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Shit. He stood, glaring at Liz from very close proximity. “Say whatever you want about me, I’ve earned it. But say it tome. The beautiful, intelligent woman seated at your table deserves better. You owe her a huge apology. Even that’s not enough. You can apologize in front of the manager.”
Not only did the haughty expression leave Liz’s face, she appeared ready to cry. “I’ll get fired.” A glance toward the impeccably dressed man cutting a path directly toward them sent the first tear rolling down her cheek.
“Is that the manager?” he asked, and she nodded. “Good. Because you went way too far.”
“Sam.” Leigh’s soft hand brushed his, curled around his forearm as she rose from her seat. “Let’s go someplace else and forget this happened.”
“Not until I make it right.”
“Make it right by walking out of this restaurant with me now, before the manager gets to us and wastes more of our evening.” So calm. So damn good.
“You shouldn’t have been treated that way.”
“He’s right,” Liz said. “I was angry and lost my shit. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Leigh didn’t spare a glance at the teary-eyed waitress. “Let’s go, Sam. Liz said she’s not going to ruin our date and she was correct, because we’re not going to allow her to ruin it.”
Damn straight, they weren’t. He transferred Leigh’s hand from his arm to his palm and laced their fingers together. Then led her the hell out of there.
If he had any doubt that Leigh was the most levelheaded woman he’d been with, she gave him more proof outside the restaurant. Not only did shenotfreak out and demand an explanation, she continued holding his hand as they walked along King Street. She even gave him a little squeeze.
“To be honest, I wasn’t really in the mood for fine dining in a dark restaurant.” She slowed their pace as they approached one of the many small pubs that dotted the uptown strip. “How about sitting out on the patio here?”
“Sounds great.” The fact that she still wanted to get dinner with him at all sounded beyond great. One hand on the small of her back, he opened the door and ushered her inside. “Two for the patio,” he said, when a female member of the restaurant staff greeted them. A stranger, thank God. As were all the other visible employees. Safe so far.
She accepted the chair he pulled out, then took his hand after he sat across from her. “Stop worrying about it.”
“How can you be completely cool about everything Liz said back there?”
“I’m not, but I’m also not going to throw a fit or jump to conclusions based on one person’s commentary. I told you this morning that I’m not interested in drama. Maturity is one of the benefits of being older.”
“Like everything else, it looks amazing on you.”
“Thank you. And thank you.” The first one went to a waitress, dropping off menus as she passed their table. The second one, Leigh directed at him. “I like you, Sam. I’m attracted to you, obviously, and I’m enjoying spending time with you. So, yes, of course I’m curious about your past. You’re younger, very charming, and incredibly attractive. I’m not naïve, I’m sure there have been plenty of women before me. And I don’t need to know about any of them. Tell me or don’t tell me about Liz, I’m fine either way. Just choose which it’s going to be and commit to the decision, so we can focus on having a good time together.”
No way he’d be so easygoing if their positions were reversed. Hell, look how stupidly he’d reacted after finding Tim’s stuff in the spare bedroom. He’d been lucky to get this second chance. Telling her the truth might bring their night, if not their relationship, to a screeching halt. He didn’t have to tell her. Not now, not ever. No amount of antacid tablets would get rid of the curling sensation in the pit of his stomach. Only one thing would.
“Liz was a one-night stand. I took her home from a club, told her I’d call again but didn’t. Until a couple months later, when I had to call everyone I’d had unprotected sex with because I found out I’d picked up HPV somewhere along the way. I’ve been treated, tested for everything and cleared, and I’ve used condoms every time since.”
“Wow, that’s…” Her hand slid from his as she sat as far back as the plastic patio chair allowed.
The world buzzed all around them. People talked, drank, ate, laughed. Music played. Dishes rattled and glasses clinked. The aromas of food floated into his nose as a waitress walked by with a trayful of steaming, heaped plates of wings and fries. None of it mattered. Only Leigh’s face as she processed the steaming heap of shit he’d just served up.
“Hi, I’m Tammy and I’ll be your server tonight,” a short, bubbly waitress said as she approached their table. She set two glasses of water on the table, her gaze bouncing from Leigh to Sam to the menus, still untouched on the table. “I can take your drink orders if you need a few more minutes with the menus?”
He opened his mouth to tell the waitress they might not be staying, only to have Leigh beat him to the act of speaking.
“A double gin with grapefruit juice, if you have it?”
“Sure do.” Tammy nodded, then turned her attention to him. “And for you?”
Surprised that Leigh planned to stay and have a drink with him, he blanked on a selection until another server passed with a frosty pitcher. “A pint of your house craft special, thanks.”
“The experimental tap this week is an amber lager with notes of citrus and hibiscus.”
“Sounds great.”
“Awesome. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
