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He swiped the air with a flat hand and shook his head once. “Not a problem. We cover expenses by distance, so as soon as we get the formalities over with and on paper, I’ll be able to give you an estimate, but the minimum is usually five hundred or so.”
“Oh, okay.” That was more than I needed. I could probably fit all my stuff in my car and my mom’s van seeing how my belongings still fit into one bedroom. “I know I should have already asked about all this, but what is the learning curve? I am a fast learner, but I want to ensure I’m prepared when I need to be.”
Andrew’s lips stretched wide to reveal glistening teeth almost straight and even enough to look like he had dentures. It was a funny thought, but I couldn’t call it a handsome smile. He was still attractive, though.
“Let’s go ahead and stop the work talk. Just for now. I know I promised you a tour, but we should have done that right after the interview.”
“Yeah,” I said, craning my neck to see if it was still raining, though the lights made it nearly impossible to look out the windows, and it would have been too dark to see anyway. “I hadn’t put much thought into that.”
“I can always do it tomorrow if you have time. Or we can just wait for you to get back.”
I smiled. “That’s fine.”
“Will anyone be moving here with you?” Before I could answer, Andrew finished his drink, then held up four fingers that the bartender seemed to accept. Four beers? I watched and frowned as the bartender pulled down a bottle of what looked like whiskey, but I’d never seen the brand before, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was top-shelf.
The bartender poured four shots in front of us and bowed sarcastically before he winked at me and made his way to a group down the counter. I hadn’t paid much attention when I came in, but it was pretty crowded in here. The bar still had a few seats left, the white lights under the counter casting a glow on the shiny upholstered stools, but the rest of the restaurant was full of voices and faces, all dressed for the occasion.
The place almost sparkled with the atmosphere of deals made and relationships formed with colleagues and fellow professionals in various industries. I could imagine the business being conducted here and the dozens of lives that would change. Here. Tonight.
The black tables and black-cushioned chairs all sang of the stories they’d hosted. The polished wood trim on the seats, the dim chandelier above, and even the sconces along the walls made me think of a sort of Gothic mansion.
“Forget where you are?”
I returned my attention to Andrew, smiling wide with new excitement. “I think I did.”
He gestured to the bar. “Well, let’s celebrate. We’re done with work talk.”
The four shots waited, and he grabbed one, sliding another toward me. He raised his glass up, and I touched the lip of mine to his before we touched our drinks to the bar and threw them back. The warm liquor swam down my throat and heated my core quickly. The sensation made me dizzy for a moment, and I searched for the bartender. I needed water. And food.
“Is there a menu?” I asked as I twisted in my stool again. Andrew nodded and rose without a word before returning a few moments later with what almost looked like a portfolio.
“Whatever you like.”
Whatever I liked was not the issue because there wasn’t a single price on the menu for me to fret about what I’d get. But everything was either in another language, or I didn’t speak fancy English.
“I recommend any of their salads. Their soups are good, too. Very filling.”
I nodded but threw out those offers. I hated salad, and soup was just liquid food. I’d be hungry again by the time I left.
When the bartender returned, I asked for his recommendation and barely heard him over the new voices that rang from the entrance. I told him I wanted whatever he’d said, and he took the menu and walked away. I spun toward the entrance to find a group of women dressed in skimpy clothes and wearing more makeup than a middle schooler. They were ushered toward the other end of the restaurant, and I watched them as their voices trailed away. They looked close to my age.
“Parties like that ruin the vibe of the place.”
“I know, right?” I said, meeting Andrew’s gaze. It sent a shudder throughout my body, and I pulled the blazer tighter around me. “This looked like a place for business. At least, that was the impression I got.”
“There are nicer places, but I enjoy it.”
I hoped that whatever I’d ordered came with meat and potatoes. Starch and protein would fill me right up, and my stomach was demanding something to sate it. Andrew’s lip twitched, and I waited for him to speak, but then he handed me another shot of whiskey, which we drank, and almost right after, I felt the weight of its contents.
My head spun. I’d forgotten to ask for water. “Water, please,” I said as the bartender sped by, but it didn’t seem like he heard me.
“I’m glad you’re not like that,” Andrew said, drawing my gaze back to him.
I realized I was zoning out on him a lot and tried to face him completely so I wouldn’t be so rude. “Not like what?”
He tossed his head toward the party of women whose laughter could still be heard from our side of the room. “I appreciate a woman with good taste, and I really love a woman who wears it well.”
It didn’t help that the alcohol was making my thoughts swim. I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. My core pulsed, though I’d been trying to ignore my neglected cravings this entire time, so I wasn’t sure if it was simply making itself known or coming at me with a vengeance.
