Charity clapped her hands together. "You shouldgo!"
Pepper was giving me an appraising look. "We didn't get the chance to chat about that. Who wasit?"
"His name is LucienNightingale."
Pepper's eyebrows went up. "Really? He's a handsomedevil."
"He sure is. Margo caught him out back and she corneredhim."
"What was he doing out there?" Hank practically had steam rolling from hisears.
"It's a long story, but I invited him in. He stayed for a little while and we chatted." I leaned forward. "He said I wasravishing."
Pepper and Charity grinned and high fivedme.
Hank sat like a stone in hisseat.
We were interrupted by the waiter, thank goodness. He set our plates out efficiently. I thanked him for getting everything at the same time and he gave me a baleful stare and left. He was just full of personality. Perhaps we should have ordered before we had all of that to drink. Speaking of which, my head was starting to feel pleasantly fuzzy now. I tucked into my fajitas and we finally had five minutes of blissfulsilence.
This night would go down as one of the most awkward dinners I'd everhad.
Thirty minutes later,Charity excused herself. Pepper ran after her and asked if she could get a ride. "Pepper," I stage whispered, "I am going to KILL you!" She gave me a cheery wave and hopped into the car with Hank's date. And Charity. Was she really that naive? Goodgracious.
So that was how Hank and I ended up standing in the parking lot together. Alone. And me without aride.
I sighed. "I can call a cab," I said. Most people were nocturnal around here so the cab service was reallygood.
"Nonsense," Hank said. "I can give you a ride. Comeon."
We walked in silence to his truck. He held open the door for me and I hopped in. When he came around and slid in the vehicle, I turned to him. "Should we talk aboutthat?"
Hank grunted and started thecar.
"You like blondes," I said. "You like them alot."
"I don't like them a lot," hegrowled.
"You like Charity." I hated the way I sounded. A little sad. A little lost. A littledrunk.
Hank let out an aggrieved sigh. "Perhaps we should discuss this when you aren't under the influence of about sixty ounces ofmargarita?"
"Pssssh. No way that was sixtyounces."
"Give or take five." Hank pulled out of the parking lot and onto theroad.
"You didn't answer myquestion."
"I believe I did," heretorted.
"You likeCharity."
"That wasn't a question,Helen."
"Well, doyou?"
Hank looked like he was chewing on nails. "Charity is nice," he finallyallowed.
"That'sall?"
