Page 51 of Sinclair Duet

Niles offered his hand. “I do. It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Mr. Watson.” Damien shook his hand and then looked from me to Niles and back. “Is this” —he motioned with his hand— “your lunch plan?”

Niles’s gaze came to mine. “If you’re busy…”

“Damien, I appreciate your invitation, but Niles and I have things to discuss from the gala.”

Damien’s smile was as gregarious as it could be, telling me that it wasn’t sincere. “My invitation was a last-minute idea.” His penetrating gaze met mine. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Monday,” I said.

“We’ll talk.” He turned to Niles. “Enjoy your lunch.”

It wasn’t until Damien was gone that I let out the breath I was holding.

“He’s intense,” Niles said.

“He can be.”

“How often do you think he gets turned down?”

Taking a seat at my desk, I opened the drawer to retrieve my purse. When I looked up, I shrugged. “Not as often as he should.”

Niles’s laugh filled my office. “Cafeteria downstairs?”

“No.” I sighed. “It’s a nice day. Let’s get out of here.”

“Muldoon’s?”

“Oh,” I replied ecstatically. “Do you think their sidewalk seating has opened?”

“Let’s find out.”

“They do have martinis,” Niles whispered as we walked toward the stairs.

Ten minutes later, we were seated at a table under an umbrella on the sidewalk. The sun was high in the cobalt sky.

We’d already given the waitress our orders when Niles pursed his lips and tilted his head. “What is the history you haven’t shared?”

“I haven’t shared it with many people.”

“Spill,” he said.

“We dated.”

His eyes opened wide. “When?”

“It ended a little over two years ago. I broke up with him.”

“That gorgeous man. You left him.” Niles scrunched his nose. “What was the problem? Is he bad in bed? You know, the ones with the looks don’t always have the equipment.”

I laughed and shook my head as the waitress set an iced tea in front of me and a diet soda in front of Niles. “So much for our two-martini lunch,” I said, taking a sip.

“After work. Not impressive equipment?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Wasn’t the issue,” I admitted. “Very talented in that department.”

Niles’s smile grew. “How long did the two of you date?”

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