Page 15 of Fool Me

“Huh. He made it sound like dinner and a show was involved.” His stomach audibly rumbled, and he slapped a hand across his abdomen to silence it.

“I’m sure you’ll find something to eat there, but don’t get your hopes up for a dosa.”

His whole body slumped, surprising Sadie. “Don’t say that word. Amrita gave me dosa batter to take home, and I burnt it to a crisp! Pathetic, huh?”

Without thinking, and despite her newly imposed no-smiling rule, she offered him a genuinely sympathetic look. He did love that dosa, and he looked so cute being all dejected about ruining it. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Julia called as I started making it, and I got distracted.”

Welp, all sympathy gone.

Her tone returned to businesslike. “She’s happy about the reaction to our first date?”

He picked at some non-existent lint on his sport coat. “Oh, she loved it. Yeah. Just what she was looking for.”

“Tonight’s date should be even better.”

“And do I get to know what that is?”

“Eventually.”

“Was Ronny at least right about seeing a show?”

“Kinda.”

He sighed. “We’re back to single syllables?”

“Yep.”

He ran a hand through his hair and tilted his head toward her. “Well, I loved your first date, so I'm going to remain optimistic.”

She chose to withhold even a one-word reply to that, ushering in a silence that reigned for the remainder of the drive.

Now and then she used the excuse of keeping an eye on the traffic around them to steal glances his way. He sat stiffly in his seat, giving Sadie the impression he would rather be floating an inch above the mottled fabric than nestled into its grunge. She had to admit, though, he looked fantastic in the suit. The silver grey brought out silverly highlights in his eyes that she hadn’t noticed before, and she had a weakness for men with the confidence to wear pink ties. Maybe once she’d destroyed his acting career, he could model suits.

As the sign for their destination came into view, she envisioned tomorrow’s headlines: “Grubby Grant Loses Cool,” “Grant Can Dish the Dirt but Can’t Take it,” or maybe “Hollywood Glam Meets Hollywood Glop.”

The Down & Dirty Bar enjoyed a reputation for one thing and one thing only. Judging by the crammed parking lot and the deep base beat pulsing the air around them, the entertainment was already in full swing that Saturday night.

“Wait, is this where—” Grant began.

“Remember, we could be on camera right now,” Sadie said, cutting him off.

He lowered his chin to look at his suit. “I feel a little funny walking in there dressed like this.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll blend right in in no time,” she said, hopping out of the car. Under her breath, she added, “If Monique’s friend has anything to say about it.”

10

Grant had never heard of the Down & Dirty Bar and wondered if Sadie had put in the wrong address. It looked…rough. Dozens of Harleys squatted in messy rows near the door. No windows faced front, but overflowing trash cans flanked the main entrance for added décor. This was a part of LA he didn’t know much about, that’s for sure. Standing there outside the car, skewering him with expectant, electric eyes, Sadie certainly seemed confident about it. Regardless, he would ask Ronny for more advance information about these dates. Some of the people frequenting joints like this didn’t appreciate men dressed the way he was. He felt like a peacock at a raptor party, but hopefully there wouldn’t be trouble.

“You coming?” she asked. In her jeans and plain white tee, she would fit in fine. Was it his imagination, or did a sly smile play on her lips? Whatever the reason, it was at least a sort of a smile. He gave her a bigger one back.

“Coming,” he said, forcing a chipper tone as he fiddled with the stubborn seat belt.

The front door of the bar opened as they approached and a couple staggered out, both laughing loudly. Oddly, they were dripping wet from head to toe.

What the…?Grant gripped Sadie’s shoulders and shifted her out of the way before the wobbly couple bumped into her. “Watch out,” he said. “Don’t want to get you all wet too.”

---