“No, no, switch that.” Adam reaches for my pen, so I swat his hand.
“Back off, I’m the lead planner here.”
He reaches one more time, and I playfully hit his hand again.
“Adam!”
He leans back in his seat with this megawatt smile. Holy hell, that’s such a good smile. I can’t decide if I’m mad about just now seeing this side of him or grateful.
I’ll admit—when the Blues players came in, my interest was immediately piqued by Adam. The man is gorgeous and massive. He has to be at least six four with broad shoulders and muscles that screamI could throw you around—in the best way possible. However, anytime I saw him, it was as if he always had this serious look on his face.
I’m rarely an intimidated woman, but the first time I waited on him I was a little nervous.
Flirting with Beck was sort of this safe fling option. The same gut-punch feeling with Adam wasn’t exactly there with Beck. He was attractive and easy to talk to. I’d been so busy pouring my all into learning everything about this business that the idea of a temporary thing sounded like a good time, so I just leaned into it.
Finding out he actually had a thing for my best bartender was a pleasant surprise. They’re perfect for each other, and I knew Beck and I weren’t this insane love match.
“Okay, okay, what you say goes, Captain.” He holds his hands up in surrender.
“No, don’t you start.” Pressing my lips into a thin line, I take a deep breath to tamper the laugh that threatens to come out.
I’ve talked to plenty of attractive men in my bar—hell, I don’t know if in my thirty years of living that someone has held a single inkling of my interest like Adam has.
I’m supposed to be having a business meeting. My father would be very disappointed in my professionalism right now, and he’s rarely upset with me. It just doesn’t feel like a business meeting…I wonder where we would be if Adam had opened up like this to me sooner?
“You know my grandfather would lose his mind if he knew the entire roster of the Boston Blues was going to be in his bar.”
Adam tilts his head. “In a good way? Or…”
“Oh, in an amazing way. He loved the Blues, so does my dad, actually. That was sort of their first ‘bonding’ moment, according to my dad.”
“Well, if they ever want tickets, just let me know.”
A small tightness forms in my chest. “That’s really sweet, and I should’ve been more clear, but my grandfather passed away a few years ago.”
“Mia, I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. He lived a great life and was very happy to be reunited with my grandma.” The tightness I had seconds ago melts as the memories of him behind the bar come to my mind. “This was his ‘retired’ job. He always had to be doing something, and this sort of became his happy place, so in a way I think it’ll always feel likehisplace.”
Part of me stays stuck in that moment in time, the memories, and many bickering arguments my grandparents had over this bar, but once I snap out of it—there’s this look on Adam’s face.
It almost looks as if he was in that memory with me, but that’s impossible—he was just looking at me while I was off in thought.
Clearing my throat, I adjust in my seat. “My dad might take you up on those tickets, though.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. “You just let me know. Anytime, Mia.”
The energy in the room has quickly shifted. There was something in the way he just said my name that had chills popping up on my arms and a thrill traveling down my spine.
A knock comes to my office door, and I jump, finally breaking eye contact with Adam. “Come in.”
One of my new hostesses, Emily, peeks her head in. “Um, Mia, your parents are here for your weekly lunch.”
My eyebrow raises. “Really? They’re early.” Our lunches are usually at noon—on the dot—and my and Adam’s meeting wassupposed to end at eleven. I tap my phone, and my eyes widen. 12:05? How the hell did that happen? Have I really been talking to Adam for two hours and not realized it?
The sound of Adam’s chair sliding pulls my gaze to him. He almost looks as confused at the time as I do.
He stands with a half-smile. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you.”
