Cara put her elbow on the bar top and rested her face in her hand. “Try me.”
I scrubbed at an imaginary smudge on a glass. “He’s not from Bozeman.” I tried for an apologetic smile.
Brock’s eyes narrowed on the way I was frantically washing the same clean glass. “It’s a small world. Who is he?” His tone was cajoling. He thought he had me.
Dammit, he did have me.
This wasn’t fair. He was the one who’d brought his fiancée into the place where he’d known there was a possibility of seeingme. He and his saturated kisses could fuck right off. I would not admit I was single. I would not give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. I would not give him even an inkling that my social life had gotten even less thrilling than when we’d been together.
Tenor came around the bar. “Hey, Ruby. How’s it going tonight?”
His deep voice washed over me, but it only fueled my determination. “Hi, Tenor.”
Cara’s gaze turned awestruck as she took him in. “Tenor?” She giggled. “What kind of name is that? It’s so...unique.”
The way her voice pitched up scraped against my patience, warning me what would come next. A hidden insult. A snide remark. My pulse pounded at my temples. I might lose my job for this, but it was either that or jump the counter, knock her to the floor, and slap my hands over her mouth.
“Isn’t it a great name?” I slid an arm around Tenor’s waist. He stiffened, a hard wall of muscle. “Also, meet my plus-one. Tenor’s my boyfriend.”
Oh god, oh god, oh god. What had I done?
Cara and Brock stared at me.
Tenor’s brows knit together.
I was flat on the train tracks, smashed to bits, and had only myself to blame.
Tenor
I hadn’t been anyone’s boyfriend for a lot of damn years. I had to have misheard.
Ruby’s arm was around me and she was close enough I could smell her limoncello scent. I inhaled deeply. In the past, I had caught a delectable whiff of her, but I’d never been this close.
I might have inappropriate thoughts about the petite marketing pro, but I always shoved my X-rated ideas out of my head as soon as they arrived. Not only was she much younger than me, she was an employee.
An employee who was smashed up next to me, inciting all those earlier ideas I’d had about her. “Ruby?”
The mouth of the woman across from us dropped open and a shrill squeal left her. “Ruby. Oh. My. God. He’s asnack. Like a whole buffet.”
I steeled myself, trying to figure out if this woman meant it as a compliment or not. Did I want to be a buffet? The guy next to her scowled.
“He’s the whole seven-course meal,” Ruby said with knowing confidence. “Um, Tenor. This is an old friend of mine, Cara, and her fiancé, Brock.”
I dipped my head, flailing to keep up with the turn of events.
“I hope you have a nice suit.” Cara’s grin was wide.
What the hell was going on?
Brock studied me with a slight frown. His date’s delighted gaze danced between me and Ruby.
I immediately knew this woman’s type. She was polished, her hair as sleek as her portfolio probably was. Something about her put me on guard. I stayed far away from women like that.
Brock was exactly like someone I’d expect to see with her. His gelled, dirty-blond hair crested in the middle like an ocean wave. His clothing was just like hers. Some brand name that cost more than it was worth. He was probably the only guy in the place not wearing jeans.
“Why do I need a suit?” Diligently, I tried to keep my mind off the lush body pressed next to me. Ruby’s hips hit below mine and her breasts?—
She was myemployee. I would not notice how her tits were perfect handfuls.
