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“She didn’t say a word, but she shot me one quick look. It said:You think this is bad? You should see what I put up with. I’d say she’s about done putting up with.”
She shrugged. “That’s my take from behind the stick.”
“It slides along with mine from the end of the bar. And yet, you like people.”
“The guy I nearly hit was gracious about it. The two women at the bar—sharing a room not on the Club Level—left a twenty-five percent tip. Opal left her station—which she never does—to help me through that idiotic panic attack. And you’re sitting here helping me shed a difficult night when you could be home in your boxers watching late-night ESPN. So yeah, I like people.”
He studied his last sip of wine before drinking. “I mostly listen to ESPN rather than watch. And for all you know I wear briefs.”
“No, absolutely a boxers guy. And that,” she realized, “is absolutely inappropriate. I should clear and head home.”
He rose when she did. “I’m driving you home.”
“What? No. I’m fine.”
“Better isn’t fine. We’ll take your car. One of the night men will follow in mine.”
“Iamfine.”
He just held out his hand. “Keys. You know the drill.”
“They’re in my bag. This is stupid.”
“Bad policy to call the COO stupid.”
“I didn’t sayyouwere stupid,” she muttered, snagged the glasses. “Although.”
He closed and locked the door behind them, then waited while she dealt with the glasses, retrieved her purse.
“Listen, Miles—”
“Keys.”
“Jesus.” She yanked out the fob, dropped it into his hand. “I’m liking people less at the moment.”
“Probably a step in the right direction.” He shut off the lights.
Both cars waited at the entrance. Feeling ridiculous, she got in the passenger seat. Miles slid behind the wheel. “You’ve got long legs,” he commented. “I barely have to adjust it.”
She snapped on her seat belt. “When you leave the resort, you head into town, then—”
“I know how to get to your place.”
“Oh.”
“Grandparents,” he said as he pulled away from the curb. “Yours, mine. Friendly. I tagged along with my grandfather sometimes.”
Of course. Gram had told her that.
“Yours helped me build a birdhouse for a school project.”
He glanced over. “I aced it.”
“But you don’t like people.”
“I liked your grandfather.”
“So did I.” The stiffness in her shoulders melted away. “It was a highlight whenever I got to visit. It depended on where my father was stationed, but after the split, we usually had a week in the summer, maybe a few days at Christmas, depending on where we were.”
