"She was always more than a waitress. You know she had also been working for the Housing Authority for five years. You also know she got that job because of her degree in Urban Planning."
"Whatever. Everyone knows she only got the job because her bestie married your brother."
I wanted to punch him just to make him shut the hell up, but it wasn't like me to lose my cool like that. I couldn't stand when someone criticized another person, and it was even worse when they weren't there to defend themselves.
"Daryl, I think everyone here will point out that you were never under consideration for the position because you're a lazy jackass."
He opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. Just seeing him speechless was good enough. I left them and continued towards the bar. I hated to leave Becca waiting.
I scanned the bar as I approached but quickly forgot about my friend. Instead, I spotted the woman I’d be taking home that night. Her back was towards me, but just in the way she filled out her little black dress, I knew it would be hard to find anyone hotter that night. I drank her in, from her black high heels up her legs to the swell of her hips. Her dress was cut low in the back, revealing several seductive freckles on her creamy skin. Her brown hair was up in one of those fancy twists that exposed her long neck. I was sure it was begging for my lips.
As I came up behind her, I placed my hand on the bar so that when she turned around, she’d already be in my arms. The bartender was talking to her and eyed me suspiciously as I moved closer to her. She smelled sweet and familiar, like lilacs, and I immediately wanted more of her.
"Hey there, gorgeous, I’m Gideon. Gideon Kohl."
"Of course I know who you are," she said with a laugh. "I was wondering when you would get here."
Becca turned around and kissed my cheek. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. What happened to my cute friend? This wasn't her, this was a knockout. I couldn't take my eyes off her.
I took a step back to give her some space and twisted my ring around my finger to ground myself.
"I just got here," I said. "You look…beautiful. But where are your freckles?"
So many other things flashed through my mind at that moment that seeing Becca looking like this had me out of sorts. She looked better than beautiful, she looked delicious. I wanted to taste her. But I couldn’t say that. I couldn't tell my best friend I wanted to savor every inch of her body.
She laughed. "My freckles? Really? That's what you notice? I'm wearing make up. Hmm, I guess you've never seen me dressed up before."
"Well, you clean up well," I said, mentally kicking myself for sounding like an idiot.
"So do you." She giggled and looked away shyly. "I’m not used to seeing you in a tuxedo. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen you in a suit."
"Yeah, suits really aren’t my thing, but I know it's standard fare for these fundraisers so I got a tux."
"And the bow tie?" she asked as she reached up and straightened my bow tie.
"It's old school. You know how much I love shit like that. Plus you know it looks good on me. It's how I'm doing my part to bring sexy back."
I spun around to give her a good look as she laughed. Our eyes met for a moment before she lowered her gaze. I spun my ring around my finger again.
She placed her hand over my hands, then looked up at me with confusion in her eyes.
"Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Of course. Everything's perfect."
"You’re playing with your ring. Whenever you start twisting that around, I know something’s bothering you."
Damn her for knowing me so well.
The ring had been in my family for years. It belonged to my grandfather and even though I never met him, it meant a lot to me. The ring was my only connection to my family besides my brother.
I shoved my hands in my pockets to stop myself from playing with the ring, then forced a smile onto my face. I had grown into the habit of telling Becca everything, but now I had something I couldn’t say.
Becca’s eyes flashed excitedly as someone behind me caught her attention. One of her hands shot up and she waved as she squeezed my arm with her other hand.
"Oh, it’s Drake and Samantha Winslow," she said. "I’ve always been a big fan of his, and his wife is awesome. She introduced me to him a couple of weeks ago at one of our lunches at Mirabella’s. He told me he was going to be here and that he wanted to talk about our plans for the South End. I’ll catch up with you later."
I didn’t know what took over me but before she walked away, I grabbed a hold of her waist and pulled her against me. I didn’t want her talking to another man, I wanted her all to myself.
