“Gooey, loved up, Cleo, far outranks depressed, ragey, Cleo. I just want you happy. If that’s with Linc, cool, he’s a good guy. If it’s by yourself, that’s cool too.”
They crossed the street and walked the two blocks to the bar. Nerves twisted in her stomach and her palms were sweating. She wiped them on her thighs as she ordered a diet coke. “You going to interview someone tonight?”
Molly swirled her straw around her glass of gin and Sprite. The lime segments jingled against the ice cubes. She took a sip, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Yeah, your freakin’ boyfriend. I can’tnotinterview Linc after that shit he pulled on the ice tonight. Then you can go bump uglies with him.”
She raised her glass and clinked it against Cleo’s soda. “I’m glad you came to your senses. For the shortest not-a-real-break-up in history, that nearly-a-week was the longest week of our damn lives. You were a rotten person to be around, Cho-Cho. I’m glad you didn’t wake up and choose violence again today.” She winked.
Russ approached, his tie loose and his top button open. He radiated don’t-talk-to-me vibes, and the building crowd parted to let him through. He nodded at Cleo. “He’s on his way.”
Molly swiveled on her stool to talk to someone Cleo didn’t recognize.
“Hey, Russell?”
He peeled his eyes away from the bartender to meet her gaze.
“Molly said your mom is an editor.”
“She is indeed.” He flagged down the bartender and ordered a beer. “You need an editor?”
Cleo shrugged. “I think so?”
Russ laughed. “Are you asking me?”
“No… I… I’m not sure what I have is worth… editing.”
“Mom will know. She used to edit for a publishing house, but she got laid off in a recent merger. She freelances now and most of her clients are indies. If there’s something there, she’ll know.”
Cleo chewed on her straw. She’d asked, and he hadn’t laughed at her, not that he would, but the idea of doing something with the silly stories she had under her bed made her cringe.
“Did you tell him about the other night?”
He shook his head. “Nah. I thought he might want to hear it from you.”
“Tell me what?”
Her heart stuttered, tripping over its own beat. “Lincoln.” His name was a whisper. Gooseflesh spread on her arms and neck as he stepped closer, his proximity radiating heat even through the thick layers of her clothes.
His hands rested on her hips as he lowered his head to talk close to her ear. “Do you know how fucking hot it is seeing you in my number, Lizzy? It’s making it very… hard… to concentrate.”
He pressed his erection against her ass, and she forgot whatever thoughts had been rattling around her brain. He brushed his lips against her cheek. “Did Russ tell me what, Lizzy?”
She sighed against his chest. “I came over the other night.” Talking to him with her back to him was easier.
Russ picked up his beer from the bar and tipped it at Cleo and Linc. “Catch you later.”
Linc nodded against her neck, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “You came over?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was breathy, and the only thing she could think about was his skin touching hers. She leaned forward and tapped Molly on the shoulder. Sliding her hand into Linc’s, she stepped toward Molly. “We’re going to talk.”
Molly’s lips twitched. “I wanna make a joke right now, but I know you do need toactuallytalk so I’ll swallow it down. Needless to say, it was hilarious and pithy.”
“Noted. Let me know when you get where you’re going for the night?”
Molly grinned and nodded. “Yes, Mom. Go fix things with Mr. Darcy.”
Cleo gnawed on the inside of her cheek, stomach flipping. She wasn’t used to having to apologize, and the need pooling in her panties wasn’t doing much to help her foggy brain. His grip tightened around her hand as he led her outside the bar. He paused when they got to the street.
The streetlights shone a hazy orange glow over him. The way he filled out his suit jacket, with his humble smile and sparkling eyes, almost undid her where she stood. A not-so-small part of her wanted to drag him down the alley next and have her way with him. What was it about game-night-Lincoln that made her lose her mind?
