AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s just little old me.” She smiles, tucking her hair behind her ears.
The red lipstick on her full lips is fucking with my brain. My eyes linger on them for a moment too long before shifting as she sits down. I return back to my seat, pulling up the material on my suit pants before I sit down.
The fact she’s not here with anyone is music to my ears. Glancing at her left hand, I notice the absence of a wedding ring. Another good sign.
“What will it be?” I ask, pleased with my observations.
“Gin and tonic, if you’d be so kind.”
I nod and wave to Lyle, who is pacing frantically.
He glances over at me, quickly saying something to Bertram, who looks over his specs at us. His face relaxes a little when he sees we’re getting along, since we’re both sitting down, and not arguing whose table it is.
“They’ve obviously double booked the table,” I go on, leaning forward a little on my elbow while I wait for Lyle to reach us. “And I’m too hungry to be the gallant guy who bows out and gives the table to you, sweetheart.”
I hear a faint laugh under her breath, and it stirs something in me. Something not normal. A feeling I've been missing for some time, maybe longer than I thought.
“And I’d love to be the charitable lady who does what she usually does and says, ‘don’t worry, it will be fine. You take it, I’ll get the next one,’ but I’m hungry too.” She shrugs.
I grin. Fucking perfect, she has some backbone. I don’t mind that at all. “Then, I think we just share the table and be done with it,” I state. “Not unless you have other plans?”
Other plans? Who even am I?
The only plan I have tonight is being with her. If she were mine; I’d be on my knees begging for it. Lust shoots to my dick again as I take her in.
“As luck would have it, I don’t have other plans.” She laughs, clearly enjoying this a little too much. I have to admit, I am too.
I glance up as Lyle approaches and I order some drinks.
“We’ll share the table, tell Bert not to stress.” I wave my hand toward him at reception, where he’s trying to turn water into wine. Obviously, finding another table for one of us has been fruitless. The chances of it happening tonight are slim with this crowd, just as I thought. Lyle looks positively relieved.
“I’m so sorry,” he profusely apologizes to us both. “I’m not sure what happened with the tables. A glitch in our bookings system, perhaps.”
A gremlin in the system, always a viable excuse.
The corners of my mouth tug up. “Don’t sweat it.” I give him a chin lift.
“It’s perfectly fine,” the beautiful woman before me adds.
I don’t even know her fucking name.
I can't think of anything better than sitting on this beautiful 1930s inspired terrace overlooking the stunning view of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. A million lights flicker in the background, offering a serene silhouette and breathtaking view of the city. Nothing is as breathtaking as blondie, though.
Lyle swiftly leaves and approaches Bertram to share the good news, waving our drinks order toward the bar. Then he rushes back to our table with the menus. Bert follows close behind.
“My sincere apologies,” he offers as Lyle pours us both a glass of water. “Would you accept a bottle of our finest champagne, on the house, for the inconvenience?”
I want to laugh or, better yet, give Bertram and Lyle a bear hug for this convenient mistake. It’s certainly no inconvenience to me, and judging by the beautiful blonde who’s watching on across from me, she’s as pleasantly surprised as I am. There’s no protest from either side.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s a slight flush to her cheeks. I’d like to think it’s me that’s caused that stir in her, but it’s too early to tell.
“I’m Gray,” I announce, stretching my arm across the table as soon as Lyle is power walking over to the bar to grab our drinks. I can see Bert is organizing the champagne he promised.
She smiles, her eyes momentarily dipping down to my lips as she reciprocates my handshake. “I’m Hartley.”
2
Hartley
