Nora Roberts Land(37)
“Hey, Jill. How’s it going?”
She rolled those signature Hale green eyes. “Mere’s on a tear tonight. I’ve never seen her this focused. It’s like going out with guys is her new-found religion.”
“Except for me.”
He wondered if Jill knew about the story. He snorted. Oh yeah, she knew. She’d invited him to dinner the first day they met. He chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Life.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t say that. It makes you sound old. My mom says that.”
He scowled. “Any suggestions about Meredith?”
“Give her some space. If you let something go, it comes back to you.”
“She’s not a bird, Jill.”
“Are you making fun of my analogy?”
“Yep. It’s something a kid would get wrong.”
She twirled her long necklace of orange beads around her finger. “Hah. Okay, professor, I’ll take that from you, but only because your command of the English language is better than mine. How are classes going?”
“Better than expected after I took your advice. I threw out my boring syllabus and described real-life journalism to the students. Tomorrow I’m starting a section on cultivating sources and building trust. They’re eating it up.”
“I’ve heard people talking. There’s nothing better than the real deal.” She waved to a few people. “Let’s find Meredith. You need to relieve us both from hell.”
The invitation was a golden opportunity. He wouldn’t have to interrupt her unbidden.
“Why, what’s going on?” he asked.
“Ice-pick to head.” She tapped her palm to her temple. “You’ll see.”
Tanner followed Jill over to a corner booth. Meredith looked up in surprise, looking beautiful as usual in a cream-colored V-neck sweater. He moved her purse and nudged her over, pressing his thigh against hers.
Jill made the intros, and Tanner shook hands with the guy, Avery Miller. With a name like that, he’d be lucky to sprout one chest hair. He had a slight build, but he worked out. His hair was slicked up with some gel shit.
“So, Avery, what do you do?” he asked.
Meredith inched away, but the booth was narrow, and there wasn’t anywhere to go. She vibrated against his side.
“I own the cheese and gourmet store across the way.”
He gave Jill a “you’re kidding” look and decided to have some fun. “Wow. Sounds interesting. Are you into the bleu cheese craze or do you prefer the Italian classics like a good buffalo mozzarella?”
Meredith swung her head to look at him. She’d gone for dark eye shadow, which set off her arresting green eyes. Yeah, she was definitely cruising tonight.
He stared back blandly. “Hey, I’ve traveled!”
“I see you’re a man who knows his cheese.”
“Yes, I am.”
Meredith elbowed him under the table.
“I have eight bleu cheese varieties and only two buffalo. One is the classic large ball. I also sell the small balls.”
Muffling a cough to hide her laughter, Jill hid her mouth behind her hand.
“Packed in oil and herbs? Too bad they don’t serve the big balls like that. They’re tastier that way,” Tanner commented, trying to keep a straight face.
Meredith gave him a sharp kick.
“You could always marinate them yourself,” Avery suggested, oblivious to the innuendo swirling around them like the Irish flute playing over the loud speakers. Punky hair and no funny bone.
“I’d have to invite a special guest over to help with that.”
When Meredith’s leg moved in for another kick, he clamped his hand on her thigh. She jolted and muffled a shriek. He grinned, delighted she’d worn a skirt. She might not like it, but there were enough volts between them to run the Dare electricity plant. He hadn’t expected it, but there was a very real connection between them. It was time she stopped fighting it.
“I was just telling Meredith she’ll have to come over for dinner soon. A new ash-covered cheese just arrived from Naples, and I’m dying to share it. I love introducing people to new cheeses.”
Cheese tasting as foreplay? Seriously?
Since Meredith was trying to pry his hand from her thigh, he gave her leg a healthy squeeze. The muscles bunched as she clamped her legs together, framing his hand. It made him wish he could slide it higher. But he couldn’t. Not until she admitted to the heat between them.
“Well, Meredith is a woman of complex tastes.”
When she raised her gaze, the silent plea in her eyes made him release her thigh. She was attracted to him. He could wait her out.
“I need to get another beer. Jill, why don’t you come and tell me what’s good?”