Some Sugar(8)

Hunter was right. The moment they walked in, the maître d’ seated them at a table. It was a sweet table, romantic and cute.

A waiter came to them, offering the wine menu.

“I have my car,” she said. She had been going to give Dru a lift home, which was why she made sure her friend got a cab.

“Good. You’re the only one. I was thinking of taking a cab home. Do you mind driving?” he asked.

“Not at all,” she said.

“We’ll take two waters,” Hunter said.

The waiter left.

“You can have a wine or a beer if you want.”

“I don’t drink alone.” He watched her.

“What is it?” she asked. Did she have something on her face? A stain on her shirt?

“Nothing. You’re still feeling bad about what happened, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Ugh, can we not talk about what a total ass I was?” She covered her face. “I was so embarrassed.”

“What about me? You thought I was calling you a prostitute. Let’s say we both had the wrong assessment.”

“You thought I was…” She looked around the room to make sure no one was paying them any attention. “A prostitute?”

“I don’t know. It was that, or you had a really lousy boyfriend who made you do the walk of shame. It amazes me our assumptions, doesn’t it you?”

She sighed. “I was wrong. I just put crying women, and you know, I was wrong to assume, and even worse to have called you out, and not even given you some sugar. I’m not usually such a horrible neighbor.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t always have a good track record with women. I’ve gotten around. It has been a long time since I’ve been in a relationship.”

Licking her dry lips, she couldn’t help but find him sexy as sin. Taking a deep breath, she smiled. “Who doesn’t have a bit of a past? I guess you didn’t leave women crying.”

“I don’t think I did, but I was no saint either.” He held his hands up. “Start over, fresh.”

“I thought we were supposed to be doing that,” she said, chuckling. “Right, no more mention of my horrible bitchiness. Hello, Hunter Graham, it is a pleasure meeting you.”

“And I have to say the pleasure is all mine, Faith Bryant.”

“So, why a life coach?” she asked. “I mean, there must have been plenty of fields for you to, you know, enter into.”

“I’m a psychology major, and let’s just say I found more enjoyment helping people I know I could help than not. I don’t have what it takes to be a shrink, and to be honest, I never will. I like helping people with a hands-on approach.”

“I read that your methods are not always … agreed to.”

“They’re not. I believe that helping someone in life means you have to open part of yourself up. Some life coaches don’t agree to that. We all have different methods. Believe me, if a woman or even a man started to develop a crush, then I would withdraw myself. I would talk to someone I felt was more qualified to deal with that person. I don’t encourage that kind of stuff.” He paused as the waiter put their drinks down. He watched as Faith smiled, and spoke her thank you. When they were alone again, he got back into it. “Now, those women, and I have to say some men as well. Crying is horrible to see, but it also allows us to release emotion in a way that is actually quite therapeutic. I know it seems crazy to think of tears being like that, but they really are. The women had a … breakthrough. Like a wake-up call. I’m not going to go into details as I don’t like talking about my patients without their permission, and without them present. Let’s just say, the reason you haven’t seen them as much, is because they don’t need me as much. I’m always there for them if they need a little help and guidance.”

“You sound like an amazing man,” she said, meaning it.

The smile on his face was almost devilish. “I know I can be quite outstanding in certain areas.”

Her body heated. There was no denying what he meant, and she could imagine. Holy hell could she imagine, and it made parts of her light up and glow.

“So why a casino?” he asked.

“Like I said, this makes a lot more money. The hours at times suck, but I’m usually there early anyway. They always need someone for overtime, and if I’m not waiting drinks, I’m helping the tables. One thing about a casino, there is always something to do.”

“Do you like it there?”

She chuckled. “Not really. It’s … hard work. Sometimes the customers are a pain in the ass. You know, not wanting to pay their tab, or throwing drinks over you. It can get a bit rough, but the security is the best, and the owner, he doesn’t allow any other crap going down.”