The Trouble With Love(35)

Who was with a woman.

Emma glanced down and seriously considered leaving, although she immediately scolded herself for the thought. Since when had she let Alex Cassidy’s presence interfere with her life?

And since when had she cared that he was seeing someone?

Her eyes flicked back to them again. She could see only Cassidy’s profile, and he was mostly turned away from her, but the woman he was with was mostly facing Emma.

She was pretty, in a wide-eyed, earnest kind of way. Her brown hair was shoulder length and wavy, her eyes round and friendly. She wore an oversized boatneck navy sweater that was both stylish and comfortable-looking. There was nothing bimbo about her. Nothing that Emma could possibly criticize. Heck, she looked like someone that Emma herself would be friends with.

“Good evening,” the bartender said, capturing Emma’s attention. “Sorry for the wait; it’s always crazy on weekends. I’ll get you some water—did you need some more time with the wine list?”

“Actually, I’m looking for a recommendation,” Emma said, trying to ignore Alex and his new woman altogether. “I’m in the mood for a white, something sort of crisp but not too tart, and I’m not familiar with any of your by-the-glass pours.”

The bartender leaned forward, glancing down at the list as she thought. “Let me get you a sample of the Albari?o,” she said. “It’s Spanish, and one of my favorites.”

She poured Emma a small taste, which she sipped and loved. “Perfect.”

“Anything to eat?” the bartender asked as she poured Emma a full glass.

“Eventually, yes. Haven’t gotten to the food menu yet.”

“Take your time,” the bartender said, putting the cork back in the bottle. “I’m Jana if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” Emma said, returning the smile.

As Jana went to help another customer, Emma let her gaze dart back toward Cassidy and his date. They were gone, and Emma told herself she was relieved. Relieved he hadn’t noticed her. Relieved she wouldn’t have to watch him put the moves on another woman.

But then she started thinking about where they might be headed now, and was anything but relieved. Would he take the woman back to his place?

Would he go to hers for a “nightcap”?

Would they…

“The hamburger is amazing here.”

Emma jumped and spun around to see Cassidy standing behind her. He was wearing a dark suit, minus the tie, and his white shirt was unbuttoned just enough so she could see the hollow of his throat. Her gaze lingered at that spot for way too long, remembering what it had tasted like.

“The hamburger?” she repeated dumbly. Where was his date?

“With cheese. And fries, of course. Trust me, it’s worth every fat gram.”

Emma nodded, her eyes scanning behind him for Miss Big Green Eyes.

“She went home,” Cassidy said. He nodded his chin in the direction of the open bar stool next to her. Lifted an eyebrow.

Emma wordlessly moved her purse, reaching below to find a hook under the bar, even as she wondered what the hell she was doing. This was supposed to be dining-solo time, not dining-with-the-ex time.

And yet, when he shrugged out of his suit jacket, hanging it on the hook on the wall beside them before sitting down next to her, it felt…right.

And then something even stranger happened. Emma watched as Alex unbuttoned the sleeves of his dress shirt, rolling them just below his elbows so they exposed his lean, hair-covered forearms. It was as though she could see the tension slowly fade from his body.

She actually watched as Alex Cassidy relaxed beside her.

As though here, sitting on this bar stool next to her, was where he could be most himself.

Even more alarming was that she felt the same. As though after a long week, this was what she needed.

She shook the feeling off.

“Bad first date?” she asked.

“Nah,” he said, reaching for her wine and taking a sip. “Just…not quite right, you know?”

She nodded.

“How about yours?” he asked.

“How about my what?”

He glanced at her. The eyes were pure aqua today. “Your date last night.”

She frowned. “I didn’t go on a date last night.”

He shifted on his stool to look at her. “With Cole. Cole Sharpe. You guys went to Babbo?”

Emma shook her head. “I like Cole well enough, but we’ve never been on a date. He’s never even asked.”

To her surprise, Cassidy let out a bark of laughter, running a hand over his face. “Those dicks.” He lifted a hand to catch the bartender’s attention. “I need a drink. And food. You hungry?”

“Yeah, but didn’t you just eat with, um…” Emma waved her hand in the direction where Cassidy and his date had been sitting.

“Alisha. And no, we just grabbed a drink. I don’t tend to do dinner on the first date. Too much of a commitment until you know whether you click.”

Emma made a spinning motion with her finger. “Want to replay that in your head? See if you realize how douchey it sounds, second time around?”

“Hey, Jana,” Cassidy said to the bartender, ignoring Emma. “How about a glass of whatever I was having earlier. It was great.”