Page 95 of Bourbon Bliss
“Okay. Just… be careful.”
“I’m not a reckless person by nature.”
“You’re a Bootlegger, June. Reckless is in your blood.”
He walked into the restaurant, letting the door shut behind him. I waited several minutes before following him inside.
About half of the tables were full and the buzz of conversation filled the air. It was small, almost cramped, with two- or four-person tables placed too close together for my taste. A harried-looking waitress dressed all in black navigated the small spaces between the tables. Aseat yourselfsign stood just inside the door, which was perfect for our purposes.
I picked a table near the entrance and slipped into the chair. George was already sitting at a table next to Callie. He was so tall, he dwarfed the small table, his right leg spilling out into the aisle. Yet his demeanor was casual, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. It made his size less intimidating than it might have been otherwise.
It was fascinating to watch him strike up a conversation with her. He simply leaned slightly in her direction and spoke. He was so natural, so confident in his ability to interact with others, I didn’t see even a hint of anxiety in his expression.
I couldn’t see Callie’s face, nor could I hear what they were saying. George’s eyes flicked to me for the briefest second and I remembered I was here on a mission.
I’d considered waiting until she left and taking the straw from her drink. But that might not contain enough DNA for the lab to get an accurate result. I was here now, I wanted to ensure I took full advantage of this opportunity.
That meant hair. The laboratory technician had said it was important that the root of the hair be intact. The best way to ensure I had a usable sample was to pluck several strands directly from her head.
The table behind her was taken, but only by a single occupant. I met George’s eyes again and nodded for him to keep talking. He shifted his body weight so he was angled toward her. She did the same. That seemed to indicate she was engrossed in their conversation. Now was my chance.
I moved to the table behind Callie and slipped into the empty seat. The other occupant looked up at me, his eyebrows raised. Clearly he didn’t understand why I’d just helped myself to a spot at his table. I needed to keep him quiet before he attracted Callie’s attention.
“Sorry. Are you alone?” I asked.
His mouth hung open for a second before he replied. “Uh, yeah.”
“May I join you?”
“Oh.” He closed the book he’d been reading and adjusted his glasses. “Um, yeah, I mean yes. I mean sure.”
“Thank you.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Callie and I were back to back, our chairs almost touching.
“I’m Luke,” he said. “I haven’t ordered yet, if you want to… you know…”
“What?” Something Cassidy had once told me suddenly sprang to mind.You need to pay attention so you can see when guys are flirting with you.Had that been an attempt at flirtation? “I’m June, but I’m in a committed relationship.”
“Oh, sure,” he said. “That’s… yeah, I’m not surprised.”
“However, you’re quite attractive and the fact that you’re reading increases your appeal. I suggest frequenting local bookstores if you’re interested in finding a date. If you see a girl you’re attracted to, offer to buy her a book. Better yet, buy the same book and ask her to have coffee with you later to discuss what you’ve read.”
He looked at me as if I’d just unlocked the secrets of the universe. “That’s a brilliant idea. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
I twisted around and reached. George’s voice rose slightly, and I could hear what might have been the punch line of a joke. I only meant to pluck a few hairs. But right as I grabbed, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, and I wound up with a fistful instead.
Already mid-tug, there was nothing I could do. I yanked a handful of Callie’s hair right out of her head.
In a panic, I dove beneath the table. By some miracle I didn’t bump into the table legs, but I wound up practically sitting on Luke’s feet.
“Ouch.” Callie’s voice. I couldn’t see her—which was good because that meant she couldn’t see me—but by the view I had of her legs, she’d whipped around. “What was that?”
George’s voice rose in pitch—whether in fear of getting caught, or because he couldn’t see where I’d gone, I wasn’t sure. “Um, I don’t know. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I think so.”
