“I needed to put in extra work these past few days because MIRI is closed tomorrow and Christmas, but I had no right to expect you to know any of that. I’m sorry I behaved so abominably.”
“Thank you, Alec, for telling me and for apologizing.” Her words sounded sincere. “I’m so sorry about calling you so much. I didn’t even think about you having to work. You know how it is when you’re in college. You get that big break between semesters, and it completely screws up your whole internal clock, right?”
I didn’t, actually, remember that from college, but that was most likely because I didn’t easily lose track of time. And never during the week. I always knew when it was. But that wasn’t something that needed to be addressed at this moment. What I did need, however, was to feel like less of a bastard. Fortunately, I had an idea of how to do that.
“Let me apologize properly,” I said. “Since neither of us have plans for the holiday, will you let me buy you dinner tomorrow evening?”
Seven
The Goldfinch Tavernat the Four Seasons Hotel wasn’t the sort of place that anyone could call the day before Christmas Eve and obtain a reservation at an excellent table.
Itwasthe sort of place that a wealthy and well-connected businessman could use their connections to get a reservation for a great table…and have a bit of a pass if attire wasn’t quite as fancy as the other patrons.
Keli wasn’t exactly underdressed as much as she was simply dressed. She wore a dark green number that clung to her curves in a way that made men sit up and take notice. Women too, though only some in admiration. Most didn’t appear pleased at the attention being taken from them and turned toward a beautiful young woman.
As aggravated as I’d been at her only yesterday, right now, I was glad to be at her side. I didn’t think of myself as a particularly prideful person, but I enjoyed the fact that everyone in the restaurant knew she was with me, at least for the time being.
Dinner with a beautiful woman on Christmas Eve trumped a glass of scotch alone at home.
“Do you do this a lot?” Keli asked after we ordered our drinks – nothing alcoholic since she wasn’t yet twenty-one. “I mean, eat at hotels and fancy restaurants? Or do you have a private chef or something like that?”
For a moment, Austin’s warning about women only seeing money signs echoed in the back of my head, but then I pushed it aside. She was just being inquisitive. She hadn’t once made a request for me to pay for anything or buy her something, not even a hint about a Christmas present.
“As you’ve discovered, I tend to focus on my work.” I smiled at her as I answered. “I plan my meals around my work schedule.”
“Okay, so you work a lot, but what do you do for fun?” She toyed with her napkin. “I mean, do you go to the movies? Concerts? The opera? Play sports?”
Her question wasn’t one that should have stumped me, but it did. What was the last thing I’d done for the sheer pleasure of it? Aside from sex, of course, but I definitely wouldn’t consider that a ‘hobby.’ Some of my brothers, however…
An answer popped into my head. “I enjoy classic jazz.”
“Oh, okay.” She sipped at her sparkling water. “I don’t really know much about it. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard any sort of jazz.”
“What type of music do you like then?” I asked, grateful for a question I could turn back to her for conversation.
“I absolutely love Lady Antebellum. I mean, ‘Need You Now’ is so beautiful, isn’t it?”
It was my turn to be baffled. “I’ve never heard of her.” The quirk of Keli’s lips told me she was trying not to laugh at whatever blunder I’d made.
“What about Katy Perry? Bruno Mars?”
I shook my head. “I’m partial to Doug Watkins and Rufus Harley.”
“I have no clue who they are.” She laughed. “I don’t think we’re going to find common ground there.”
“I have to agree.”
Our appetizers came, giving us something to do besides talk for a few minutes. Even with food, however, the silence between us grew stiff. Before it could get too uncomfortably awkward, Keli asked another question.
“Did you go seeDeathly Hallowsopening day?”
It took me a moment to realize that she was referring to the first part of the lastHarry Potterbook. “No, I don’t generally go to the movie theater.”
“But you’ve read the books, right? I mean, you’re British like J.K. Rowling, so you must’ve read them as a kid. It’s got to be required reading or something over there.”
I chose the easiest way to answer. “I’ve never been much of a reader, though I do enjoy the occasional audiobook.”
“I’m guessing since you don’t go to the movies, you haven’t seenBlack Swaneither.”
