Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Were we in the same class?” David asked.
“I went to Trinity,” she admitted. “We actually lived in Euless, so Mom taught at Bell, but all of her kids went to the enemy school.” Bell and Trinity were high schools with a healthy rivalry. It was something she and her brothers had regularly teased their mom about. It was nice to talk to someone who came from her old neighborhood. “I’m sure that we passed each other at the stadium on Friday nights, though.”
“Ah, you are under the mistaken impression that I attended football games. You need to meet my brother. He was the football guy. I was likely studying for Academic Decathlon.” He winced. “I was kind of a nerd in high school. I’m probably still a nerd.”
He was a hot nerd, and she couldn’t forget how he’d handled his sister. “I only went for the soda. It wasn’t allowed in my house, but I could sneak it at the games.”
“Here you go.” The bartender was back, and she’d brought heaven with her. She placed a burger and some of the crispiest-looking fries she’d ever seen in front of David before glancing back Tessa’s way. “Can I get you some food?”
Tessa frowned. “No. I’m supposed to eat froufrou stuff. I’m here for a party.”
The bartender sighed in obvious envy. “Oh, they are having the most delicious quail this evening. And the foie gras is divine. You’ll love it.”
The bartender turned away.
“You do not look like you love duck liver,” David pointed out. “I’m going to admit something, and you can never tell a soul. I think it’s gross, and I don’t like escargot. I don’t care how much garlic and butter you smother it in, it still tastes like snails and dirt.”
She liked him quite a bit. “Why can’t I tell anyone?”
“Because my mom works here, and she’s proud of the food. I’m going to admit that I’m more of a Tex-Mex guy.” He gestured to the basket in front of him. “But they make a fabulous burger and fries, and I can share if you like. It might fortify you for the four-course extravaganza to come.”
Her stomach rumbled. She was actually hungry, and it was for more than food. She wanted to talk to this man. “All right, David. I’ve got a couple of minutes. So how did a kid from Bell High School end up in Brazil? Did you know your Spanish wouldn’t work there?”
She sat back as he started to talk, and the night didn’t seem so lonely anymore.
* * * *
David had walked into Top this evening because Carys had seemed to need someone to talk to, and he’d known she would be here since she always helped out on Friday nights. He’d spent the day on campus, grading papers in his office and researching his book in the stacks at the library. The restaurant his stepfather and mom had started was on the way back to his town house, and the thought of microwaving a burrito held no appeal.
Of course, he would have been able to eat that whole burrito. Instead he’d had to share his burger and fries with Mrs. Santiago’s daughter. Little Tess had grown into a stunning woman who held every bit of his attention in a way only an article on the current Chilean political situation usually could.
He also wouldn’t have ended up ordering the molten lava cake and watching her eyes close in pure pleasure. He wouldn’t have sat here and talked for hours.
“Hey, guys, I hate to interrupt you, but this is last call,” Leslie said. The young bartender had done her job perfectly, only disrupting the bubble they’d been in to bring them food or coffee after they’d both had a couple of drinks. The richness of the coffee had gone perfectly with the dark chocolate of the dessert.
His stepfather knew how to cook.
“I think we’re good,” he told her. “I’ll take the bill.”
“Sure you will,” Leslie said with a shake of her head.
He didn’t want to have to fight over this. He hadn’t come in for a free meal, but his mother would likely make a big deal out of it.
“Oh, my god.” Tessa had glanced at the clock behind the bar. “Is it that late?”
He checked his own watch. Almost eleven. Top closed earlier than most of the bars in the area. “Yes, it is. I guess we lost track of time.”
Four hours. They’d been sitting here for four hours. They’d talked a lot about her family and his work. They’d discovered they both loved Marvel movies, and she’d been surprised that he shared her obsession with muscle cars. They’d spent a good hour talking about the 1969 Ford Mustang he was restoring. It had been a present from his mom and Sean when he’d passed his dissertation. Tessa had seemed interested in both his job and his hobby.