“Ah, an old man.” She sneered at him.
He only laughed. “An old man who can hold his drink.” He took the bottle the waitress dropped off. “Thanks, Lisa. You’re the best.”
Lisa smiled, a little too friendly, Erin thought, as she set a new cocktail in front of Erin before strutting away. She muttered under her breath, “Nice that he flirts with her and not me.”
“Huh?”
Gah. He had ears like a bat. She took the drink Lisa had left her and sipped. So fruity. Yum. “I said I bet you get in fights a lot.” She studied him. “You’re big. What are you? Six-two or something?” Anything over five ten was a blur to her.
He leaned back in his chair, king of the bar. “Six-five. Two-twenty. All muscle. What about you?”
“That’s none of your business.” She frowned at him.
“You know, you really are cute.”
She blushed.
He grinned. “So how are you doing since moving in?”
“Okay, I guess.” She sighed.
“What?”
“You’ll make fun of me.” Man, he’d been right. She was a lightweight. One drink and she felt wobbly, talking like Tilly with no filter. Erin never had been one for keeping secrets, and she was even worse when drinking.
“I won’t.” Smith leaned in closer, his expression serious. So handsome.
“I’m lonely.” She drank more, focused on feeling good. “But it’s natural. I’m new to the city, and the only people I know are Tilly and you. And you’ve been ignoring me.”
He looked uncomfortable. “I, ah, sorry. I’ve been busy at work.”
“Please. You were avoiding me. But it’s okay.” She smiled at him, knowing exactly how to get under his skin. “I probably scare you.”
As predicted, the arrogant lunkhead scowled. “You don’t scare me.”
“I do too.” She sipped again and giggled. Oh boy. Erin never giggled. “You’re afraid you’ll get to like me too much.” A total reach, but what the heck, Erin had a right to be obnoxious after dealing with both Tilly and Smith in the same night.
“Yeah, right. I just don’t wantyoufalling formewhen I’d only break your heart.”
She stared, wondering if he’d said that or her slightly inebriated self had heard wrong. “I’m sorry. Did you just say you’re worried you’ll breakmyheart?”
“Yeah.”
“Man, you have some kind of colossal ego.”
“That’s not all that’s colossal.” He wiggled his brows.
Torn between laughter and disgust, she blurted, “You’re so conceited. I mean, sure you’re handsome. It’s obvious you’re tall and have muscles. But you’re an antisocial jerk.”
“I am not.” Now he looked insulted when earlier he’d agreed he didn’t like people.
“You are too.” She finished off her drink, needing to use the restroom.
“I’m honest.”
“Well, you can be honest and be nice about it.”
“Hey, I didn’t tell Tilly to shut up at dinner when she went on and on about how great you are.”
