I lock eyes with her, unable to resist flirting with her. “You bet I do.”
Her smile comes naturally. She’s damn good at her job, and putting up with guys like me, even letting me catch her in a few lingering glances. Thinking she’s into fuels my attraction, after all, if it’s mutual…it would be fun.
We make it through the meal and Bennett warns me, “This is probably crazy, but I’m going to ask Caroline out.”
“Why says you get to instead of me?”
“Guess I just called dibs. If she turns me down, she’s all yours.”
I opt not to reveal how badly I want to break his face right now. I’ll let her turn him down then decide how to proceed.
He fidgets with his empty plate and silverware when she returns. I’m doubting he’ll go through with it when he blurts out, “All flirting aside, what would you say about getting some drinks later?”
Caroline’s subtle inhale hints that I’m not the only one Bennett surprised. The fucker’s moving in. It doesn’t matter that he just told me he would. My chest hurts. Everything feels wrong.
She darts her gaze between the two of us and her smile is slightly forced. “All flirting aside? Hmm…asking about drinks sounds like flirting to me.”
I can’t sit back and watch. “Then how does this sound? Want to come over to my place for drinks tonight? And I’m definitely flirting.” Fuck, that was liberating. And confusing. She now has two offers.
“Your place?” She laughs nervously.
Shit, maybe I’m not the only one who’s thought about our age difference. I don’t normally heft my status around, but I need leverage.
“It’s not far. I live in Eggplant Canyon.”
Everyone knows that means money. Is it pathetic to hope dollar signs can make up for my age?
Her eyes narrow and she studies in a way I don’t understand. Am I double-dipping into rejection?
“What do you say? We all meet up for drinks at Roarke’s place tonight?” Bennett draws her attention, and ensures he’s not left out. What is wrong with us?
“I better say no, but thanks for offering.”
“Ouch,” Bennett feigns heart pain. “Is it me?”
“No, that’s not it.” She doesn’t meet our eyes, brings the flirting to a halt, and is decidedly nervous.
Bennett doesn’t give up easily. “No expectations, just hang out with us for some drinks. You can leave whenever you like. It’s worth it just to see the view from his house, truly incredible.”
“Yeah,” She glances at me as if I should know why she doesn’t want to come over. “Incredible.”
Am I missing something? I’m not sure why she didn’t just say no. I hate making her uncomfortable. It kills me to give her an out, but freaking her out isn’t going to win Bennett or me any points.
“If we overstepped, I’m sorry. We were just having fun…I mean, it would be great to hang out with you, but you probably have customers hitting on you all the time. Can we go back to just being your favorites?”
“Hardly.” Her relief is minimal. “I joke around with customers all the time, but no one asks me out.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
“Yeah, some things are really hard to believe.” Her laugh is even higher pitched than before.
I’m missing something. We awkwardly pay our bill and head to our cars. Bennett noticed her abrupt shift in demeanor as well.
I attempt to downplay the nagging feeling that I need to pursue her. Stopping behind our cars, I say, “If she hadn’t shot us down, how would it have played out, anyway? We force her to make a choice?”
What if she didn’t have to make a choice? My mind runs a new scenario…crazier than the others.
Bennett looks into the distance. “There’s no way that would have worked out well.”