I didn’t bother to try the Scots word as I tapped my glass against his. “Cheers.”
“Have you been here before?” Alec asked after we’d both taken sips of our drinks.
I shook my head. “I don’t have much in the way of free time and waiting for a meal in a restaurant isn’t at the top of my list for ways to spend my time.”
“Do you order in, then?” he asked. “Or do you harbor a secret knack for the culinary arts?”
He had a way with words.
“I don’t know about a knack for cooking, but I do make most of my own meals. This might sound nerdy, but when I was writing up my college budget, I did a lot of research, and one of the biggest ways to save money was with food. Mai – that’s the friend I was with at MacLean’s – and I had a bet that first semester about who’d spend more on food. I won. And before you ask, the bet wasn’t for money. I didn’t have to watch a single show with a Kardashian the entire next semester.”
“You continue to impress with your fiscal responsibility.” He couldn’t quite suppress his smile. “As well as your viewing choices.”
“What can I say?” I took another sip of my drink. “I prefer my entertainment to be Kardashian-free.”
Our appetizer arrived, and we paused the conversation to eat a bit. I’d been too high-strung to eat much for lunch, and if I didn’t get something in my stomach, my drink would go straight to my head. Once I was satisfied that I wasn’t going to get anything more than a buzz, I went back to a previous topic.
“When it comes to budgeting, I found that it’s easier for me if I have a specific goal. Like a car. I won’t be able to buy something brand-new unless I want to pick up some fantastic new debt, but I’ll be more than happy with a decent used car.”
“New cars depreciate in value drastically as soon as they’re bought and become used,” he said, wiping the corner of his mouth with his linen napkin. “Buying used is smart, investment-wise. So long as the car is in proper working order, of course.”
“Sounds like you know what you’re talking about.”
He shrugged. “Business degree from the University of Glasgow.”
That was a nice bit of personal information, and I was tempted to ask for more. Like how he’d ended up in Seattle, especially since he’d gone to college in Scotland. Had he come for a woman? And what sort of woman would let a man like him go? Unless he’d been the one to walk away. If that was the case, though, why hadn’t he gone home after the relationship had ended? Or was it his business that had brought him here? What sort of business attracted a man like Alec? What about his family? Were they here too?
I gave myself a mental shake. We weren’t here to get to know the sort of thing that would matter in the future. Small talk. Having fun. Nothing more.
I was struck with the sudden desire to make him laugh. “Was your Maple Laundry car used?”
He nearly choked on his scotch, and I couldn’t resist a laugh at his expense. Once he managed to get the liquid down and his throat cleared, he joined me.
“Aye, lass. I bought myMaybach Landauletfrom a rapper named Jumpin’ Jimmy or some such nonsense.”
I didn’t know if he was kidding or not, but I went with it anyway. “Well, be sure to thank Mr. Jumpin’ Jimmy. It’s a lovely car.”
“Aye, it is.” His voice was rough, and it did strange things to my insides.
And it apparently made me bolder. “I’ve had fun getting familiar with it.”
The dancing blue flames in Alec’s eyes burned brighter. “I’ve had fun getting to know you, Lumen.”
I loved the way he said my name, and I wondered if it was just the accent, or something more. “I’m glad you think so.”
Our meals arrived just then, and we turned our attention to them, eating in relative silence as we occasionally smiled at each other as if we were both in on the same inside joke. The risotto and G&T were delicious, but my stomach was full of butterflies as I thought of what would come next. I had no idea how to approach it, and a phone call to Mai for advice would definitely ruin the mood.
“Do you have any other plans this evening?” he asked me with a casual smoothness.
I answered honestly, if vaguely. “It all depends on how late I’m out.”
The corner of his mouth curled up, and I found myself remembering what it had felt like against mine. And wondering what it would feel like to have it on more intimate parts of my body.
“How late are you expecting to stay out?”
I liked that he was presenting me with an opening to end the date here and now, but I didn’t want to be the one to spell it out.
“That depends,” I said, circling my fingertip over my glass, “if there’s a reason you chose this restaurant other than for its steak.”
