Page 5 of Brick
He groaned.The only thing worse than wiping out was having an audience to it.Jumping to his feet would’ve exposed his embarrassment, so he stayed down and gave her the most devilish smirk he could muster.“I might need CPR.”
She blinked, and a laugh rolled from her pretty lips.“Okay, Scott Hamilton.Let’s get you inside.I think you hit your head pretty hard.”
He rolled into a seated position.A few patrons walked past with barely a glance, as though seeing a guy on his ass outside the bar was nothing new.The woman offered her hand, but if he grabbed it, he’d probably pull her down with him.“I’ve got it.”As he stood, pain shot through his back.
She winced.“Sorry that happened.Hope you feel better.”She reached for the handle to the bar he’d been about to enter.
He caught the door and walked in behind her.“I’d feel a lot better if you’d eat with me.”
She pivoted to face him.In the warm bar lighting, he could see the color of her shining eyes, a deep sapphire.
“Unless you’re meeting someone,” he hedged.
Her tongue swiped her bottom lip.“I’m, uh, just passing through.”
“Me, too.Flight leaves bright and early tomorrow, actually.”
She glanced around as if she wanted to bolt.His gut twisted.Shit.The CPR comment might have been a step too far.Or maybe he was losing his touch.Or maybe he looked as fatigued and crazed as he felt.
A server approached with menus in her hands.“Table for two?”
The loud din of the restaurant amplified Brick’s senses.“Uh, we’re not—”
“Yeah, sure,” the woman said.“For two.”
Okay, then.
“If the offer still stands?”she asked, turning a brilliant smile his way.Her grin accentuated the dimples in her cheeks.Hell.He’d always had a thing for dimples.
Caution clouded her eyes, but her fingers went to the buttons on her peacoat and she slowly began to undo them.
“’Course,” he said, his voice bold.
The server smiled and jerked her head toward the bar.“We’re all out of tables.Are you okay with eating at the bar?”
His new friend looked relieved, as if the bar made things less serious.
He nodded.“Sure, that’s great.”
“Awesome,” the server said, and weaved her way through the tables.
Brick gestured for the woman to precede him, and she turned and followed the server to the long bartop.She hung her coat on the hook near the end of the bar, and he did the same.
He took the stool next to her, then accepted the menus from the server with a thank-you.
“How’s your back?”the woman asked.
“Hurts like a bitch, but I’ll live.”He extended a hand.“I’m Brick Slater, by the way.”
Her bow-shaped pink lips, so plump and pretty, morphed into a tentative smile.She slipped her slim, delicate fingers into his palm.Electricity arced between them.And damn if his heart didn’t stop and restart.
“You sure about that?I still think you hit your head.”
He chuckled.“If I’ve got my name wrong, we have bigger problems.”
Silence stretched.
“You going to tell me yours?”
