“So, how many panicked or irate phone calls have you gotten?” she asked after they’d put in their order.
“Let’s just say I’ve had to charge my phone twice already today. But none of the people who called me were Lamont Burke, so I have that going for me.”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes, you do. Have I mentioned you’re buying tonight?”
“Sounds fair. Was it as bad as I imagine it was?”
“He didn’t actually show up at my door, so it could have been worse. But, no, it wasn’t pleasant. He accused me of trying to get attention because I’m jealous of Erik.”
The happy glow he’d been working on was swept away by a rush of anger, and Will set down his glass so he didn’t crack it. “I think I probably shouldn’t tell you how I feel about that because the bottom line is that he’s your father.”
“I’m used to it,” she said with a shrug.
“That doesn’t make it better. It’s worse, actually. This kind of shit would be bad enough as a one-time deal, but it’s not. You shouldn’thaveto be used to it.”
“Shh.” She reached across the table and laced her fingers through his. “You’re getting loud, and you’re going to attract attention, and we’re here because youdon’tattract attention, so if you cause a scene, you’ll be eating shitty grilled chicken someplace else. And I know I shouldn’t have to be used to my dad being a dick, but I am. But I also know I can’t change him, so it is what it is.”
“What about Burke?” He winced. “Your brother, I mean. You’re all Burkes, I guess.”
“Erik can’t change him, either.” She let go of his hand to pick up her drink. “He’s not like Dad, you know. He was raised to be the center of our universe, but he does his best to never leave me behind. We’re very close, even when Dad makes it hard.”
The last thing Will wanted to do right now was talk about the Burke men—and he especially didn’t want to hear praise for the guy he’d been battling for a decade and a half—so he decided a change of subject was in order. “Since you know a hell of a lot about my job, why don’t you tell me about yours? And this promotion you want?”
She grimaced. “I basically manage a very large office for an asshole I definitely don’t want to talk about, or even think about, right now.”
“Okay. Favorite color?”
“Red.” She chuckled. “Yours?”
“Blue.” Yesterday, he probably would have said he didn’t have one. But now that he’d seen her eyes, it was definitely blue. But he wasn’t quite ready to give up on talking aboutheryet. “Okay, I hate pushing, and I know I shouldn’t, but you’re such a strong, confident woman and I get why you might put up with your dad being a jerk, but putting up with an asshole boss doesn’t seem like you.”
“I took the job because it was available, paid enough to cover my student loansandfood, and fit my career plan. Plus, my boss is well-respected in the city. You don’t know until you work in a place what really happens in the office, you know?”
“But you’ve stayed.”
“He’s going to run for mayor, and he’s probably going to win. And because I’ve stuck it out and worked my ass off, I’m going to be the chief of staff for the mayor of Boston. And withthaton my resume, instead of job-hopping for less money because I don’t personally like my boss, I’m going to use his connections and my skills to make a lateral or forward move to campaign manager or chief of staff for somebody Idolike.” She shrugged and took a sip of her drink. “He’s a stepping stone for me.”
“And a judgmental prick.”
“One I’ll be happy to leave behind, but not until the time is right for me. And now Ireallydon’t want to think about him anymore.”
“Okay, what’s your favorite movie, then?”
“Misery.”
“Horror?” That surprised him. Hell,everythingabout her surprised him. “I’m partial to horror myself, both in books and movies.”
They talked for two hours about the horror books and movies they both liked, then moved on to others. And then television shows. They talked about pretty much everythingbuttheir families and hockey. She had several cocktails, while he stuck to ice water and his decaf, and they split a strawberry shortcake for dessert.
“You didn’t drive here, did you?” he asked when she was halfway through her third drink.
“Nope. After the day I had, I decided to take a Lyft so I wouldn’t have to be conflicted about a second drink.” She lifted the glass. “Or a third. Did I not mention you’re driving me home?”
He chuckled and clinked his coffee mug lightly against her glass. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
“Probably.” Her expression said his chances at pleasure were higher thanprobably, but he wouldn’t push her. After the day they’d both had, he would totally understand if she just wanted to climb into her bed alone and pull the covers up over her head.
It wouldn’t sound like a bad plan to him, either, if he hadn’t been in various states of semi-erect from the minute she walked through the door. Whether Kristen invited him in or he had to have some solo time in his hotel shower, his dick was going to need a little attention before he could sleep.
