Love After All
Page 11

Panic dropped like a bomb in her stomach. “Uh, tonight?”
“Do you have plans?”
“Not really.”
“Then come on over. How about six?”
She’d have to shower, do her hair and makeup, and find something appropriate to wear. And Bash would introduce them? Wouldn’t that be … awkward?
Why would it be awkward? They’d shared a kiss, nothing more. This was her goal, so … why not? “Sure.”
“Great. I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later.”
He hung up, and she found herself staring at her phone.
That was the weirdest conversation ever.
But, whatever. This was what she wanted, right? She took a shower, dried her hair, and put on makeup, then studied her closet. She had no idea what she was going to wear to meet Kris.
It wasn’t a date, per se, so she chose a pair of her favorite pants—her skinny black jeans—and a long black button-down silk top, then added her boots. A slinky, slimming effect, and when she topped the look off with her silver jewelry, she thought it added a nice touch.
It was a decent outfit for the bar, and if Kris was wearing his suit she wouldn’t look like a slouch, but she also wouldn’t be overdressed like she was expecting a date, either.
She actually had enough time to spare to grade more papers before leaving, but found it hard to concentrate, her thoughts straying to her non-date with Kris.
And to Bash.
It was odd he had fixed her up with someone so soon after their talk about her list. And so soon after he’d laid such a hot kiss on her. A kiss that, obviously, had meant nothing to him.
It meant nothing to her, either, because Bash wasn’t her type at all. The kiss might have been hot and she might still be thinking about how it had made her feel, but feelings weren’t always logical. Her list, however, was.
She put the papers away and headed to the bar, deciding to push all questions and negative thoughts aside so she could eagerly anticipate meeting a new man.
On the drive over, she found herself getting excited. In the parking lot, she applied her favorite lip gloss, looking at herself in the mirror. She smiled and mentally put on her most positive outlook.
“This could be the one, Chelsea,” she said to her reflection, then got out of her car and went inside.
Since it was a weeknight, it wasn’t too crowded. She spied Bash behind the bar and the guy in the suit across from him.
Oh, yes. He was fine-looking. Dark suit, sandy brown hair. She could tell from across the bar that he was tall and lean, and his suit fit well. Bash motioned to her so she did her sexiest walk, making sure to throw her shoulders back and hold her head up high.
Kris looked her way, smiled and stood. Bash was smiling, too, in that sarcastic, smug way he had.
She was going to ignore him and concentrate instead on the hot lawyer.
“Hey, Chelsea,” Bash said.
“Bash.”
“This is Kris Steele. Kris, Chelsea Gardner.”
“Hello, Chelsea. Bash has told me a lot about you.”
She managed a short glance at Bash before turning her attention back to Kris. “All good things, I hope.”
“All good things. Would you like a drink?”
“I would, thank you. I’ll have a glass of sauvignon blanc, please.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Bash said, still sporting that smug smile.
“Why don’t we get a table?” she suggested, hoping to sit somewhere Bash wouldn’t eavesdrop.
“That’s a great idea.” Kris picked up their drinks and followed Chelsea to a booth she selected in a corner—one that would afford them privacy.
They settled into the booth.
“Bash tells me you’re a lawyer. Contract law?”
“Yeah. I assume he told you I’m his lawyer.”
“He mentioned it.”
“We also went to college together. I’ve known him a lot of years. We hang out at the gym when I can get him to leave the bar, which isn’t often.”
Chelsea slanted her gaze over to Bash, who at least wasn’t staring at them. He was busy carrying several cases of beer from the back of the bar to the front. But that didn’t mean she was staring at the way the muscles in his arms bulged with the effort.
She turned her attention back to Kris. “Yes, he does seem to live here most of the time.”
“It’s a good business, and he’s expanding it. But he needs a social life, too.”
“He’s got a dog now.”
Kris smiled. “Yeah, I saw her. She’s cute. Now he just needs to get away from the bar. Maybe find a woman and settle down.”
She liked that Kris cared about his friends. It said a lot about his character. She sipped her wine and set it down on the table. “Well, maybe you can find a woman for him.”
“Maybe I can. I know a lot of women.”
There was a warning bell, but she decided to let that one slide. “Yet you’re here with me.”
He laughed. “I said I know a lot of women. Not women that are right for me.”
“Really? Why aren’t they right for you?”
“Various reasons. Temperament, likes and dislikes. I’m sure you know how it is. You can date a really nice woman, but realize she’s not the right one for you.”
What a perfect answer. She liked Kris. “So true. I’ve had a lot of experience with that.”
He picked up his phone. “I’m wondering if you’d be interested in having dinner with me tonight. There’s a great Asian fusion place that just opened in Tulsa. Do you like sushi?”