Page 26 of The Holy Grail
“Bandmates?”
“He’s in a band.”
Malcom wasn’t really a fan of hearing about some guy she’d obviously slept with, but it didn’t keep him from asking, “How bad was he in bed?”
“Pretty bad, considering he’s a drummer, and should have good rhythm. Plus, he didn’t put forth much effort when it came to getting me off—”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to drink or eat?” the waitress asked, interrupting them.
“No, really, I’m fine,” Jules replied with a smile. Once the waitress was gone, she turned back to Malcom who looked a little flustered at the untimely interruption. “That happens to me quite often.”
“Oh. It never happens to me.”
She gave him a quick smile. “So, as I was saying, he didn’t put much effort into making sure I had a good time, and that’s when I hit the exit ramp.”
Malcom cleared his throat. Even after more than a year, just being in this woman’s presence made his skin vibrate, which kind of pissed him off because he shouldn’t want anything to do with her. “So, how do you know he was talking shit about you?” he asked, changing the subject slightly.
“The bartender told me. After almost getting in a fight to defend my honor.”
“Okay. Well, I can see why the drummer would have been upset at hearing he was a disappointment in bed, because no man wants to hear that, but instead of running away, he should have demanded a second chance and then, you know …”
“Been less of a disappointment in bed?”
“Yes. If that had been me, I would’ve worked like hell to change your opinion, not run away.”
She leaned forward on her forearms. “Really?”
“Yes, really. A man’s reputation matters.”
She felt that stab of regret again. “I really wish I had called you.”
“So, do I,” he agreed. “I wish you’d given me a chance to find out if we were compatible, but you made that decision for me. Well, for both of us, really.”
“I know. And I wish I could go back and do things differently. I knew you were a man of quality that night, and I think I was afraid of it, afraid of taking a real chance and maybe getting hurt. I’ve gotten so used to superficial encounters that I’m pretty sure I look for them on purpose.”
“You think you’re subconsciously looking for men who run away from you?”
“I do. And that’s why I called your mom, because I wanted to see if you were still available. I told myself if you were seeing someone, I’d rip up your card and forget about you, but if you weren’t seeing anyone, I’d apologize and—”
“Send flowers, then follow me to a restaurant?”
“Yes.”
He was a little annoyed she seemed to be thinking an apologetic voicemail, some flowers, and tracking him down in a restaurant was all it would take to get him to fall in line, so his voice was a little sharp as he said, “So, now what? What’s next?”
Jules faltered under the icy shift in his demeanor, then squared her shoulders. “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse,” she told him softly, hopingThe Godfatherreference would thaw him out a little.
“And what’s the offer?”
“I have reservations for two at Le Trésor on Friday at 7:30 p.m. I’ll be there, and I hope you’ll join me for a three-course meal, a bottle of wine, and dessert. We can sit and talk for a couple of hours about whatever you want. Books or movies, or about what an asshole I’ve been.”
He didn’t want to be drawn in, but he couldn’t deny there was something pulling at him—an uncertain, vulnerable Jules was hard to resist, as was her smoky drawl. “And if I don’t want to join you?”
She swallowed hard. “Then you can stand me up, and I won’t bother you any more. I promise.”
Malcom looked at her for a long moment before giving her the line she’d given him all those months ago. “All right. I’ll think about it.”
At her cue to leave, she slowly got to her feet, shocked that her legs felt shaky. “I really do hope to see you there,” she said, giving him one last lingering glance, full of what she hoped conveyed her regret and remorse, before turning and leaving the restaurant.
