Page 50 of Love on the Byline

“Could I get you anything else?” the server asked, savinghim more awkwardness.

“I had a nice time.” He said an hour later as they exited thenow-packed bar. Ollie had told himself to play it cool, but I had a nice time? Really, dude?

“Me, too.” Blake’s smile was kind as she nudged his shoulderwith hers. “Thanks for inviting me along. It was…an experience.”

He hadn’t realized it, but they’d come on the one night aweek local poets came to try out their new works on the patrons.

“I firmly believe any experience is only memorable when it’sshared with good people.” Okay, that was better.

“I’m glad you think of me as good people, Oliver.”

He did. And the way she said his name made his steps stutteras they walked along the quiet street. The night air was crisp and clean, withjust a hint of wood smoke from the pizzeria they passed.

Above them, the sky was slate gray with wisps of low cloudcover that reflected the glow of the streetlamps.

“You’re honestly one of the best people I’ve ever known.”

Oh, he doubted that very much, but it was nice to hear. “Weshould do this more often.”

“What, drinks at a spot so trendy it doesn’t have a signoutside?” Blake grinned.

“I meant hanging out. In general.”

“Yeah?”

“Absolutely. Whether you still plan to do the interview ornot,” he added, hoping La Jolla wasn’t a dealbreaker. “There are a lot of greatplaces to eat in L.A.”

Blake made a face. “I’m sure there are, but I’m on a tightbudget. I haven’t had the chance to try any. Actually, this is probably my firsttime eating in a place with tablecloths since I moved out here.”

“Don’t you ever splurge? Treat yourself when you, I don’tknow, get an article published? Or some other print milestone. Honestly, Idon’t know how it works in your world.”

“My world?” Blake laughed. “I hope we live in the sameworld, Ollie. It would be difficult to hang out if we didn’t.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do, but you’re so much fun to tease. You go absolutelypink.” Blake poked him in the side and he let out a wholly uncharacteristicsound.

“Okay, enough of that,” he said, moving out of her reach.They strolled leisurely down the street. “I’m serious, though. Don’t you evertreat yourself to something nice once in a while?”

“My idea of a treat is the occasional tuna on wheat from theconvenience store at the gas station near where I live.”

“That sounds dire.”

“They’re actually pretty tasty,” Blake said. “Not trufflefoam cloud on saffron-infused whats-it tasty, but I try to live within mymeans.”

That drew him up short. He was in a unique position, notonly because Bran was surely overpaying him, but working for a celebrity gaveOllie access to things most people didn’t get.

They passed a small sitting area, set back from the mainpavement. Blake stopped to run her hand over a stalk of bamboo. Square,concrete planters served triple duty as benches and lighting for the space. Sheshivered. “I should have worn a sweater or something.”

“Here.”

Ollie took off his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders.His thumb brushed her arm and he fervently wished he had a reason to leave itthere. She was petal soft, and the scent she wore was making him lightheaded.

“Thank you.”

“It should go without saying,” Ollie began as she examinedthe small garden. “I’m happy to treat you to dinner anywhere you want.”

Blake turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Anywhere,huh?”

---