Page 42 of Mine to Love

“I’ll take a cold draft, thank you.”

I don’t date women who drink beer, not that beer drinking is how I vet them. The women I take up tend to order champagne or martinis. Hell, I don’t really date often so it shouldn’t be unusual at all. But Reese sipping a cold beer makes me think of warm summer days sitting on the back deck with my family. And Reese sitting by my side. Or better, on my lap.

“Reese was telling me about winters in Maine. Have you been there during one of these north easterns she’s talking about?”

“Nor’easter.” Reese laughs.

“God help me but wearing fourteen layers for four months out of the year doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.”

“It’s more like five months. Some years, six months.” Reese sips her beer, then licks her lips before setting her glass down.

I’ve never been more thankful to see the waitress when she hands me my beer. I take two healthy gulps, draining half of it before setting it down.

Doug eyes me suspiciously. We’ve had plenty of meals together. Most are business meetings in my office during lunch, where I don’t eat much. Or out at a classy restaurant where we wine and dine clients and I sip on whiskey or scotch.

He’s more like a business partner than assistant, and I value and respect his opinion as much as I do Melinda and my other managers.

“Are you ready to order?” The waitress takes out a notepad and scribbles down our order.

A few minutes later, Doug’s cell phone rings. He holds up a finger. “It’s my sister. I’ll be right back.” He excuses himself from the table, leaving Reese and I alone.

We drink our beers in uncomfortable silence. Finally, I break it. “You did a nice job today.”

“Thanks.”

Shit. I’m not supposed to talk business. No that it matters. I’m the boss. Still, why can’t I have a nice dinner with a gorgeous woman without talking about work?

“So... How’s your dad? Is he still seeing Maria?”

“Mariah. And yes.”

Way to go. I just proved myself to be a terrible listener. I actually do remember her name is Mariah, but my nerves have short-circuited my many brain cells.

“Are you okay with that?”

Finally, she softens and nods. “Yeah. Mariah is sweet, and my dad is happy. And honestly, it’s made being fifteen hundred miles away a little easier knowing she’s there to take care of him. As long as I don’t think about what they’re doing at night.”

I choke on my beer and catch the wicked gleam in her smile. She said that intentionally as I was taking a sip. And I’d choke over and over again if it means I get to see that gorgeous smile on her lips.

“Reese, I’m so sorry,” Doug says as he takes out his wallet. “My sister is having contractions. The doctor says they’re Braxton Hicks, but she’s in a lot of pain. I have to go.”

When he takes out two bills, I push them back on him. “I’ve got dinner covered. Go to your sister.”

“I’ll call Max to bring you back to the hotel after dinner.”

“I’ll take her. And don’t worry about coming in tomorrow if your sister needs you.”

“I’ll have my phone on me.”

“Go.”

“Okay.” He looks from me to Reese. “No shop talk while I’m gone.”

“He really loves his sister,” Reese says.

I nod. “He does.”

“He said he and his sister were in and out of foster care when they were kids and have always taken care of each other.”

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