“I lucked out.” His gaze roved over her. “I like that rainbow-colored skirt with the—what do you call the layers?”
“A tiered skirt. It’s not something I wear at work, but it seems right for a club.”
“Good choice. Can I get you something to eat or drink? Champagne to toast your success?”
“Slow down there. I haven’t even started the job. I’m going to have a ginormous learning curve, and I may not be a success for a while, so no champagne yet. But a Cosmo sounds good. What about you?”
“Beer.” He raised his hand and signaled a server. “Any objection to mixed nuts?”
“Since I’m a bit of a mixed nut myself, none at all.”
He chuckled. “You’re fun tonight.”
“I feel fun. You’re in a good mood yourself.”
“Do you want anything else? Cookies, ice cream, something like that?”
“I confess to eating a cookie earlier, but maybe later.”
The server, a harried-looking woman who Vi guessed was in her early forties, took their orders and offered Blake a flirty smile before she hurried off.
Vi shook her head. “I can’t believe she flirted with you.”
“She smiled, that’s all.”
“At you and only you.”
His eyes twinkled. “Are you jealous?”
“Did you really say that? I merely made an observation.”
“FYI, while she was looking at me, I was looking at you. I like that top.”
She’d changed into a soft-yellow silk pullover blouse with a V neck and three-quarter sleeves. “Thanks. I wore it because spring is here and it goes well with the skirt. When does the live music start?”
“Another twenty minutes or so. Who’s going to help you with that learning curve?”
“My former boss, Todd. He’s been moved out of sales but has offered to answer questions and guide me. He’ll be a great mentor.”
“A mentor is a good thing. Grandpop was mine. Without his help, I don’t know if I’d have opened a business of my own.” He paused. “I tried to reach him again tonight. No luck. That’s three nights in a row. I was worried and per your suggestion, contacted the front desk to find out if he’s taking meals in his unit or in the dining room. According to them, a mixture of both.”
“So we know he’s progressing—physically, at least. I got through to Gran. I told her about my promotion and raise and asked about the insurance check—thanks again for reminding me about that. She still doesn’t have it and worries it won’t come in time. She needs it by next Wednesday. I told her if it hasn’t come by then, I’ll take out a loan. Thanks to my new salary, borrowing won’t be a problem. We agreed she’ll pay me back when the check arrives, because that’s what she wants. She made a comment along the lines of why couldn’t Malcom be reasonable like me. I guess they’re still at odds.”
They shook their heads at each other and shrugged. When the server delivered the nuts and drinks, Blake made a point of focusing totally on Vi, which made her uncomfortable. “Stop staring at me,” she said.
“I wanted to show the waitress where my interest lies. Look—the band is here.”
The musicians broke into a toe-tapping song that had Vi swaying in her seat. “They’re really good.”
“Speak up—can’t hear you,” Blake said loud enough for her to hear. “It’s too noisy.”
Vi raised her voice. “I said they’re good.”
Frowning, he moved his chair closer to hers and pointed to his ear. “Say again?”
The last thing she wanted was to have him close enough to feel the heat from his body. She cupped her hand around his ear. He smelled good—clean and fresh and Blake—and she almost drooled. “I like the band,” she said, then shifted away from him.
People were flocking to the dance floor. “This music is too good to waste sitting here,” he said. “Let’s go.”
