Page 50 of The Good Guy on My Porch

Oscar grinned. “College girls and me. I’m not a huge fan of liqueur, I need some sweetness to take the edge off.”

I shook my head as Damian placed my whiskey in front of me and Oscar’s red drink in front of him. I reached in my pocket for cash, but Oscar beat me to it, laying his card on the bar. “Hey,” I said. “This was my idea. I should be paying.”

“Consider it my gift to you after a rough day,” he said. “Besides, I’m in charge of drinks tonight. What’s something you’ve never tried?”

I pursed my lips, considering. I’d had a lot of drinks in a lot of different situations. “Um, I’ve never had a pink, frou-frou drink. At least I don’t think so.”

He grinned and held up his glass. “A pink frou-frou drink it is.”

I laughed. “There are few men who would willingly make such a declaration.”

“I am infinitely secure in my manhood. Though I have to say I’m shocked to see you drinking whiskey like it’s water.”

“I started drinking whiskey because I got tired of people handing me frou-frou drinks and telling me I look like a doll, like Barbie’s kid sister.”

He didn’t laugh. His eyes flashed with anger. “Did it work?”

“Nope. But it makes me feel tough and very un-doll like, so I’m better able to ignore the comments.”

“You aren’t a doll. You’re a beautiful woman.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I know what I am. I’m cute, doll-like, I’ll never be what anyone calls beautiful or sexy, and I’m okay with that.”

“Well, I’m not.” He leaned in closer, his expression so fierce and serious I found myself leaning toward him, wanting to be closer. “You are the most beautiful, sexiest woman I’ve ever known.”

His words made my stomach drop in the best way and I leaned closer, wanting to kiss him, before I remembered I had a boyfriend. I leaned back. “I guess you haven’t known many women,” I said, trying to lighten the situation and catch my breath.

His jaw tightened. “Don’t do that. Don’t make a joke of it. I meant every word.”

“Thank you.” I leaned back toward him, until our foreheads were practically touching. “You’re a good friend.”

He leaned back at the word friend like I’d slapped him. He straightened and faced the bar lifting his drink to his lips and finishing it in one long swallow.

I finished my drink, and he signaled Damian.

“What can I get you?” he asked.

Oscar grinned, seemingly over whatever had bothered him a moment before. “Dilly wants to try a new drink. Can I get her a cosmopolitan with a little umbrella?”

Damian grinned. “If she wants to try a really new drink, I’ve got just the thing.”

“No,” I said, but he was already walking away.

I glared at Oscar. “Thanks a lot.”

Oscar didn’t seem the least bit fazed by my glare. “What did I do?”

“You gave him an opening. You should have just ordered the drink without all the chit-chat.”

He chuckled. “It can’t be that bad.”

I rolled my eyes. He had no idea. “And a cosmopolitan? I don’t even consider that a frou-frou drink.”

His cheeks pinked slightly. “I’m a creature of habit. I order a vodka cranberry when I’m out and I drink beer at home. I don’t actually know many other drinks.”

I just stared at him. “How is that possible? Didn’t you go to college?”

He smiled. “I’m a dude, Dilly. And I was poor, because I was paying my own way. It was cheap beer all the way. I didn’t have women buying me drinks and I wasn’t going to take a chance, spend money I didn’t have, and not like the drink.”

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