She bit her lip and nodded, and I swore the pink of her cheeks deepened. “Of course.” As she turned, I placed my hand in the small of her back and guided her through the dining room, following the host. He led us to a small table near the center of the room. I’d eaten here before and knew the food was delicious, but my typical table was tucked away near the back with a curtain to draw around me so I could dine in privacy. This seemed a bit more public, but it would have to do. My table was occupied.
“What can I get you to drink?” the host asked as he held Haley’s chair out for her. She hurriedly unbuttoned her coat and draped it over the back of the chair then sat.
“I’ll take a white wine, please,” Haley said cautiously.
“I’ll have the same. Thank you, Robert.” I sat, watching Haley’s face light up. She waited until he left to ask.
“You know him by name?”
I chuckled as I slipped out of my coat and let it fall behind me. “Yes, I come here very often. I know a lot of the staff by name.”
Haley whistled through her teeth. “I don’t think I’ve stepped foot into this place once. It’s pretty fancy.”
“Of course it is. It’s nearly forty dollars a square foot per month for rent in this part of town. Things get pricey when you pay big bucks for rent.” I pushed the menu to the side and reached into my pocket to get my cell phone. “Let me get a picture of that insurance card, then, and we’ll be done with business.”
“Actually, the damage isn’t that bad. I can probably just drive it like that. I’m not particular.” She sat back, tucking her handsinto her lap. This shy, withdrawn version of Haley Spencer wasn’t what I expected.
“Nonsense. We damaged your car, and I will fix it.” I wriggled my fingers, and she handed over the card and snapped a photo of it then handed it back. “Thank you. Now, let’s just enjoy a drink.”
Robert returned with our glasses of wine and set them in front of us, retrieving the menus as I handed them to him. “Anything else, Mr. Danvers?” He lingered there for a moment.
“Yes, the bottle, please. Then leave us alone.” I put my phone away and retrieved my wallet, handing him a crisp hundred-dollar bill. His eyes lit up as he took the tip and walked away.
“I get the feeling this isn’t just about a car accident.” Haley’s blue eyes glistened as she peered at me over the rim of her stemware. I saw a smirk peeking at me.
“I got the feeling that you wouldn’t mind.” I lifted my own glass to my lips and tasted the tart and sweet flavors of the wine. After the flirtatious wink she shot me in Tom Green’s office the other day, I’d done nothing but imagine this moment—the two of us alone with the ability to explore the chemistry between us. “Was I wrong?”
“Oh, no.” She set the glass down. “You weren’t wrong at all.”
“So I wasn’t mistaken, then. You were flirting with me in Tom’s office.” I downed the glass of wine and placed the glass on the table. Haley looked down as she smiled.
“I believe you flirted first. Or was that wink a playful gesture at Tom’s expense?” I heard her chuckle as she looked back up at me. Her hand shot out to her glass of wine just as Robert returned with the bottle. He filled both the glasses in silence then left the bottle and vanished back into the kitchen.
“No, you weren’t mistaken. I was definitely flirting, though I wondered if someone your age would want to be seen with someone my age.” I was fairly confident I wouldn’t have gottenthis far if Haley wasn’t interested, but it was an elephant in the room that needed to be acknowledged.
“People will talk, sure. But age is just a number.” She sipped her wine again, much faster than me, perhaps a vice of the age she was, drinking to hide the anxious excitement she felt. If she kept it up, she’d finish the bottle herself in under twenty minutes.
“And does it bother you if people talk?”
“No such thing as bad publicity.” Haley winked at me and emptied the glass. “Look, the roads are getting worse and I think maybe I should get home before I drink too much. I’d love a raincheck on this dinner? Maybe a night when I’m not risking driving drunk in the snow.”
I nodded at her and picked up my coat, sliding my arms down the sleeves. “Just let me pick up the check and I’ll walk you out.” Haley agreed silently, putting her coat on as she snuck another tiny pour from the wine bottle. I handled the check with Robert by tracking him down after he delivered plates. It was as easy as another hundred-dollar bill for the bottle of wine and I was back at Haley’s side, arm extended to escort her outside.
As we approached the car, she noticed her headlights were on but very dim. The snow made it very slippery to walk in the pointy-toed high heels she wore, so I helped her around to the driver’s door. I hovered there while she turned the key in the ignition, only to discover the battery was so flat, the car wouldn’t start.
“Dammit!” She smacked the steering wheel and sighed. “I’m going to have to call roadside assistance.”
“No, you’re not. Just get in my car.” I glanced at Gordon who was seated in the driver’s seat reading a book. He had the car running and warm. “I’ll give you a lift home. The insurance adjuster will have your car towed to a shop to get repaired.” I offered my hand to her, but she scowled.
“But I really don’t need anything fixed but the mirror. Honestly, Parker. It’s not that bad.” She shook her head at me and refused to take my hand. A car passed, splashing slush off the road up onto my pants, and she gasped as some of it hit her bare leg.
“Get out of your car and come with me.” I sternly offered my hand again. “You’re going to freeze in that outfit waiting for roadside assistance. A day like this, there have probably been a dozen accidents just on this side of town. It will take them four hours to get to you.”
With another sigh and a shake of her head, she took my hand and climbed out of her car. When she’d locked up, I led her to my car where we both climbed into the back seat. “Gordon, you remember where Haley lives?”
Gordon’s eyes popped up in the rearview mirror and he nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m on it.”
“Good, thank you.” I turned to Haley. “Now, would you like another drink?” I opened my mini-fridge and displayed the drinks I had chilled. Her eyes widened and she pointed.
