Page 97 of The Other Guy

Pulling off her mask, I drop it to the floor. “I was thinking the exact same thing.” I still have my hand on her hip and bring her closer by wrapping my other around her as well. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You really do look beautiful.”

“Wow, if I look beautiful like this…”

“You do. And not that I care, but did you want to change? I have my bag just outside the door.”

“You were really prepared. What would you have done if I was all dressed up?”

“Ran with it,” I tell her with a shrug. “But I’m glad to see that we’re on the same page.”

“It is a good sign, huh?”

“I’d like to think so. I’ll grab my bag and change while you do the same. Where’s the bathroom?”

She points down the hall and I let her go while I step through the door to get my things.

When I come out of the bathroom, Kyle’s waiting in the living room.

“More appropriate for sure,” he says, approving of my new clothing. Jeans and a Henley. Nothing fancy but I’m comfortable and this is me. I figure if you need to dress up and pretend to be someone else on the first date, then it’s never going to work.

I take a seat and cross one leg over my knee. “Thanks. So how’re things?”

“Good. Glad to have Sierra here. I don’t even mind the dog living with us.”

Toby lifts his head off the couch and huffs. “Ha! Yeah, he’s got quite the personality, huh?”

“That he does. But he’s kind of awesome.”

“True.”

“I told Sierra I was going to talk to you about this.”

“Uh oh.”

“Nothing bad. I’ve been thinking of changing up the menu at the bar. Everything we have is pretty much pre-made stuff. I’d like to expand a bit. Maybe bring on a cook and have a menu that’s a little more unique.”

I lean forward on the couch. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s been on my mind for a while now but I think I’m ready. Could I hire you to help?”

“What kind of help?”

“Menu planning for one thing. Maybe dig in to your network of friends from culinary school for another.”

Hmm. “I have a few ideas. Let me think on them. Let’s get together to talk it all out, though. And you’re not paying me.”

“We’ll fight about that when the time comes.”

I laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Have fun tonight. Don’t screw it up.”

“Good advice. And I won’t.”

“I got your word on that?”

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