His brows lift in question.
Blowing out an exasperated breath, I make a decision. As excited as Curtis is at the prospect, it will be an experience. And I do love the Cubs.
“Fine.”
Curtis shrieks and the others move a little nearer.
“Sharlene, can you put a post on all our socials saying the bar will be closed for a short period during the game and will openstraight after?” Everyone else starts cheering. “We need to be back asap. No hanging around after the last pitch, okay.”
Continuous streams of praise begin and everyone saying they love me. I’m not watching them celebrating, or Sharlene who is straight on her phone to manage social media. I’m watching Daniel.
He takes something out of his back pocket and hands it to me. It’s a pass to the box.
“I’ll leave word you’re all coming.”
“Smooth move,” I murmur.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Blue.” His lips twitches.
“Innocence does not work on you.”
He winks, taps the bar and walks away. He’s good at that. It keeps my interest on him, not the others celebrating and talking about tomorrow.
It doesn’t stop the following day when I arrive at the box and find my staff all excitedly chatting, taking full advantage of the free food and drink and comfortable surroundings of a private box at Wrigley Field. In the corner, Daniel has his back to me, talking with the box attendant.
He’s casual again and my treacherous eyes roam down his body, taking him in as his shoulders shake when he laughs. Fuck, I have to look away. Not fast enough though, his head tilts to glance around and he spots me. He gives me the same once over and my nipples harden, which is most inconvenient.
Now I wish I’d agreed to come alone. What would it be like to have sex up here. I’m sure he could have got rid of the attendants.
“Are you thinking naughty thoughts?” Daniel is standing in front of me, moving over here while I was daydreaming.
“No.” My cheeks are burning, giving me away.
“Want a drink?” he asks, pretending not to see it, but grinning all the same.
“Sure. I’ll take a beer.”
He puts his hand on my lower back, and we go to the bar together. There will be a million questions when we get back to Blue’s. For now, I go with it.
We don’t talk about anything serious. I’ve made it clear the lawsuit is out of bounds. Our lawyers are putting forward the case with the twenty-seven witnesses we’ve found that corroborate my employee’s version of events.
The asshat fell over himself and bashed his face and arm on the sidewalk and a traffic sign. I don’t want to talk about it. Especially not with Daniel who was involved at the start. It’s nothing to do with him or his company anymore.
The Cubs win but we don’t have a chance to celebrate because I usher everyone back to the bar. Some people at the game follow along and as soon as the doors open, we’re packed to the rafters.
Daniel can’t come but says he’ll call in later if it’s okay. Close to closing time. We both know what that means. His fingers brush mine by way of saying goodbye. Like a fool, I stare down at them long after he’s gone. I should end this, we’re getting too attached.
But I don’t and when he comes around, we watch a movie, take a very steamy shower together, then lie in bed, talking into the night.
The next morning, I try to keep my distance a little. He draws me back in with ease, making us pancakes and bacon, sitting under the skylight, talking about everything and nothing, until it’s time for him to go.
It hurts when he leaves. Not hurts, more like a sense of longing after a night like that. One I shouldn’t be allowing but can’t help myself. He’s burrowing himself into my skin. Like a splinter.
“What are you up to on Wednesday, it’s your day off right?” he asks, as we walk through the bar together so I can let him out.
I shouldn’t be surprised he knows that. I told him. “Yeah,” I say cautiously.
“Don’t overthink it, Blue. My diary is clear, it’s your day off, we could do something.”