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They both drank and Ron shook his head. “How do you do it? Any time I go to a bar, I go home with a tab and that’s it.”
Tess laughed. “Joanne would be pissed if you came home with anything other than a bar tab.”
“Pregnant women are such downers. She used to be fun,” Ron grumbled.
A perplexed expression crossed Graham’s face.
Tess helped him out. “I know. You probably thought Ron is gay. But he’s not. He just flirts with everyone, chasing that tip.”
Ron lifted a shoulder. “I never said I was gay.”
“You implied it,” Graham said, sounding amused.
“No, you made an assumption based on my comment regarding men in baseball pants.” Ron’s eyes danced with laughter. He loved flipping stereotypes.
“Such a twisted sense of humor,” Tess said, finishing off her gimlet. The crisp taste and slight buzz made her feel invincible. Or maybe that was due to the fact she’d picked up a hot guy in a bar. Okay, only for dinner, but even so, she felt better about her crap day with Granny B who had ended it by declaring Tess would never see a single piece of jewelry in her will. “Do you want to order stuffed mushrooms? If so, we better put in an order. Daryl’s slow.”
“Hey, good food requires patience,” Ron said.
Graham centered his attention on her. “Or we could go. I’m hungry for more than an appetizer.”
“Meow,” Ron purred, before moseying toward a customer at the other end of the bar.
Tess’s cheeks blistered even though she knew it was a joke.
Graham’s gaze slid over her, lingering particularly on her mouth. Tess licked her lips before she could catch herself—and he definitely noted the movement. “I’m not familiar with the Marigny area so I don’t know any restaurants close by.”
“I’m not dressed overly nice, so we better stick to casual.” Tess glanced outside. “Looks like the rain is gone and the stars are out. Why don’t we walk toward the Quarter? It’s not far and there’s always something there to tickle the fancy.”
Tess hopped off the stool, tossing a ten and five on the bar to cover her drink and still give Ron a decent tip. Joanne had only a month to go until she delivered their first child, and money was tight for the couple.
“I’ll defer to the local.” Graham withdrew a credit card and drummed his fingers on the bar while Ron slid the card through the machine. Then he stood, lifting an attaché case. “Let me lock this in my rental car and we’ll head out.”
“Have fun, you two,” Ron called holding up his bar towel and giving it a wave.
And so Tess walked out of Two-Legged Pete’s with a good-looking man and the expectation for food… and maybe something more.
Or perhaps she wanted it to be more than what it was.
Either way, it was better than watchingThe Bachelor.
GRAHAMNAQUINPOPPEDthe trunk of the Chevy Malibu and placed his briefcase inside, slamming the lid with finality.
So… he’d picked up a random chick in a bar.
Outside his current comfort zone in a huge way. In fact, it was something he’d vowed not to do again. His focus was on getting his crap together.
In the past couple of months, he’d abandoned the impulsive, carefree Graham, electing to play everything safe. Hadn’t worked all that well for him so far, but he liked thinking he was a man who considered every decision thoroughly before moving forward. But tonight he hadn’t even tried to apply the brakes. Nope. He’d tossed out that white lie about Sadie Hawkins and backed it up with extending the offer for dinner.
He almost felt like himself again… like lady luck winked at him and dealt him a winning hand. Like things were going his way.
Smiling at Tess, trying like hell to convince himself an impulsive dinner date was a good idea, he waved an arm in the direction of the French Quarter. “Lead on.”
In the damp air, Tess’s beach-streaked hair had curled around cheeks scattered with freckles. Her eyes were the color of wet moss, and not much about her implied overt sexiness. More like friendly puppy or kid sister.
Okay. Not exactly friendly puppy. Or sister.
Tess also had full lips and a stubborn chin. Her perfectly proportioned breasts were nicely outlined in her sweater and her caboose was tight. She wore those weird brown boots all the teenagers wore and jeans that looked comfy and trendy at the same time. She smelled like apples—sort of fresh and fruity. She had an all-American vibe, but there lay a promise in the sway of her hips, a hint of mystery in her smile. Tess reminded him of that one Christmas he’d found a forgotten present beneath the tree.
