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Ugh, men!
James turned puppy-dog eyes onto me. “Grace…” he pleaded.
I closed my eyes and sighed. “Let’s go.”
Luke smiled as though he’d won some standoff, and perhaps he had. But I would not let him get the best of me.
We walked down the hallway and past the front desk receptionist.
“Can I bring you back anything from Ruth’s, Erika?” Luke asked as we waited for the elevator.
“I’m good, hun. But thanks for asking.”
“I’ll never stop asking, darling,” he drawled and I rolled my eyes.
Erika smiled even though she shook her head. Why do we all love charmers, even when we see through them? I never understood the appeal, especially knowing that the façade of them caring about us crumbled when we really needed them.
Ruth’s Sports Bar was only a block away but I’d worn my three-inch heels today and there was no way I could keep up with the pace Luke set.
I wouldn’t let it bother me. I watched as they walked further away. I took my time, staring at the local shops and some of the merchandise set on the sidewalk.
“Try to keep up, Sweeney,” Luke said. His voice had the same irritating effect on me, and I nearly growled back at him. Without taking an extra moment to think about it, I removed my heels, one foot at a time.
I marched up behind them and pushed Luke out of the way. “What the…” his voice trailed off when he noticed it was me and not someone else.
“Keep up, did you say? You’re the one dragging his feet now.”
I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me and perhaps even a low growl, but I didn’t turn around. I kept the pace until I walked into the bar and dusted off the soles of my feet before slipping back into my heels. I’d managed to straighten up before the men joined me. Exhaling, I squared my shoulders and pasted a smirk onto my face.
“What took you so long, Crawford? With your long stride, you should’ve kept up.”
He leaned forward, turning his back to James, and whispered in my ear, “So you’ve noticed the length of me?”
“What?” I sputtered. “No. That’s disgusting.”
He laughed and winked. “Your face is turning red, Sweeney,” he said in a low voice. “I think you’re lying.”
I wanted to shout, “I’m not, you jerk,” but James was too close now, so I said nothing.
James stared at me, though. His eyebrows pulled together. If he suspected that Luke and I knew each other, he kept it to himself.
Luke walked up to the hostess and lowered his head to her. She giggled at something he said and pushed his shoulder with her long, manicured nails. He laughed too and slipped something into her palm.
Is it his phone number?
Who cares… I sure didn’t.
The hostess led us to a table next to the bar where three large screens televised the game. Luke ordered a pitcher of beer and some appetizers for the table, including fried shrimp. I hated beer and fried shrimp, especially together, and Luke knew it. I got sick one night when we were thirteen. Luke brought the beer and I brought the fried shrimp. He was trying to forget something and I was trying to impress him. We didn’t get very far into our meal when Luke reached over and held my hair as I puked in a flower pot and swore to never touch the stuff again. I kept that promise. I’m stubborn that way.
It took a while for the food to arrive, but Luke and James didn’t seem to mind, their attention focused on the game. I reached for my phone, but as I rummaged through my purse, I realized I’d left it in the boardroom.
Damn it! Why don’t I wear a watch?
I squinted toward the TV screens, but the time was too small for me to tell. Luke looked over his shoulder at me and smiled. “Are you not having a good time, Sweeney? You haven’t touched your drink.” He looked pointedly down at the pitcher in front of me.
This felt like some sort of test. Luke dared me to take a sip of that beer with his eyes and I would not back down.
I faked a smile and picked up the pitcher. “Of course, I’m having a good time. I’ve never had more fun in my life.” I poured the foamy brew into a glass and brought it to my lips. The yeasty smell made my stomach roll and I pressed my lips together to hold back a gag. “Mmm smells delicious,” I said.
