Page 37 of Dear Grumpy Boss

I pointed at Saoirse. “If you tell him my number, I’ll cut off your hair in your sleep.”

She grabbed the end of her blonde ponytail protectively. “Wow, living in Chicago made you ruthless. I wasn’t going to tell him about the seventeen guys you’ve slept with.”

Simon’s jaw went slack. “Seventeen? And that was all before you got with the douchelord. By the age of twenty-two, you’d had seventeen? Why you little hussy!”

I rolled my eyes. “She’s pulling your leg. My number’s nowhere near that. It takes me much too long to be comfortable enough with a man to get naked in front of him to have that many notches.”

“Damn,” Rebecca cursed. “I was about to high-five you.”

Saoirse waved them off. “Let’s get back to the cute ginger at the bar. Is he looking this way?”

I lifted my eyes and was met with a friendly gaze and a soft smile. The ginger businessman was watching me. Feeling brazen for no particular reason, I lifted my drink to him, and his smile widened.

Then I realized I had no idea what to do next and had no game at all.

“Oh my god, he’s staring hard at you,” Simon cooed. “Get it, girl.”

“I have no clue how to get it. I’ve been out of the flirting game for too long.” I kept my eyes down so I didn’t accidentally clash with the ginger again.

Rebecca plucked my drink from my hand, tipped it back, and swallowed it down before handing me my empty glass.

“Oh dear, you need a new drink. Our waitress is dismally slow. You should probably go to the bar and order one before you get too thirsty.”

I stared at her, blinking slowly. “You’re maniacal.”

“That’s what Sam says.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “That's why he loves me so. Now, get to the bar and let ginger make his move.”

Nerves were tossing the contents of my stomach around in wild waves. But I told myself all I was doing was walking to the bar. If this man was actually attracted to me and interested in knowing me, he could come talk to me. Otherwise, I was just buying myself a new drink. No harm, no foul.

Of course, I nearly stumbled on my way there. I righted myself, finding Weston looking at me again. Biting down on my bottom lip, I carried on my mission, finding an empty spot at the bar.

The bartender took my order, and I waited, butterflies committing violence in my stomach. They had to be swashbuckling in there. There was no other explanation.

“Hello.”

I looked at the man who’d stepped up beside me. Tall was my first thought. Lovely beard was my second.

“Hi. Your beard is lovely.” Oh Jesus. Who’d allowed me to speak?

He grinned. “Thank you. You’re lovely overall.”

I couldn’t hold back a smile. “Thank you.” I held my hand out, confidence blooming. “I’m Elise.”

“Thomas. Can I buy your drink?”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’d like to. That way, when I ask for your number, you feel obligated to throw me a bone.”

He took me off guard, making me laugh. “That is quite the plan. And since you’re being so honest, I may feel obligated to give it to you.”

We chatted for a few more minutes, the usual getting-to-know-you things. When he took his phone out, I happily gave him my number. Aside from his height, there was nothing intimidating about Thomas. He seemed nice and wasn’t overly handsome or buff, which for me, was a plus. In fact, he was a little soft around the middle, which I found attractive on him.

I wasn’t in any way ready for something serious, but if Thomas contacted me, I would go on a date with him. He had a really great beard and a charming smile. Deeper qualifications weren’t required.

We parted, and I started to go back to my group when the hair on the back of my neck rose. I turned my head, finding Weston glaring at the men, his jaw clenched. Poor guy. He couldn’t even have a relaxing evening out. Though I wondered if he ever truly relaxed.

Probably not.

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