Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) (13 page)

She shouldn’t have laughed. The line was a bit stale, but it made her blush nonetheless. “That’s sweet. Thank you.”

“Hey, if this guy doesn’t show up, you come sit at the bar. No use eating alone.”

She thought about that. Was he hitting on her or just looking for a bigger tip? He was certainly cute, and he knew how to flatter a girl. She shrugged. “Deal. But I have to give him at least another fifteen minutes.”

He winked. “I don’t know whether to hope he does show up or hope he doesn’t.”

She laughed again and made a mental note to come to the pub for dinner more often. She hadn’t seen Matt around before. She and Evie came to Colette’s for lunch now and then, and he probably didn’t work the day shift as well as evenings. “You know what, I don’t know either.”

Someone called him from the bar. He shrugged, rolled his eyes, and sauntered off, providing her with a nice view of his backside in slim black jeans. Maybe the night wouldn’t be a total loss, even if her date never did show up.

Another twenty minutes passed. Matt didn’t return in that time, and the seats at the bar filled up. The crowd at the front door had doubled in size, and Bailey was down to half an ice cube and a well muddled lime wedge in her glass and wishing she’d ordered an appletini instead, when her date finally arrived.

The hostess led him through the tangle of people near the front door, eyeing him over her shoulder like a love-struck puppy. Bailey caught his gaze as he strode determinedly toward the table, and she had to resist the desire to fan herself with a napkin. Cassie was right. Despite being a bit pale, he was very cute with his stubbled jaw and sandy, windswept hair. He moved gracefully between the close-set tables and gave her a self-deprecating grin.

“Bailey? I’m really sorry I’m late. I thought I’d get out of work sooner.”

Relief that he’d finally arrived rushed through her, and she smiled as he sat down. “It’s fine. Cassandra told me you work for a law firm. I guess they keep you on your toes.” Bailey’s attention drifted slightly to a table in the corner where Matt the bartender/waiter was leaning over writing out a bill for someone…or maybe giving his phone number to one of the pretty girls who sat there. He smiled and laughed with the occupants of the table before turning and strolling back to the bar. Her split-second distraction passed unnoticed by Riley who was already perusing the menu.

“Between work and studying for the bar, I’m lucky I know what day it is. But half a dozen people have told me I need to get my head out of the books and take a break once in a while. I really need some downtime.”

Bailey sipped her second drink and nodded. “Well then, tonight is all about relaxing. And eating. The steaks smell fantastic, don’t they?”

“Hmm.” Riley smiled. “Cassandra told me you were pretty, but that’s an understatement.”

Bailey’s cheeks heated. She hadn’t expected blatant flattery, but she certainly wasn’t going to complain. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”

He laughed self-consciously. “I’ve been told by more than one person I’m starting to look like a vampire because I spend so much time indoors studying.”

“Well, vampires are hot right now, so it’s okay. When do you take the bar?”

“Not until July. I’m under strict orders from everyone I know to take a mandatory vacation in August, but the results don’t come out until November, so I don’t really see how I’m going to be able to relax.”

Bailey winked at her date. “Maybe between you and me, we can think of something.”

“Hey, Kelz, wake up! Pickup for ten.”

Matt Kelso roused himself from the daydream that had stalled his search for swizzle sticks behind the bar. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the redhead at table ten since the minute she’d arrived. She’d sat alone for almost an hour waiting for her date, and she hadn’t even been upset when the guy had strolled in with some lame excuse about his job. She must really like him. Too bad. She was hot.

“Got it!” He swung by the kitchen and loaded his tray with the meals Bailey and her companion had ordered. He hid a smile. She couldn’t like the guy too much. She’d ordered a thick steak and fries, just like her date. Most girls trying to impress a man ordered salad with low-fat dressing. Either she wasn’t trying to impress him or she was so comfortable with herself she could eat in public and not worry about what anyone thought. He liked a girl like that. He saw too many frail, wispy creatures clinging to the bar, tossing back drink after drink with nothing in their stomachs but a well-fermented maraschino cherry.

He hoisted the heavy tray on his shoulder and headed out across the dining area, skillfully maneuvering around tables and customers. When he reached table ten, the couple, clearly on their first date, seemed to be mired in an awkward silence. They sat quietly, staring at each other, while he placed their meals in front of them.

“Thank you,” Bailey said. “This looks amazing.”

Matt winked at her. “Can I get you anything else?”

“We’re good, thanks,” her date said.

“Enjoy, folks.” Matt slung his tray around and headed back to the bar, catching just a snippet of their conversation.

“I usually spend Sundays at the law library…”

The guy sounded about as exciting as watching paint dry. What a dud. If Matt had a girl who looked like that, the last thing he’d be talking about was the library.

“Are you actually
here
tonight, Kelso?” Buck, the evening manager, snapped his fingers in front of Matt’s face. “I know you’re not used to waiting tables, but you have to step it up a bit. The kitchen is getting backed up.”

“Sorry, Buck. I’m on it.” Matt circulated back around the floor, stopping by a couple of tables to schmooze and take a dessert order. He noticed Bailey’s date was on his cell phone, and her gaze flicked to Matt, just for a second, during which time, he almost walked into Annmarie, the hostess.

“Easy, Kelz, you nearly clocked me.”

“Sorry, Ana…” When Matt looked back, Bailey was again talking to her date. She hadn’t locked eyes with him. She’d only glanced in his direction, probably wondering why he was lurching around the dining room like a drunken sailor. He straightened the stupid tie they made him wear and headed back to the bar where he belonged, still managing to keep his eye on the occupants of table ten.

* * * *

“I’m so sorry about this,” Riley said. He was staring at his cell phone like someone had put a live grenade in his hand.

Bailey looked up from her steak, ashamed to admit to herself she’d actually been more interested in her food than in Riley’s explanation of tort law. He was charming, in a stiff way, and handsome—nobody would dispute his boy-next-door good looks, but she had yet to feel even the barest hint of a spark. When his cell phone had rung, she’d actually been relieved for the suspension of his law lecture. “Is something wrong?”

“One of the partners at the firm just called. He needs some research done for a case.”

“On a Saturday night?”

“Apparently there’s a deposition on Monday morning. From what he told me, we’ll be lucky if we’re ready by then, even if we work all weekend.”

Bailey pouted, but not because she felt particularly sorry for herself. The one thing she’d picked up from Riley was his need for a little downtime. He seemed like a really nice guy who was trapped by his professional obligations. The look on his face told her he was truly torn between wanting to stay and finish their date and wanting to go back to work and dig into what sounded like an exciting case. “Can’t you at least stay for dessert?”

He cringed. “You have no idea how much I wish I could, but I’ve got to get back.” He pulled out his wallet and placed a couple of fifties on the table.

Bailey gaped at the money. “That’s about double what the bill will be. You don’t have to leave that much.”

“Don’t worry about it. Have dessert on me. Maybe you could call one of your friends to meet you for drinks? I hate the thought of leaving you here, but if I don’t get back to the office, my butt’s in a sling. I’m so sorry.”

Bailey stared at the money. Even that didn’t bother her as much as the realization that poor Riley wasn’t ready, willing, or able to start dating anyone. He was married to his job and his law studies at the moment. “Don’t worry about it. Work is work, and this sounds important.”

“I’m glad you’re not angry. A lot of girls would be throwing their drink at me for cutting out in the middle of dinner. Maybe a doctor can get away with it, but usually a paralegal can’t.”

“I totally understand. It was still nice to meet you.”

Riley rounded the table and leaned over to kiss Bailey on the cheek. He handed her a business card with his name and cell phone number on it. “I’d love a chance to make this up to you. Call me, and we can make plans I promise I won’t break.”

Bailey took the card. “I will. Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”

Riley left, his disappointed expression replaced by one of determination by the time he reached the door. Bailey sighed as she watched him go. She really should have been more upset, but clearly this was no match made in heaven. He was too busy for a girlfriend, poor guy. She thought about calling Evie or Audrey as Riley had suggested, but they’d likely both be out with their guys.

She was about to dial her brother Aiden’s number when Matt appeared at her table again. His expression was serious as he slid into Riley’s vacant seat. “What’s up with Sparkles?”

“Huh?” Bailey put her phone down. Her pulse quickened a bit, but she wasn’t sure why. “What are you talking about?”

“The pale guy…I was waiting for him to start sparkling, you know, like the movie vampires. The guy doesn’t get out much, does he?”

Bailey rolled her eyes. “He’s not a vampire. He’s a law student.”

“Ah, a bloodsucker in training.” His blue eyes widened, and he feigned indignation at his own comment. “Did I say that out loud? Sorry, but first he shows up late, then he cuts out early. I can’t feel sorry for the guy.”

“He had a work emergency.”

“There’s no emergency I can imagine that would tear me away from a girl who looks like you.”

“Oh stop…” Bailey’s face heated again, and she held up a hand to ward off his blatant flattery. He was laying the charm on thick now. Unfortunately, she couldn’t force herself not to enjoy it just a little.

He flattened a hand to the center of his chest. “I’m not kidding. In fact, I’m a little bit glad he’s gone. I’ll get someone to clean off this table, and you can come sit at the bar and keep me company for a while.”

Bailey glanced over her shoulder. There were a couple of empty seats at the bar, but most were filled with single women. “Doesn’t look like you need any more company.”

Matt dismissed her comment with a wave. “They’re customers. You’re a guest. Come on.” He inclined his head toward the bar. “Hang out for a bit. It’s too early to call it a night.”

Some part of Bailey wanted to protest. She wasn’t really in the mood to flirt aimlessly with a stranger…but he was gorgeous. His blue gaze, a deeper, more intense shade than Riley’s, held hers in an iron grip. His blond hair had that professionally mussed style that gave him a casual, sexy charm, and his smile could stop hearts. Bailey had no doubt he’d caused more than a couple of mild coronaries among the female patrons of Colette’s. Before the angel on her shoulder could get her out the door and home to curl up with a good book, she found herself following him through the crowded pub.

She slid onto a stool and watched him glide effortlessly through the narrow space behind the bar. He took a couple of orders, served some drinks, and cracked a few jokes before he made his way back to her with a tall, frothy drink. He placed the tropical concoction in front of her and topped it off with a plump cherry.

“Try this.”

“Are you planning on getting me drunk?”

“Absolutely not. I want your opinion on my invention. I call it ‘Oh My God.’”

Bailey eyed the drink. It looked like a salmon-colored version of a piña colada, and it smelled sweet and melony. “Why do you call it that?”

“Taste it.”

She wrapped her lips around the thin swizzly straw he’d dropped into the drink and took a dainty taste. “Oh my God!”

“And that’s why.”

She laughed. “I walked into that one. It’s delicious. What’s in it?”

“It’s half piña colada, half tequila sunrise and half melontini.”

“That’s three halves.”

“If you can still do the math, you haven’t had enough.”

“You
are
trying to get me drunk.”

He leaned close, one corner of his mouth lifting in a sly grin. “Can you blame me? You’re clearly out of my league, so the more you drink, the better looking I get.”

Bailey giggled around her straw. “Now you’re going too far. I don’t need alcohol to make you cuter.”

He leaned back while polishing a tall glass with a towel. “Now who’s flattering who? So tell me, before I go make my rounds, that guy wasn’t your boyfriend.”

Bailey took another sip of the heavenly drink. “Blind date.”