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“Yeah, it is. I took the lead in the semis. Give me some luck for the finals, Morgan.”
She leaned over, touched her lips to his. “Go get ’em.”
“Damn right.” He took the beers and walked off.
“Boyfriend?”
She looked over at her customer. “Oh, no. Roddy and his brothers—the dart players—are regulars. I actually work with his girlfriend at my other job.”
“Two jobs? Ambitious. What’s the other?”
“Office manager for a construction company. What do you do?”
“I’d like to say as I please, because at least I try. I’m in IT. I’m in the area for a couple of months doing some consulting.”
“Where are you from?”
“I travel a lot. San Francisco originally, but I’m based in New York now, or for the most part. Is this hometown for you?”
“It is now.”
Another waitress came up, rattled off another order.
“Army brat,” she said as she filled it.
“Then you know the traveling life.”
“I do. And I’m happy to have left that behind.”
When his order came out, he gave the plate a long look. “You don’t skimp on portions here.”
“We don’t. Would you like a table?”
He sent her that charming smile. “I like the view right here. I’m Luke,” he added. “Luke Hudson.”
“Morgan. Nice to meet you.”
He ate, ordered a second beer, stayed through the tournament.
He asked questions but didn’t seem intrusive. Bar conversation, in Morgan’s mind. She asked her own.
He was staying at a local hotel. His company would rent a house for him, but he liked hotels, and enjoyed getting into the local flavor wherever he traveled.
He asked where her father had been stationed, which places she’d lived she liked best. Easy breezy while she mixed drinks, mopped the bar, chattered with other customers.
“I should get going,” he said. “I didn’t intend to stay so long, but it looks like I’ve found my local watering hole.”
“It’s a good one.”
“I’ll see you again.” When he rose, he surprised her by offering a hand to shake. And held hers while he smiled into her eyes. “It’s really been great spending time with you, Morgan.”
“It’s been nice talking to you.”
“We’ll do it again.”
He paid in cash, leaving a very generous tip.
A couple nights later, Luke wandered in later in her shift. It was trivia night at the Round, and the noise level boomed as various tables and groups shouted out answers.
