‘OK. Deal.’
I caught the tiniest of twinkles in his eyes at my response.
The waiter appeared at our table once again a short while later.
‘Are you ready to order?’ he asked. ‘Or do you need a little more time?’
Unlike Charlie, I’d noticed that this particular waiter’s gaze had rarely left us since we’d come in – or, more specifically, had barely left my lunch companion. I was pretty sure he’d be happy for this gorgeous man to sit there all day.
Charlie looked at me for an answer and I nodded. We gave our choices and the waiter scribbled them down before taking the menus with a flourish. He threw Charlie an extra-wide smile as he handed his over. Charlie smiled back at him in thanks, the further connotations of the waiter’s attention apparently lost on him. A few minutes later the man was back with our drinks. He threw Charlie another couple of flirty looks, which again seemed to go unnoticed, then told us that our bread would be over in just a moment.
‘I think you have an admirer,’ I said, when the waiter was out of earshot.
‘Hmm?’ Charlie’s brow creased in question as he lifted his beer.
It suddenly occurred to me that I had no idea as to whether Charlie was straight or gay. Either way, one gender was going to be sorely disappointed.
‘The waiter. He’s… extremely enamoured with you.’
Charlie raised one eyebrow at me as he took another sip.
‘I just wanted to say, if you want to… you know… follow up on that, please don’t stand on ceremony on my behalf. I mean, go for it.’
Charlie’s eyes bulged as he began choking on his drink. Turning redder as he tried to stifle the coughing, he buried his face in a napkin and endeavoured to do it quietly.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked, even though he clearly wasn’t.
He didn’t answer.
‘Shall I pat you on the back or something? Would that help?’ I made to push my chair back and stand but Charlie’s waved hand kept me where I was.
‘I’m fine,’ he croaked out, sounding anything but. ‘Just went down the wrong way.’
He took another sip and it seemed to help. His face, thankfully, began returning to a more normal colour.
‘Better?’ I asked, concern in my voice.
He smiled at me. ‘Much. Thanks.’
The waiter appeared and placed our starter nibbles down, along with a couple of fresh napkins. Apparently, he’d also witnessed Charlie’s mishap.
‘Thanks.’ Charlie nodded at him.
‘You’re very welcome.’
I bent my head further as I took a breadstick and dunked it in the garlic dip we’d ordered. From my peripheral vision, I saw the waiter leave and head back to the bar. I risked a look up, my gaze quickly meeting Charlie’s amused one.
‘OK. I’ll give you that one. But – and I don’t know what you’ve heard – just so that you’re clear – not that it matters on any level but purely because trying to be politely quiet whilst choking is a complete pain in the arse – I’m not gay. So, thanks for the offer of being a wingman – or woman – but it’s not necessary in this case.’
‘Oh. Right. Thought I’d ask. You know. Just in case,’ I said, selecting another breadstick whilst deftly managing to avoid looking at my companion. Truth be told, I suddenly felt like a bit of an idiot.
‘And please don’t think I don’t appreciate the thought.’ I could hear the smile in his voice.
I risked a look. Yep. I knew it. There was a bloody great grin on his face.
I gave a small eye-roll. ‘You see. This is why I work behind a screen. There’s far less danger of me saying or doing something on the spur of the moment that, in that instant, seems helpful but soon after just makes me feel like a complete fool.’
‘I can see how that might work better for you.’
