backed chairs are upholstered in sumptuous crimson fabrics. Some tables are nestled in secluded alcoves, offering a romantic dining experience, while others are positioned to capture the best views.
I’ve been here once before, when Donny treated us all to dinner while my father was in the hospital. Jesse was scowling the whole time.
Tonight I’m determined to enjoy myself. Have the nice meal that I should be having with Dave. I excuse myself once we’re seated to go to the ladies’ room.
