A Modern Love Story (19 page)

Robbie eyed up the business woman as she filled a frosted mug. “I’ve seen you in here before, haven’t I?”

“I believe so.” She held out her hand as Robbie set the beer in front of her. “Payten Carmichael.”

“Robbie Byrne.” She took Payten’s hand, gave it a firm squeeze. “A pleasure.”

“It’s all mine.” Payten glanced around the room. “It’s pretty slow tonight. Has it been all night?”

“It got busy for awhile, but the majority has died off.” She tipped her chin at Payten as she tidied up behind the bar. “You a regular here?”

“Quickly becoming one, it seems. I like it here. It has a nice atmosphere to wind down in after a long day of legally kicking some ass.”

Robbie smiled. “And what is it you do for a living?”

“Lawyer, of the blood-sucking type.” Payten winked at her before smirking into her beer.

“At least you can admit it,” Robbie said with a laugh. “That can’t be easy work, especially for a woman.”

Payten arched a brow. “I think we have more weapons than we give ourselves credit for. Women, that is.”

Robbie ditched her housekeeping and leaned against the bar top. “How so?”

“I saw you watching me when I came in, and the way you surveyed the room when I did.”

“Yeah.”

“And I could tell you noticed how most people turned in my direction, their attention lingering possibly longer than it should have.”

“I did.”

“I learned long ago to carry my head high and not be afraid to showcase my assets. I exude confidence, and that puts most men on edge and makes most women guarded. They both tend to fear what they perceive as a domineering woman. In most situations, it gives me the advantage.”

Robbie nodded, the corner of her mouth turning up. “I have to admit, I was briefly one of those women. But I think you’re onto something here.” She pushed off the bar and resumed her duties. “I’ll have to be more careful about how I carry myself, see if I can elicit my own quiet power.”

“I have no doubt you can.” Payten tipped her glass in an accommodating toast before taking another drink. “So, Robbie, tell me how your interviews are going? Any leads?”

Robbie was confused, then remembered Payten had been there the other day when she’d come back from her last disastrous meeting. And then, of course, her embarrassing panic attack. Ignoring the existence of the latter event, she responded, “I haven’t had any more since that one you heard about.”

“No? That’s too bad. What did you go to school for?”

“Anthropology. The interview was with the Burlington Science and Natural History Museum.” Robbie rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable.”

“Was it really that terrible?”

“I thought so. At the time, anyhow. But today I got a call from my professor about it.”

“And?” Payten smiled, encouragingly.

“Oh, it’s not what you think.”

“What isn’t what you think?” Luc asked, coming in from the back room. He didn’t even spare Payten a glance, his focus solely on Robbie.

“I was just telling Payten that Professor
Drennen
called me today.”

Luc shifted his gaze to Payten, then back to Robbie. “You two know each other?”

“We do now,” Payten said, flashing a bright smile. “Go on, Robbie. What did your professor say?”

“Well, he confirmed I didn’t get the job—big shocker there. But he
did
say they were impressed enough with my background that if I’d had any experience, they would’ve offered me the position straight off, even if I’d slept through the interview. As it is, they agreed to follow-up second interview. Reluctantly. But they agreed.”

“That’s fabulous, Robbie,” Payten beamed.

“Yeah, babe.” Luc pulled her against his chest, giving her a quick squeeze. “You’ll knock ‘
em
dead.”

“We’ll see what happens. I’m not too hopeful, though.” Robbie tipped her head up for a peck on the lips before he pulled away. As she shifted and glanced at Payten, she thought she saw a glint of something hard and calculating in the woman’s eyes. However, a double-take revealed nothing but kindness and genuine delight.

“You just remember that quiet confidence you have inside you, and I have no doubt you will indeed
knock ‘
em
dead
, as our friend here suggests.” Payten emptied her glass in one final swallow.

Luc’s brow creased as he looked at Payten. It smoothed out when he turned to Robbie. “When’s the interview?”

“Monday.”

He tugged on a lock of her hair. “Be sure to stop by afterwards so you can tell me how it went.”

“You’ll be here?”

“Closing down for inventory, just like every other Monday.”

“Which is a real hardship for your customers, I might add,” Payten said, setting her mug down. She locked eyes with Luc and lifted a delicate shoulder. “Just saying, sweetness.”

Robbie snickered at his scowl. “Don’t mind him, Payten. He scowls at everyone.”

“I think I’ve already become immune to it.” Payten dug in her purse, pulled out a couple of bills to toss on the counter. “Are you working here now, Robbie?”

“Oh, no. Uh
uh
. Just helping out for the night. Lucky for him”—she gestured to Luc—“I had the night off.”

“Where do you work?”

“Been slinging slices at Mario’s since college. I’m the night manager now, but it’s still just slinging slices.”

“Mario’s. Yeah, I know the place. Best pizza joint in all of Vermont?”

“That’s what they claim.”

Payten eased gracefully off the bar stool. “Well, Robbie, it was a great pleasure chatting with you. I wish you the best of luck with your interview.” She flicked a glance at Luc. “Luc. Take care.”

“Bye, Payten,” Robbie chirped when Luc only stared. “Have a great night.”

Once Payten was out of sight, Robbie backhanded Luc’s chest. “You really have to work on your people skills, Stretch.”

“I’m not wasting people skills on her,” he grumbled, grabbing Payten’s empty mug off the counter.

“Grump.” She banged her hip against his. “Hey, I should really get going myself. I’ve got a staff meeting in the morning. Mandatory attendance.”

“Okay.” He leaned down to kiss her. “Give me a call tomorrow.”

“Sure thing, handsome.” She nipped at his lip and dodged his grasp. “No way. If I start with you now, I’ll never leave.”

“Tease.”

“You’ll survive.” She laughed at his glare and took a hold of his wrists, pinning them at his side as she brushed her lips against his. “I love you.”

“Me too.”

She saw the quick hesitation in his response, the flare of panic in the depth of his eyes, but she decided to keep it light. For now, she had no other choice than to do just that. And as she left the bar, she became absolutely certain that whatever they had going on between them was going to get complicated, and fast.

*****

Robbie had been on Luc’s mind all fucking morning. He just couldn’t shake her loose. Everything seemed different about her now—more real and alive. Little things he never really took note of before were suddenly fascinating to him. Like the way she bit down on that full bottom lip when she was measuring out a shot at the bar. Or the way her hip would sway out when she’d pivot around from the counter to the cash register. Or even the way her laugh lit up her eyes a moment before you heard it. Simple things like that seemed so important now, and as he noticed them, they’d pull his thoughts in other directions. Like how that full bottom lip felt when they’d kissed, or the grip he’d had on her hips when he’d thrust inside her heat, or the way her green eyes sparked with her orgasm, then clouded over after her release.

He blew out a breath and adjusted himself. Shit. Maybe he’d invite her over to watch a movie later so he could have at her. He scanned his messy apartment from his position on the couch.

Maybe her place was a better option.

His smile came quick as the phone rang, and he snatched it off the end table. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Now, didn’t I teach you better manners than to answer a phone that way?”

“Leah?” He snickered and already felt appropriately put in his place. “Sorry. I thought you were Rob.”

“No excuse. That’s no way to talk to a lady either. Even one you’ve known for half your life.” She laughed lightly. “How is my girl, anyway? I just called her, but she was running out for a bit so we didn’t get to talk much.”

“Why didn’t she just call you back on her cell? Isn’t that what you females do? Talk on the phone and gossip all damn day?”

“Shows what you know about women. So, fess up. What’s new in Rob’s life?”

Luc sank back into the couch, kicked up his feet on the coffee table. “She’s good. Got a second interview on Monday at the museum.”

“Is that so? And here I thought she bombed the first one.”

“Apparently, the girl has some damn fine skills. Even with a crap interview and not enough experience, they’re interested in having another go at it.”

“Well, good for her. It’s comforting to know that a museum isn’t run by a group of idiots. Someone over there sees her true potential.”

“Seems so.”

“So…” He heard the prim sound of a throat clearing. “What else is new in her life?”

Luc waited a beat. “You got something specific you’re fishing for?”

“Oh, I think you know. She mentioned there may be a—how do I put it?—developing situation between you two.”

“You could say that.”

“Luc, a relationship has to be more than just sex. You know that, right?”

He jolted and sat upright. “She
told
you?!”

“No, I just know her well enough to
know
.”

He made a
pfft
sound as he settled back down, guarded in his response. “You don’t know anything.”

“What am I, deaf? I could hear it in her voice.”

Luc sighed. “Well, shit.”

“Don’t hurt her now, Luc.”

“What am
I
, stupid?”

“
Touche
.” She laughed, then sobered. “I want you to think about this. You have each other’s hearts in your hands, like never before. Take care of each other. Do right by each other.”

“I know. I will.” But he could feel the heat rising up his neck. Wasn’t that all he could think about? The sex? Everything came back around to that, and Robbie deserved better. Of course there was more to her than that, and he damn well knew it. But he had to make sure she was aware of that fact.

“Don’t worry. This isn’t all on you. I told her the same thing.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, absently, his thoughts racing around what he could do to show Robbie how he felt. Saying it wasn’t enough. On the other hand, saying it might be
too
much.

“I always knew this day would come. You two are meant to be together. Always have been.”

“You did?” He considered that. “Seems like everyone knew, except us.”