Page 31 of Dreaming Without Heartache

“Tell me your thoughts.” I encourage him to take a sip.

“Oh, my god.” Steven shakes his head. “You two are the same person.”

“We’re in for a ride tonight,” Sam tells Steven, making my stomach clench at her words.

“Boy are they ever,” I say to Luke, not looking at anyone but him. I like to push back at Steven, and flirting with Sam has become a bonus tonight.

Luke lifts his glass toward me. “I’ll cheers to that.” We touch glasses and take the first sip together. “You’re right.” He nods. “This is amazing.”

“Woodford Reserve won’t let you down. Smoked is even better.”

“I’ll stick to my wine,” Sam says, lifting her glass to her lips.

Steven raises his own. “Cheers to that.” Now this has become a game. I laugh.

I watch Sam drink, her eyes meeting mine over the rim. I slide my whiskey toward her. “I insist you try a sip.”

“No way,” she replies immediately.

“I agree,” Luke says, sliding his glass toward Steven. “You two have to broaden your horizons.” I catch a flicker of something passing between him and Sam and wonder what it meant.

“Sam,” Steven says, picking up the glass, “dare we indulge these two and try this nastiness?”

Sam picks up my whiskey and inhales the contents. “It doesn’t smell too horrible.”

“Luke,” I say, looking first at him, then finding Sam’s eyes. “If they want to hang with us they need to at least be open to trying the good stuff once.”

“Agreed,” Luke says, turning to Steven. Even sitting, he’s still a few inches taller than Steven. He gives off a mountain-man vibe with his short well-kept beard, and nicely coiffed hair.

Steven’s expression says it all to me. I’ve known him long enough to recognize every one of his looks. He likes the challenge.

“Sam.” Steven lifts Luke’s whiskey glass. “Here’s to enduring this nasty drink for these two charming people.” They tap glasses, then Steven turns to Luke and takes a sip. He immediately scrunches his face, just as I expected, and we all laugh. “Sam?” He points to the glass in her hand.

Sam takes a breath before moving the glass to her perfectly shaped lips. She swallows a small amount but doesn’t react. “Not too bad,” she says.

“Want me to order you one?” Luke asks, a smirk tugging at his mouth. I’m pretty sure he already knows the answer.

“You’re funny.” She slides my drink back to me, her lipstick leaving a faint mark on the rim.

“How’s the wine?” Luke asks before taking another sip. I can tell he likes it.

“Delicious,” Steven says, shifting a little closer to Luke. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

The server arrives with our appetizers and sets them in the center. “Anything else I could get for you at the moment?”

Luke holds up his whiskey. “Two more, please.” He looks at me. “I got you.”

“Thanks.” I smile, not expecting that. I haven’t taken but a couple of sips from this glass.

Steven and Luke dig into the appetizers. Sam leans into me slightly, her breast pressing against my upper arm. I try not to react, though every part of me is standing at attention. “Luke likes you,” she speaks softly in my ear.

“I like him too,” I whisper back.

We eat our appetizers, order dinner, and finish that. Time flies by.

“Let’s go across the street to On the Rocks,” Luke says. “Drinks on me.” It’s a cocktail bar with live music.

“Yes.” Steven leans against Luke’s arm. “It’ll be fun!”