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“That’s a great idea. I’ll see who’s around.” She picked up her phone to dial the sales office. “Connor and Lyle just got back from Bakersfield. They’re always up for a drink after work, and they should meet their new boss.”
“Great. I’ll see who I can find. Tell them Muse at five-thirty.”
Mary Ellen’s throat went dry. “Muse?”
Cameron grinned. “Yeah. Is that a problem?”
She shook her head. It shouldn’t be. It might be Antonio’s wine bar, but he wouldn’t be there at five-thirty, would he? And even if he was, all she needed to do was thank him for being kind to her the other night. That was all. And then she could put the whole episode behind her.
She realized Cameron had stopped with his hand on the door. He was watching her intently.
“What?”
He shook his head with a smile. “Just making sure you’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You never told me a thing about David.”
“Oh.” And there she’d been thinking he was onto her about Antonio! “He’s the past. I should have said something when I knew he was in the running for the job, but …” She shrugged. “It all worked out okay, didn’t it?”
“It did. Okay, let’s round up the troops and go celebrate.”
~ ~ ~
Rodney greeted Antonio with a questioning smile when he arrived at Muse.
Antonio grinned at him. “This may be the third evening I’ve been here this week, but it’s been an unusual week, and technically it’s the weekend now.”
Rodney smiled. “It is. Does this mean you’re back to your usual routine?”
Antonio knew what he meant. The usual Friday night saw him having dinner here and leaving with a woman. “No. I’m breaking with routine. I’m going to eat, and then I’m going home—alone.”
Rodney raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me like that. I am.”
“Very well. Your table is available if you want to eat now. However, Mr. Hamilton is here with a group of his colleagues. They’re on the patio upstairs, if you feel like socializing.”
Antonio pursed his lips. Would Mary Ellen be amongst Cameron’s colleagues? And if she were, would he want to join them—or to stay away?
“Do I sense uncertainty?” asked Rodney.
Antonio nodded.
“Thisisan unusual week.” Rodney gave him a knowing smile.
Antonio laughed. “I feel like I should be calling you Sensei or Master or something! It feels like you know what’s going on with me better than I do. Care to share?”
Rodney tried to look innocent, but he couldn’t pull it off. He smiled and gripped Antonio’s shoulder. “I’ve seen this coming for a while. You’re outgrowing the life you’ve been living. I’m eager to see what you will do—where you go from here.”
Antonio smiled back. “Me too, but at this point, I don’t have a clue what I’m doing or where I’m going.”
“You’ll figure it out. Go slowly. Tread lightly.”
Antonio laughed. “That’s not much help. Do you have anything more concrete for me?”
Rodney smiled. “Right now, I’d suggest you join your cousin.”
