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“I got the promotion I was hoping for.”
Roman’s gaze roams my face. “That’s good news.”
“Great news.” I smile. “I deserved it.”
That’s not boasting. It’s a fact. I still need to sit down with Thurston to see if he had a hand in John’s sudden change of heart. My stepfather has skills when it comes to getting what he wants for himself and those around him. He can’t lie, though, at least not to me.
If I look him in the eye and ask him whether he convinced John to give me the job, I’ll know the truth.
Even if he did pull some strings or a skeleton out of John’s closet that he held over his head, I’m going to do whatever it takes to prove that I’m worthy of the job.
Rolly sets my drink on a paper napkin just to the right of where I’m sitting. I turn to him. “Thanks, Rolly.”
“It’s my pleasure, Miss Marks.”
I smile at him, but he’s already headed in the direction of a couple sitting at the far corner of the bar. Their heads are bowed in a hushed discussion.
Roman lifts his glass in the air. “A toast is in order, Miss Marks.”
I don’t offer my first name even though I’d love to hear it roll off his tongue.
I raise my glass.
“To promotions and chance meetings in bars,” he says before he tips his glass to touch the side of mine.
I sip from my drink, trying not to grimace when I realize how strong it is. All of my plans for today may be pushed aside for a mid-day nap if I polish off every last drop of this concoction.
The buzzing of a phone drops Roman’s gaze to the front of his dark gray suit jacket. “A man’s work is never done.”
I take another swallow of my heavy on the vodka drink as I watch his brow furrow when he glances at the phone’s screen.
When he lifts his head to look at me, frustration mars his expression. “Duty calls.”
Disappointment tugs at me. My drinking partner is about to leave.
Sliding a few bills out of his wallet, he pushes to stand. “If something brings you back this way next Tuesday at the same time, you’ll find me here.”
Nothing should bring me back. I have a boyfriend. I can’t forget that. This is where I should mention that to the tall, handsome, almost stranger.
“Congratulations on the promotion, Miss Marks,” he says as he leans down, so his lips are within an inch from my cheek. “Perhaps at some point, I’ll be able to demonstrate my favorite way to celebrate.”
When he pulls back, our eyes lock, and his unsaid words speak volumes as he drops his gaze to my breasts and then my legs.
I don’t comment because of Kieran.
Roman walks away. This time I don’t turn to watch him go. Instead, I swallow the drink in front of me in one gulp, hoping it will chase away the urge I have to follow him.
Chapter 5
Bianca
“Blanche? Is that you?”
I tear my phone away from my ear and look at the screen. It says Mortegue Plumbing and Heating. Since all my pipes are in order, I shake my head. “You have the wrong number.”
I shouldn’t have answered my phone when it started ringing, but I didn’t check the incoming caller’s name when I was headed out of Rolly’s Pub. Now, I’m standing in the afternoon heat on a Manhattan sidewalk, feeling the effects of that strong-as-hell drink Rolly whipped up for me.
“No, not Blanche,” the man on the other end of the call scoffs. “It’s Bianca, right? My wife’s handwriting looks like a squirrel got ahold of a pencil.”
What the hell? Am I in the throes of a bad vodka reaction?
“What did you say?”
“I got your number from Kieran Ratchford,” he explains. “My next stop is his apartment. He’s got a backed-up sink drain, and he’s supposed to let me in to fix it. If he didn’t pick up, I was told to call you.”
It was romantic when Kieran handed me an extra set of keys to his apartment a couple of months ago. I haven’t used them because he’s always been there when I’ve arrived, but today I’ll do a good deed and help him out.
“I’m in Manhattan. I’ll hop on the subway.”
“Works for me,” the plumber says. “It’ll give me time to grab a sandwich. I’ll see you soon, Bianca.”
“Soon,” I repeat back.
Heading toward the nearest subway stop, I give my head a shake. I need to sober up, or I could take a mid-day nap in Kieran’s bed.
I’m sure he’ll appreciate finding me as a surprise after he deals with whatever critical conference is keeping him from answering his phone.
***
I should feel devastated.
I don’t.
I’m relieved in some way, disappointed in another, and angry that I wasted my time on a man who is cowardly enough to cheat on me with his assistant.
