He knew he should be focused on business, not chasing women. But damn, he couldn’t ignore Aubree. She was just that,irresistible. There was a delightful innocence to her. She wasn’t jaded by life or love, not yet, not like him. She made him want to give love a second chance.
Hopefully she would come back.
2
The Old Fashioned
One week later…
She was back.
Matthew straightened, squaring his shoulders as he watched Aubree and a man walk into the bar and take a seat at a two-person booth. She moved with purpose and excitement, her face beaming in a way that made a man envision that same smile when she was beneath him on a bed. Bloody hell, she looked good, so fucking good. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been hoping to see her again until she’d stepped through the door.
His gaze traveled to the man she was with. He was different than her last date. He wore a tweed three-piece suit with brown elbow patches and a pair of glasses that were stylish, yet retro. He looked like a bloody professor.
Huh…
Matthew saw a waiter headed their way and caught the waiter’s attention with a shake of his head. The waiter backed off. Matthew picked up an order pad and walked over to the booth. He stopped inches from them with his pad and pen ready. Aubree had her head buried in the menu and didn’t notice him. Her date noticed though.
“We’ll take two gin and tonics,” the man announced and pried the menu from Aubree’s hands.
“Is that what the lady wants?” Matthew asked quietly.
Aubree’s face jerked up at the sound of his voice and her eyes widened. A slight blush bloomed in her cheeks. The way her gaze swept over him, pausing a little too long on his mouth, had him stifling a groan. The woman was sexy even when she wasn’t trying to be. It made Matthew wish she’d come back alone.
“Is that whatyouwant?” Matthew repeated to Aubree quietly.
“I……”
“Of course. I always know what my dates want.” The man dismissed Matthew, but Matthew didn’t move.
“Sure, gin and tonic. I’ll give it a try,” she murmured.
Matthew held in a sigh as he turned and walked away. He met up with his waiter, Rodrigo, when he returned to the bar.
“What’s up boss?” The young man nodded discreetly toward the table.
“I’ve got that table tonight, but I’ll bring any tips I get and put them in your jar, okay?” He slapped Rodrigo’s shoulder.
“No problem.” Roderigo grinned and headed off to another table recently claimed by a group of lively University of Chicago grad students.
Matthew stalked down the length of the bar and kept a watchful eye on Aubree’s table once he’d delivered their two gin and tonics. She and her date seemed to be in an animated discussion now. Maybe he had misjudged the man. Maybe he and Audrey were hitting it off.
An hour passed before the man stormed out of the bar. Aubree half rose from her seat as if she was about to go after him, but changed her mind and sunk back down in her chair with her shoulders slumped. Her lips quivered as she brushed a hand through her hair in a nervous gesture. After a few minutes, she collected her purse and stood. When she glanced his way, Matthew crooked a finger at her and pointed at the bar stool directly in front of him.
She hesitated so he repeated the motion more firmly. She finally came over and sat down.
“God that went over well,” she muttered sarcastically.
Matthew chuckled. “Okay, what happened this time?” He reached for an empty glass as she talked.
“Well for starters, I do not like gin and tonic. Totally confirmed that tonight.Ugh.” She made a face and Matthew laughed. He liked her animation. A lot of women didn’t like to make goofy faces or even act silly. Aubree didn’t seem to have that problem and he really enjoyed that. A playful girl was a happy girl.
“Okay, then what?”
“Well, he’s into academics, which I thought was very interesting. He’s a professor of linguistics. But when I told him what I do for a living…”
“Which is?” He prompted, hoping she would share more about herself.
