In my defense, things had to be bad if even I didn’t see the good in the guy. I’d rarely met a human I didn’t like. Rarely dated a guy I couldn’t find something to adore.
Maybe the Sugar Creek air was getting to me, because I found nothing redeeming about Lincoln. In fact, I was more than a little creeped out.
Okay, it was go time.
I could be mature about this. I could look Lincoln in the eyes and say, “Thank you for letting me buy my own dinner, but I’m going to call it a night.”
I took the long way back to the table, and twenty paces away from the bathroom, my miracle appeared.
Hallelujah and thank you, Jesus.
Because there was Miller, relaxed and reclined in a chair, having dinner with Noah Kincaid, city mayor and husband to my cousin Emma. Miller could help an old friend. In fact, he owed me one.
“Hey, guys.” I approached the table, noticing the instant smile on Noah’s face. Had I imagined the way Miller’s gaze flared slightly before making a quick perusal of my form? Surely just a trick of the dim lighting.
“Well, look who’s here.” Noah stood and gave me a hug before pulling out the chair beside him. “Have a seat. Miller was just updating me on some of his latest techie nerd ideas.”
“Can’t stay.” I adjusted the hook of my earring that needed no adjustment. “How are you gentlemen?”
“You’re dressed up tonight.” Miller leaned forward, elbows on the table, an interesting scowl about his face. “On a date?”
The man missed nothing. “Maybe.”
“How’s it going?” Noah asked.
“Terrible.” Miller’s low chuckle lit a fuse under my barely banked temper. “You have something to say, Miller?”
“Wow.” He grabbed a piece of bread from the basket and swabbed it with a knife-full of butter. “Bad dates must make you cranky.”
“I thought maybe one of you could help me.”
Miller took a bite. “We’re listening.”
“I’m ready for this date to end.”
“Tell the guy,” Miller suggested, as if I hadn’t thought of that.
“I don’t want to hurt the guy’s feelings.” I continued, despite Miller’s dramatic eye roll. “All you have to do is approach the table and tell me the family requires my assistance in some urgent capacity.”
Miller shook his head. “Not gonna happen.”
I turned pleading eyes to Noah. “I was thinking the emergency could be more than a cold but less than a double organ transplant.” When neither man looked convinced, I kept the scenarios rolling. “Maybe you say Sylvie broke a hip and I should meet her at the hospital during her time of need.”
The bread basket empty, Miller turned the full wattage of those blue eyes right on me. “Your grandmother is probably made of bionic parts and will live forever like an immortal goddess.”
“Just help me out! I would do the same for you.”
Miller pointed his fork right at me. “Noah, Hattie has already rejected my offer to help. I told her I would gladly screen her dates on these dating apps. And not only did she turn me down, but she did so…how shall I say it? Scornfully.”
“Scornfully is a bit of an exaggeration.” I glanced back toward the dining area where my date waited.
Noah hid his smile behind his drink. “I can’t imagine why Hattie didn’t jump at the chance for you to be executor of her love life.”
“Exactly,” I said. At least someone at this table had some sense. “Let’s get back to my teeny-tiny favor, shall we? Maybe one of you could create a diversion, and I could slip out back?”
Miller rested his napkin on the table. “Do you ask this of all your bosses?”
“Only the arrogant and handsome ones.”
