“Aw, thanks, guys,” I replied as clinked my glass against theirs. “I appreciate that. Now, let's drink to a year of success ahead for all of us!”
“I'll drink to that!” exclaimed Eddie, and we all laughed and raised our glasses together.
***
After two more pints, I was starting to feel a little buzzed, so I decided to call it quits for the evening. Conversation had been flowing smoothly all night, especially between Asher and myself—a little too smoothly. Add in the heated eye contact that lasted a little longer than it should have each time, and I was determined not to allow a repeat of the poor decision I’d made with him the last time we’d been together in a public setting outside of work.
As attractive as I found him, I didn't want a repeat of the last experience—especially not with my boss. I was on top of my game at work, and I didn't want to be put in a position where that could be compromised. I couldn't afford to let emotions get in the way of my career success—not at this stage of the game.
“All right, guys, I think it's about time that I call it a night,” I announced.
“Are you sure?” Eddie asked with a grin. “Hell, I was just getting started!”
“I'm sure you were, Eddie,” I replied with a smile. “Some of us have normal jobs that start at eight in the morning as opposed to two in the afternoon.”
“You squares and your routines,” he chuckled with a wink. “All right, all right.”
“Can I give you a ride home?” Asher asked.
“No, it's fine,” I replied. “Eddie's already said he's giving me a ride, right, Ed?”
I kicked Eddie's leg subtly under the table.
“Oh, yeah, yeah. Don't worry, man, I've got it. I’m just gonna finish up this beer and I’ll give her a ride home.”
“All right,” Asher conceded with a smile that c
ame across as a little disappointed. “Well, it has been fun. Again, well done on the presentation earlier, Lilah, you totally killed it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how your ideas perform in practice. I'm sure they're going to be a runaway success. And, Eddie, it was awesome to meet you. I think I'm going to listen to a bit of Razor's Edge on the drive home, actually.”
“Right on, man!” Eddie said with a smile as he reached over to shake Asher’s hand.
“Thanks, Ash,” I offered as he stood.
He gave both of us a wave.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, you two,” he said. “And, Lilah, I'll see you at the office tomorrow.”
With that, he left—and left me thinking about all sorts of possibilities.
Chapter Nine
Asher
Rejected: not exactly an occurrence I was accustomed to. But that’s exactly what had happened.
Despite how well we'd gotten along, how easily we'd conversed, not to mention the smoldering looks that had passed between us—at the end of the night, she'd suddenly flipped the cold switch and that was that. I admit, I had hoped to get a chance to drive her home, but she'd declined—politely, but still, it had been a rejection. No point in sugarcoating it.
And so, I drove home alone with my thoughts and my music. Thoughts that couldn’t find their way to anything other than Lilah Maxwell. What was it about her that had me so captivated?
It wasn't that I'd wanted a repeat of our too much wine kiss to happen. All right, maybe part of me did, but it wasn’t just a physical connection I was craving with this woman. No. It was the conversation and energy between us that I wanted to keep going.
It had been ages since I’d last felt connected so intensely with anyone, female or otherwise. The fact that she was a physically stunning, intelligent, and a sensual woman was merely icing on the cake—sweet, sultry icing.
But the fact that I was physically attracted to her wasn't the sole reason I wanted to spend more time with her. I just enjoyed being around her.
“I guess maybe it's a good thing,” I said aloud as I watched the lights of the city fade in my rearview mirror and started the ascent into the hills outside of the city limits. I tended to talk to myself more often than I cared to admit. Hazard of being a bit on the private side—I didn’t let too many people get close to me. That meant I didn’t have too many close friends. The few I had, I didn’t see as often as I once did. And so, I sometimes talked to myself. It’d help me work through the chaos in my head.
“Maybe she doesn't want things to move too fast,” I considered. I guess I didn't, either. The difference, though, was that I wasn’t so sure she wanted things to move at all—while I certainly did. And that was rather disappointing. Almost made me wish I hadn’t even gone to McGinty’s.