Page 46 of Digging Up Love
“I didn’t realize the guys were here. We could’ve eaten with them,” she told Quentin, watching his reaction. He tucked his chin, not quite meeting her eyes, and opened his mouth, but Gracie spoke up first.
“They’ve been holed up in the back room playing pool all night. Losing, mostly.” Gracie grinned. “But after the Cubs scored that last run, they must’ve felt okay about showing their faces again.”
“Nice hit!” She swiveled to see Dev give Forrest a high five. Across the bar, the regulars swore.
“Ah.” Alisha understood the issue. Though they lived in Illinois, Hawksburg’s proximity to Missouri meant locals rooted for the Saint Louis Cardinals, not Chicago’s baseball teams.
Gracie nodded. “Yup. Bill and Dylan don’t appreciate anyone cheering on the Cubs when we’re down in the series two oh. Those boys are worse than my toddler.” She pulled a pen out from behind her ear and clicked it open. “Anyways, what can I get for you two?”
Quentin raised his brows at Alisha.
“Two portobello burgers, please, on gluten-free buns. With sweet potato tots,” she said.
“Got it.” Gracie shot Alisha a questioning look, but another yell had her shoving the order pad in her apron. She scooped up the menus and strode off, calling out, “Gentlemen, next one’s on the house if you can keep to your corners.”
Watching the spectacle unfold, Alisha turned back to find Quentin slouched in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowed. “Didn’t realize you were a vegetarian, Alisha.”
“I’m not.”
“Gluten intolerant?”
“Nope.” Alisha tucked her hands under her chin and beamed at him.
“Do you even like sweet potato tots?”
“Does anyone?” She took a long draw from the bottle.
“You set me up!” Quentin sat forward in a rush, hands on his thighs, and Alisha almost choked on her drink. Laughter bubbled up, dissolving the butterflies, and she barely kept herself from inhaling cider. His face was priceless. She swallowed carefully and then let herself go, laughter making her eyes water.
“Yes, I totally set you up, Mr.I’ll Have What You’re Having,” she managed after a moment. “Payback for theJurassic Parkline of questioning.”
“Hmm. I don’t think the punishment fits the crime,” he said. But a broad grin stretched Quentin’s cheeks, no trace of rancor on his handsome face.
Their sense of humor was a perfect match. Another reason she’d come out tonight when she should’ve stayed home, keeping her eye on the prize or her feelings bottled up or whatever metaphor meant not going on a date with this way-too-sexy professor.
“We’re even now.”
Quentin shook his head and leaned forward to close the gap between them.
“Not in the slightest.” She found herself watching his lips, mesmerized. “Although you do have to eat that mess you ordered, so I guess that helps.”
Dragging her eyes back up to meet his, she smiled. “Nope, not a chance, bud. I’m gonna go talk to the kitchen staff about changing my order. But I can keep yours as is.” Alisha pushed back her chair.
“Heck no. Anything with cow, dairy, and wheat works for me. But no olives,” he added as she stood up.
“Got it. Be right back.” She traipsed toward the kitchen, maybe letting her hips sway just a tad more than normal, and fought the impulse to check him out over her shoulder.Silly.He was just another man. A man she had no future with. So why did he suddenly feel soimportant?
A waiter backed out of the kitchen with three plates of deep-fried appetizers, and Alisha sidestepped him and passed through the double doors to talk with the cook, a short, round guy called Tommy.
Happy to change the orders, Tommy peeked through the pass-through, freckled cheeks gleaming with sweat above his sparse beard. “But, Ali, I gotta know. Who are these Chicago guys, really?” He leaned one elbow on the ledge, shot a glance over his shoulder. “Most people are going with land developers, looking to buy your grandpa out. Maybe put in a factory or subdivision.”
Yeah, she’d heard that one too. “What about you?”
“With a crater-size hole in your yard?” A matching pit opened in her stomach at the mention of the dig. If he’d seen it, surely he must’ve guessed ... “Forget developers. I’m going with aliens.” He winked, and Alisha wheezed out a relieved laugh.
Straightening up, Tommy adjusted his beard net. “Anyway, enjoy your date with Mr.City Slicker.”
Ugh, people really needed to get a hobby that didn’t involve being up in everyone’s business. “He’s just a friend.”
