Page 5 of The Sexy Part
“I bet it’s amazing.”
“How about tonight?”
“Can’t. Working late. Raincheck?”
“Sure.” She takes a sip of wine and turns toward the dining area. “Oh my God, is that Shayla Adler? I love her movies.”
“Yup, it’s her engagement party.”
She bolts.
Shayla Adler is here? I look over to see her wearing a small bridal veil pinned to her hair. Normally I’d want to meet her too, but not when she’s in bride mode. I don’t think I can force out a congratulations after getting dumped on my wedding day.
Solemn vow to self: no more men, ever.
Cooper checks in with me. “How’re you doing? Want another water?”
I look down at my empty glass. “Probably time I left.”
“Hold on.” And then he surprises me by pushing through a half door at the side of the bar and joining me. “I’ll go with you to get your stuff. I’m sure you’ll feel better once you’re in your regular clothes.”
“But don’t you have to work?”
“I’m a guest at this party. Everyone can help themselves.”
My jaw drops. “A guest turned bartender? But you went into the kitchen too.”
He laughs. “I work here, but I had tonight off for the party.”
I gesture vaguely to where flirty Gina went. “But you told Gina you had to work late.”
“Because I wanted to be here for you.”
He offers his hand to help me off the barstool. I take it, a shock of sensation running up my arm at contact.What was that?
I quickly release his hand and check my gown to be sure it’s not sticking up anywhere and exposing me.
He glances around me. “All covered. Let’s go.”
And then he offers his arm, like something out of a movie. Who is this guy? He waits patiently while I stare at his arm and then at him.
His eyes are intent on mine. “The nice thing about holding my arm is that you don’t have to worry about your heels getting caught in a sidewalk crack or in the brick path leading up to Ludbury House.”
I gingerly place my hand on his arm, meeting hard muscle. Heat flashes through me. I must be out of sorts today. I’ve never reacted so viscerally to a simple touch. “How do you know about women stuff like heels?”
“My mom lives in heels.” He guides me toward the door. “And I have a sister who complains about heels. She’s the one who said she was sorry about the day you were having.”
“Oh, I thought…never mind.”
“What?”
“Several pretty women came to the bar and seemed happy to see you.”
He holds the door open for me, guides me down the two steps, and places my hand back on his arm. “Guess I’m a likeable guy. My secret is I like everybody. People sense that, and then they want to like you too.”
A silver Toyota slows down near us. The window powers down. It’s my friend Meg, driving with Darla in the passenger seat.
Meg waves wildly. “Sorry! We waited as long as we could for you to come back, but we just heard Sam’s in the hospital. His appendix burst. Darla wants to fly home right away, and I’m taking her to the airport.” Sam’s Darla’s husband.
