“I’m waiting for someone,” Lorelei said as the tall man sat down. She hoped he didn’t hear the disappointment in her voice.
“Not a problem. When he shows up I’ll disappear into the night. Besides, if he sees me sitting here maybe next time he’ll be on time.”
“I guess it’ll be all right.” She wasn’t sure how she could get him to move even if she did object.
“I’m Liam Mackenzie.” He held out a hand.
“Lorelei Torres.” She put her hand out and shook his. He held it for a moment longer than absolutely necessary, but not so long as to be creepy.
The waitress arrived with the drinks and a lingering smile for her companion. Lorelei took a sip; the wine was smooth and full-bodied, and probably not a cheap vintage. Still, if she only had the one glass she wouldn’t blow her whole entertainment budget.
“So, who are you waiting for? Your husband? Boyfriend?”
Lorelei glanced at her watch. Richard was forty minutes late and hadn’t let her know. He was done. “Doesn’t matter. What about you? Are you waiting for someone, or trolling?”
Liam laughed. “I was supposed to meet a client, but he canceled last-minute. I saw you sitting all alone and decided my night didn’t have to be a complete waste.”
“Well, I don’t sleep with men I’ve just met. So if you want to move on to easier pickings I’m sure you can have your choice of women here tonight.” She tamped down the rising disappointment. After the way Barry treated her, it was difficult to believe a man was interested in more than her body.
Liam laughed again. “I’m not here for a hookup, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to walk out of here alone, having sat at the table by yourself for the past thirty minutes.”
“You’ve been watching me?”
“No more than I’ve been watching everyone else. My brother is, was, a writer. He was fascinated by people. When we would hang out in public he used to make up stories about the people around us. I guess I’ve fallen into the habit of doing the same.”
“Tell me a story.” It seemed a good way to get him to stay at her table a little longer, if only to forget for a moment she’d been stood up. And nothing to do with the fact he was drool-worthy gorgeous.
He smiled before scanning the room. “See the couple standing over at the end of the bar?”
Lorelei wrenched her gaze from him and spotted a couple at the far end. The man was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that looked two sizes too small. Next to him a woman had on a red dress that barely covered her backside while she teetered on four-inch black stilettos. “Yeah, I see them.”
“His name is Jett, because his parents thought they were cool. And she’s Beatrice, because her parents weren’t. They met at a club last weekend. Under the influence, they each thought the other was amazing. And they’ve been telling their friends all week about finding the perfect guy/girl. But now, in the light of day, they’re not too sure. They have nothing in common and she thinks he’s a douche for checking out all the other women here and he thinks she’s boring because she doesn’t like motorbikes.”
“That’s not very romantic,” she said. However, as she watched, the woman put her empty glass on the bar, whispered something in the man’s direction, then wobbled her way to the far end of the room, bumping into a woman and nearly spilling her drink. Lorelei glanced back to the bar and the man had already sidled up to a group of women who appeared to be celebrating a birthday.
“Your turn,” Liam said.
“My turn?” Lorelei turned back to her companion and a frisson of excitement shot through her when his dark eyes met hers.
“Choose a couple or group and tell me a story.”
At least it would stop her from staring at him. “Okay.” Lorelei gazed around the room. A woman in a black dress stood next to a man wearing a suit. He had his arm around her shoulder and they seemed engrossed in each other. “The couple over there.” She nodded her head toward the two happy drinkers.
“The woman in the dress that was too-great-a-bargain-to-pass-up-even-though
-it’s-uncomfortable and the guy trying to compensate for his lack of height by wearing pinstripes?”
“Ah, yeah. They’re a married couple who work nearby. They’ve met up for a drink before going to dinner, then home,” Lorelei said. “They’re thinking about starting a family but worried over the cost and who will give up work to look after the baby.”
“I can already tell you’re a good person, because you want people happy,” he said.
“So, what’s my story?” Lorelei took a sip of her wine. With Liam’s full gaze on her she put her hand on her chest, fingering the silver necklace her mother had given her on her twenty-first birthday. She pressed the points of the star into her fingers to stay grounded. It would be so easy to lose herself in his eyes, forget what she wanted in life, and take whatever crumb he was offering so she wasn’t alone.
“I can’t figure you out—that’s why I came over. You’re far too beautiful to be sitting here alone.” He grimaced at the corny line but carried on. “And any guy who stands you up must be an idiot. What I can’t work out is why you would date an idiot.”
“It was a first date. I didn’t realize he was an idiot. I’m new to San Francisco.”
“Well, then on behalf of the men of San Francisco, let me welcome you to our city. I’d like to take your date’s place and have dinner with you.”
He leaned across the table, cutting the distance between them. She caught a whiff of his cologne and it tingled her nostrils, making her want to inhale deeply. “I don’t think—”
“Please, I hate eating alone. All that’s waiting for me at home is an empty apartment and a frozen meal. What do you say?”
His deep-brown eyes gazed into hers. She was mesmerized by their chocolaty depths with no desire to escape. Another set of brown eyes flickered into her memory only to evaporate in a surge of heat as he smiled and the dimple in his cheek appeared. She’d always been a sucker for dimples.
“I guess dinner would be okay.” After all, she’d planned on going on a date. Did it matter which guy she ate with?
“Great, I booked a table at Domenico’s to take my client. If we hurry we can still make the reservation. Are you done here?” Liam signaled to the waitress and pulled out his wallet.