Page 29 of Nothing At All

Lila

He was here.

My entire body relaxed at the sound of Dan’s truck turning into my drive. Sliding on my shoes, I grabbed my clutch and hustled for the front door. Flinging it wide, I threw myself at him as he topped the steps, and he caught me, deep chuckle rumbling into me. “Well, hey.”

“I’m so glad to see you.” I buried my face in his throat and took a long sniff of soap and aftershave and warm skin. “I missed you.”

“Same, baby.” He spread his hand over my lower back.

I hugged him closer. “No more weeks where we don’t see each other in person.”

Chin hooked atop my head, he rocked me side to side. “Agreed.”

Reluctantly, I unwound my arms and tiptoed up to kiss him. “Do we have to go out?”

“We don’t have to, but thought you might want something to eat.” His features relaxed despite the small lines of weariness about his eyes, he gazed down at me. “Maybe play a little pool or some darts with me.”

I considered a plea to order in, but he was right – playing together was important, too. And we’d vegged on the couch the night we’d ordered pizza last week. “Okay, let’s go.”

He held the passenger door and handed me into the seat. I watched him jog around to his side, determined not to ask about Nicole and her appointment. I was not giving her space she didn’t deserve.

Tonight, he turned to take us through town, to the Cue Club instead of the Millhouse. I hadn’t been to the popular local bar yet, but had heard good things about its artery-clogging food, cold beer, music and dancing.

The long low building squatted in the middle of a large gravel lot, pink neon glinting off the vehicles packing out the spaces. Our shoes crunched as we walked toward the big doors. Once inside, he folded his hand at my waist, and I glanced around, taking in the long bar that stretched along the right-hand wall and the tables and booths scattered about, most of them full. A dance floor took up the far end, and four or five pool tables marched in a line between the bar and the dance floor. Nineties country pounded, competing with laughter and chatter.

I spotted Josh and Lacey at one of the tall tables, talking to another couple.

Dan nudged me in their direction. “Hey, Vic’s here. I’ll introduce you.”

I eyed the dark-haired man. He looked like a Vic. Had Dan talked about this colleague? I cast about in my memory and came up blank. Sometimes, I didn’t always pay attention like I should when he talked about work.

As we arrived at the table, he exchanged a bro-hug with Josh and smiled at Lacey and the tall blonde. His smile faded when he jerked his chin at the man I assumed was Vic.

“Lila, this is Vic Ocampo and Roman Santillan.” He gestured first at the blonde, then the man. “My girlfriend, Lila.”

Wait.

She was Vic.

“Hey, Lila.” She smiled at me, gaze dipping over me in an assessment I recognized because Dan looked at everybody he met the same way. It had to be a cop thing. “Good to meet you.”

Roman paused, beer halfway to his lips. “This is your girlfriend? Saw you at the women’s clinic today with Nicole from city planning.”

Vic shot Dan a look, brows raised enough to deeply wrinkle her forehead. He shrugged. “Gave her a ride.”

“Yeah, she wants you to give her a ride.” Roman snorted, looking impressed with his own gross humor. My stomach hollowed out.

Dan glowered. “What the fuck, man?”

Vic sighed. “Roman.”

“What?” He spread his hands. “Didn’t say he was. Just that . . . I’ve seen the way she watches you, dude.”

“This is fucking awkward,” Josh muttered. Lacey shifted, darting an unhappy, sympathetic look at me.

“She knows I’m not interested,” Dan snapped.

“Maybe.” Roman grinned around a sip of beer. “But she’s sure invested in you.”