Page 39 of Wild Abandon

He smiles, showing off perfect white teeth and, if I’m not mistaken, a chipped tooth in the lower front. Perfectly flawed. “Maybe some other time.”

“Now that you’ve scared off my date for the third time—”

“I had nothing to do with Carb Freak.”

“He wouldn’t have gone all meathead on me if you hadn’t sent over food,” I say.

Nate is looking at me with an unamused expression.

“Okay, fine. He would have but at least not so fast. So, now that I am dateless once again, you, sir, have to be my date.” I see the wariness in his eyes and the back tilt of his head. Before he can speak, I put him at ease. “Calm your panties. I know.” I lower my voice an octave, quoting him. “I don’t do dates.” He half-laughs at that comment, so I say, “Just pity me.”

Nate puts his hand on his thigh, the other around his beer, and leans in. “I haven’t been on a date in years. What the hell do you do?”

“You talk.”

“I can do that.”

“And drink.”

“Amen.” He grabs the neck of the bottle of Jack and pours two glasses.

I am surprised he actually has the time to sit here and talk and drink with me. The bar is busy. He should be behind it.

“Do you ever work?”

“All the time.”

“Why aren’t you working now?”

“I am. It’s called being the boss.”

“Oh. Are you originally from Napa?” I raise my glass and touch it to his before downing the shot. Damn. Whiskey has a kick.

He shoots his back without a flinch. “Arizona. Moved here when I was twenty.”

“What brought you here?”

“A girl.”

“Aw, Nate’s a romantic.”

He practically growls at my comment, so I leave it alone.

“What was your family like when you were growing up?”

“Is this what people talk about on dates?”

I smile and enthusiastically nod my head.

He appeases me. “Not much to tell. Dad ran off when I was a kid. Mom kicked me out when I finished high school.”

No wonder he’s so solemn half the time. The guy has no family.

“You?” He pours two more shots, and we each take one in unison.

I shrug my shoulder at my uneventful answer. “Mom, dad, brother. The normal boring life. Except I grew up in Manhattan. For some reason, people act surprised when I say that, as if no one could be born and raised there. But I was, and it’s true.”

He leans forward. “What should I know about you that I’d never think to ask?”