Page 106 of Getting Down to Business

“Fuck this,” he said as he dug around in his closet for a dress shirt and the skinny jeans Alyssa had dared him to buy. She said they were hot, and it was time to put them to the test.

His conviction only lasted until he got down to the sidewalk. He realized he wasn’t up for the club scene. Instead, he walked down the street to MacGregor’s. It was still fairly early, so he sat at the bar and ordered his usual fish and chips.

Shirley, the early bartender was still there. She was a large woman who called everyone Sugar. He and Alyssa had picked up the habit one evening when she was working. They had called each other Sugar for a few days after. Gray liked it more than he should have. He realized he liked everything about Alyssa more than he should have.

He needed to get over her before she broke his heart.

A few hours later, he was still sitting in the same spot, trying to figure out how to manage moving on and putting Alyssa back in the friend box.

“You look like someone stole your best friend,” Mac said as he put a second beer down in front of Gray.

“Kind of.”

“You’re here without your sexy little sidekick?”

“Yeah. Looks like it.” He couldn’t argue. Alyssa was sexy, and she had been with him every time he came into the bar lately.

“I thought the two of ya were joined at da hip. You have a fight?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“I see.” Mac nodded and went about making a drink for another customer. “Why don’t you check out the blonde at the end of the bar? She looks to be your type.”

“No thanks.”

“Come on, man. Don’t be like that. At least take a look.”

Reluctantly, Gray looked up. The bar had filled while he’d sat there feeling sorry for himself. He leaned over so he could see down the length of the bar, and his eyes shot wide open.

“Right?” Mac said with a grin. “I told ya.”

“I want to buy her a drink,” Gray said with a slow nod.

“Aye, I thought you might come around.” He mixed the drink and carried it over while Gray watched.

She shook her head, refusing the drink at first. Then Mac pointed down at Gray. He gave a little wave when her gaze met his. He watched as her eyes widened in surprise. She smiled at him. His chest tightened at her reaction as he got off the stool to go meet her.

His night was looking up.