Page 7 of A Powerful Attraction
Sherry nodded, then glanced around the restaurant and straightened suddenly, as if realizing for the first time that most of the patrons were gone. “We should probably leave.”
Behind the bar, the bartender was packing up glasses, and a couple of servers sat at a table rolling silverware and napkins for the next day. The patrons from the back booth sauntered in a line toward the front door.
“You’re right. Otherwise, they might kick us out.”
She nodded and reached for her purse.
“Dinner’s on me,” Alex said, fishing out his wallet.
“Absolutely not.”
“And why not?”
“Because it’s inappropriate.”
“Why?”
“Because you shouldn’t be saddled with my meal, Alex.”
“I invited myself to join you, remember? And I don’t mind.”
“Let me pay for my own dinner.”
“No.”
“The tip, then?”
“No. If it makes you feel better, consider this a business dinner. I’ll add it to my expense report. After all, we did spend some talking about work.” He called over the waiter, who approached and placed the bill on the table. Alex perused the items. Satisfied, he handed over the card with the bill.
Sherry bit the bottom corner of her lip, holding the scarlet-tinged flesh hostage between her teeth—which he longed to do himself. “You really don’t have to do this.”
“I’m not going to keep arguing with you, Sherry.”
“Fine. I won’t argue, but since you bought dinner, the least I can do is buy dessert.”
“Dessert?” Alex looked around at the empty restaurant. “It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?”
“Not really. There are places still open. We can go somewhere and listen to music and have dessert.” She spoke with a certain amount of hesitation. “Unless you have a curfew…?”
Alex laughed softly. “No, I don’t have a curfew.”
“Then dessert is on me.”
He studied her for a moment. She obviously wanted to spend more time with him, and he wanted to spend more time with her, but it wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t risk getting involved with Sherry, and the burden of resisting the temptation she presented ate at him.
“I’ll have to pass.”
“Are you turning me down?” she asked with a little laugh.
“It’s late,” he said, by way of explanation.
“Late. Oh. So you do have a curfew, or maybe someone waiting at home for you?”
“I don’t have anyone waiting at home for me,” he said quietly.
“I see.”
Her lips firmed, and he knew right away that he’d upset her. All the progress they’d made in the past few hours disappeared. Shit.
