Page 49 of Rebound With Me
“I remember her name. Karen. Karen Walters.”
“Karen Williams,” says Gabe.
“It’s Karen Winters,” Sharon says.
“See why I keep her around,” Neil Devlin says, giving Sharon a squeeze, and I get a wink. “We’re very happy to meet you, Nina. Vince has been slightly more tolerable since he met you, which is saying a lot.”
“Actually, he’s even less tolerable because he just spaces out and smiles like a moron in meetings.” Gabe punches Vince’s arm.
These guys are so cute, it’s too much.
“Okay, let’s go get you that drink now.” Vince pulls me back towards the bar and I wave to the Devlins and Sharon. “That was terrible,” he says, looking down.
“Awww, come on,” I say, rubbing his back. “Haven’t you ever run into your family when you were out in public before? Are you embarrassed to be seen withme?”
“Okay, smartass. You ready for your French Kiss?”
“Am I ever.”
He goes behind the bar, salutes the bartender with two fingers, and starts inspecting the stock.
In no time, a clean-cut man in a polo shirt is standing right up next to me as I lean against the counter. He looks over and nods at me. I smile, politely.
“I’m Mark,” he says, holding out his hand to me.
“Hi Mark, I’m Nina.” He may be a co-worker or client of Vince’s, so I don’t make a point of moving away from him.
“You having a good night, Nina?”
“So far so good. You?”
“Getting better. Can I get you a drink?”
“I got her covered, man.” Vince’s voice is deeper than usual.
Mark raises his eyebrow at him. “Hey, can I get a gin and tonic?”
I guess they don’t know each other.
“Yeah, you should definitely walk your loafers on over there and ask the bartender for one of those.”
“Excuse me?”
“I think you heard me.” Vince’s jaw is so rigid as he leans against the counter, flexing his muscles.
I force a laugh. “Um, he’s not the bartender, he’s just making me a drink.”
“I think you’d be better off getting a drink with me, somewhere else,” Mark says.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Vince slams down the bottle he was holding and starts out around the bar.
I hurry around to block this guy from Vince, and pull him, with all my might, away and out of the room.
“I wasn’t gonna hit him,” he says.
“I’d just like to talk to you outside please.”
I lead him through the lounge and to the front doors, without looking back at him.
