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Lucas crossed his arms, holding his beer by the neck. “What ever happened to the barista? She still with the Uber driver?”
He stared into his cup. “To my chagrin, I’ve discovered they’re married and expecting their first child.”
“Tough break, my man,” Lucas said, giving him a gentleman’s slap to his back. “Believe it or not, she’s not the only fish in the sea.”
“I’m aware of that,” Flynn said, staring into his cup and attempting to gather his nerve. “There is a rather fetching young lady standing to the left of the house. She’s wearing a white eyelet dress covered with the most adorable unicorns. No! For the love of all that’s holy, do not look.”
Too late, Lucas spotted the woman in question, and his chest deflated a bit.
Lilith? No.
Even from across the yard, he could see she was glaring at both of them, probably having been advised Flynn was her replacement. Her eyes were narrow slits, about to cast a curse on voodoo dolls that, he would bet money, resembled them.
As if assured his attention hadn’t been discovered, Flynn took another sip. “I was wondering,” he said, looking the opposite direction so as to appear indifferent. “If you could introduce me to the ethereal creature.”
“Uh, wow,” Lucas said, trying to think how to explain that she was his previous assistant and the very person Flynn had replaced. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but she is the woman who you replaced as my assistant.”
His head jerked toward Lucas. “Say it isn’t so.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry.”
“But…she’s…magnificent.”
“Not so much as the personal assistant to the mayor.”
Flynn couldn’t be persuaded. “You have made a mistake. There is no way she could be anything other than utter perfection.”
“Good afternoon, Flynn, Lucas,” Pinkie said, with a knowing grin on her face and dragging Lilith by the arm toward them. “I wanted to introduce Lilith to your new assistant.”
Lucas considered Pinkie’s introduction cruel and gave her a look letting her know.
She just smiled with a “trust me” expression on her face.
“Lilith, Flynn,” Pinkie said. “Flynn, Lilith.” Lucas could hardly believe it when she added, “Flynn, Lilith used to be the mayor’s personal assistant.”
“Oh, dear,” Flynn said, looking as if he were about to cast the contents of his stomach.
Lilith lifted her chin and looked away. “It’s all right. He did me a favor. Now I have time to pursue higher paying career options.”
Flynn seemed crushed. “I do apologize, Miss Lilith. Had I known…that is to say…under normal circumstances…I might have…”
Lilith spoke, looking over the man’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’re quite lost with all of the technical aspects of the position, as well as the need to multitask.”
“It has been a challenge,” Flynn admitted. Despite handling his first few days on the job with amazing competency.
Flynn cleared his throat. “I wonder, Miss Lilith, would you consider spending a day or two showing me the ropes, as they say?” Flynn glanced at Lucas. “I’m sure the mayor would pay you for your time.”
Three sets of eyes on Lucas, he said, “Of course. A prudent idea considering…all of your issues acclimating to the job.”
Lilith’s face softened from high carbon steel grade to something with a tinge more give.
“I suppose I could spend a few hours sharing some of my organizational tips pertaining to the job. Some might consider it my civic duty, regardless of being fired without cause.”
Now it was Lucas’ turn to avoid eye contact. Although, if there was one good thing that came out of all this, it was that Lilith no longer held a torch for Lucas. Unless of course, the torch’s sole purpose was to light the stake he was tethered to.
Metaphorically speaking.
As the two began to share their calendars and when best to meet, Pinkie walked away with a smug look on her face while Lucas noticed three new party revelers approaching the picnic area.
