Page 107 of Beautiful, Violent

“Just calling to see if you wanted to grab dinner tonight,” Greer asks.

“I’d love to but I’m meeting Rigger at seven. Unless you want to have a late dinner?”

“I eat late all the time. Even got your dad on a late schedule.”

“How very European of you.”

She laughs. “You want to come here and I can have Sandy make us something?”

“Sounds perfect. I don’t know how long things will take with Rigger. Probably not that long. We’re just talking.”

“That’s good. I hope you can work things out.”

“Yeah, me too.” I don’t sound all that convincing, even to myself.

“I’ll ask Sandy to have dinner ready by nine. Just get here whenever you can.”

“Will do. See you later.”

The restaurant where I’m meeting Rigger is crowded for a Thursday. But I don’t come here often. I tell the hostess I’m meeting someone.

“Is it Rigger?”

“Um, yes?”

She tosses a thumb over her shoulder, eyeing me with judgment. “He’s back there waiting on you.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Tell him I said go easy in there. I won’t be able to drive him home tonight.”

I give her a second look. Long black hair, even longer red nails, and a half-smile that suggests she’s trying to provoke me. A seed of jealousy sprouts inside of me.

“Well, I’m here, in case he does need a ride.”

She shoots me a hard look, one might say a sneer, glances at my chest, and I walk off. What a bitch.

I sit next to Rigger and he waves at the bartender. “Give her whatever she wants.”

The bartender flicks a quick nod at me. “What do you want?”

“The blood of my enemies.”

He chuckles, wipes a towel around the glass he’s holding, and even Rigger gives me a sideways look. I don’t normally joke with bartenders because it feels too flirty.

“But I’ll take a rum and coke.”

“Gotcha.”

“I’ll count my blessings that I caught you in a good mood.”

“We’ll see how long it lasts.”

His head slowly bobs a few times, then, “You have dinner?”

“No. I’m eating with Greer later on.”

“Oh, okay.” His voice is low, disappointed.

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