Page 22 of Against The Boards

I furrowed my brow at her. “Um, I didn’t order that.”

She pointed a thumb behind her at someone at the bar. “That guy over there wanted to buy it for you. He’s cute,” she said with a wink before walking away.

“Uhh…”

Quinn nudged me. “You should go talk to him.”

I put a hand on my face in embarrassment. “I haven’t gone out with a guy in a long time.”

Maxine nudged me. “Go for it, girl!”

I leaned across the table and saw a dark-skinned man with a shaved head and a beard raise a glass at me over at the bar. Huh, he was kind of cute.

“Oh!” Maxine cheered. “That’s Keith Collins.”

I gave her a confused look.

“Beat writer for the Bulldogs at the newspaper,” she explained.

“Ohh…”

Quinn practically pushed me out of the booth.

I grabbed my drink and strolled over to him. He was cuter up close, and he had a bright smile. What the hell? Maybe I should get back on the horse and try dating again. I was so sexually frustrated that I had been ready to screw Benny last night. If nothing else, that had to be a sign it was time to put myself out there again.

I stuck out a hand to the stranger. “Roxanne.”

“Keith,” he greeted and shook my hand.

I slid onto the stool next to him and sipped the lager. “I’ve heard. Thanks for the drink.”

“Didn’t peg you for a Lager girl, but I’m impressed.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Wine’s gross.”

He laughed. “So, Roxanne, what do you do for a living?”

“Sales,” I stated flatly but didn’t ask a question in return.

“You kind of look familiar to me.”

I looked down at the maple leaf tattoo on my wrist. “Oh, yeah. You probably pester my brother for a lot of interviews.”

He cocked his head quizzically. “I’m sorry?”

I sighed. “I’m TJ Desjardins’ sister.”

His eyes lit up in recognition. “Ah, that’s what it is. You look a lot alike.”

“We’re twins,” I explained.

“I know this is forward, but can I take you to dinner?”

It must have been the second beer because I found myself saying yes, and I exchanged numbers with him. When I walked back to the table where my coworkers sat, they all had big smiles on their faces.

“Well?” Quinn asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

“He’s taking me to dinner,” I said and shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, even though it was an extremely big deal.