“I’m guessing you looked into loans.”
“I have, but I don’t have enough collateral to take out the amount I need.”
I glanced around the tavern. I’d been in about seven times since I’d arrived, and every time, including that first night, it was packed. An idea formed.
“I owe you dinner,” I said rather abruptly.
“I believe you do.”
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
“I am.”
“I have a proposal.”
His grin now was wicked. “I’m liking this better and better.”
“Not that kind of proposal.”
His crestfallen looked was adorable and completely feigned. I now understood Killian’s comment to me that first morning because Liam was a player, but I wondered if he’d change his ways for the right woman. I wasn’t a matchmaker, wasn’t going to try, but it was pretty obvious Liam was into Natalie and vice versa. Maybe just getting them in the same situation would help nature take her course.
“What kind of proposal?” Liam asked, and it took me a second to get back to the original topic.
“Business.”
Flirty turned serious, interested. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow night, we can discuss it.”
“Alright.”
I dropped money on the bar. “That burger is delicious. Don’t change a thing.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, around six.”
“I’ll be there. Don’t want to risk your wrath.”
I dropped my head. The incident, as it was called, circulated like wild fire. It was hard to forget your moment of idiocy when it was brought up all the time. Bright side, Natalie and the dog bonded, so she was keeping him.
“Seriously, stupid as fuck, but your heart was in the right place,” he said. “See you tomorrow, slugger.”
I shook my head, threw my hand over it in a wave and walked out.
I headed to the market. I wasn’t going to make burgers tomorrow night because the man knew how to make a burger. I’d grill up some steak, but that meant I needed a grill, so I detoured to the hardware store. The kid working greeted me.
“Hey. Can I help you?”
“Yes, I need a grill.”
“What kind of grill?” he asked.
One that you turned on the gas, it got hot and had a grill grate. “There are different kinds of grills?”
That earned me a surprised yet patient look. “Yes, let me show you what we have,” he said, walking me to the wall of grills. It was like buying a car. Did I want the warming unit or the fryer? A smoker attachment? My head was spinning when I heard the deep voice behind me.
“So like a woman.”