‘We could advertise it as a special service for midweek when business is really slow. Maybe charge a premium for it.’ Uncaring or oblivious, Phil carried on talking. ‘I mean, it’s not going to make up the shortfall, but it could prop things up a bit.’
Luke groaned, briefly slamming his eyes shut and silently counting to ten. He wasn’t bothered about the guys hearing Phil’s verbal diarrhoea; they knew about the issues with the bar. It was Mia who didn’t know. Mia, who was giving him a confused, wide-eyed look that clearly conveyed she felt she was missing an important part of a puzzle.
‘I think you’ve put your rather large feet in it, dear,’ Janet said to her husband, giving Luke a sympathetic glance.
Phil winced. ‘Sorry mate, didn’t realise it was a secret.’
‘It’s not.’ But it wasn’t something he wanted to shout about, either. Especially not to the woman he was trying to prove himself to. Hey Mia, I might have been seeing two women when you met me but I promise I’m not a womaniser. Oh and I might have bought a bar without checking out the accounts properly, even though my brother is a flaming accountant, but I promise I’m not stupid.
She was still looking at him, huge question marks in her eyes.
‘I’ll tell you later, okay?’ Her answering smile appeared forced, as if she thought he was fobbing her off. As the others started talking about something else, he whispered. ‘If you come to the bar tonight we can talk after I’ve closed up. If you’re still interested.’
‘Okay.’ Her gaze searched his, a hint of … hurt? Disappointment? ‘And of course I’m interested. We’re friends, remember? If there’s anything I can do to help, I want to know.’
Touched, he reached for hand, tightening his fingers around it. ‘You’re already making a website for me. That’s huge, trust me.’
‘Good.’ Her eyes were fixed on his. ‘But if there’s anything else you think I can help with, you’ll let me know, yes?’
He was tempted to tell her she could sit on his lap and kiss him again, like she had the Saturday before. Let him lose himself in her for a while. And maybe his expression said it for him, because her cheeks turned pink. But she didn’t look away. He cleared his throat. ‘Deal.’
All too soon Tony snared Mia’s attention again and Luke settled back in his chair as his friend moved the conversation on to where she’d gone to university, and why Manchester uni was better than Bath. Mia argued vigorously against his assertion and soon everyone was piling in with their own uni tales. It wasn’t a discussion he could join in with, but instead of feeling left out, he found he was happy just to watch and listen. Content with the knowledge that tonight, he’d have her undivided attention again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mia felt a sense of heavy anticipation as the last of the customers meandered out of the bar.
Just Bill to go, and then she’d be alone with Luke again. Her belly fluttered as she remembered what had happened the last time she’d stayed behind after the bar had closed.
Bill walked past her, picking up stray glasses. ‘Waiting on our Luke are you?’
He gave her a teasing smile and Mia laughed. ‘I’m hoping he’ll wait on me.’
‘And so he should, lovely lass like you.’
‘Hey, Bill, hands off. You’re too old for her,’ Luke shouted from where he was rinsing out glasses.
‘Maybe she likes older men.’
Luke pointed to Bill’s rounded stomach. ‘And overweight older men?’
‘Some women go for the teddy-bear look.’ Bill waggled his brows at her. ‘What do you reckon?’
What Mia reckoned, was she’d never felt more attractive, had such a fuss made over her, than she had today. First Luke’s friends, now Bill, all sweetly flirting with her. It said a lot about Luke that the people in his close circle were so friendly, so warm and welcoming, to a virtual stranger.
Luke put his arm round Bill’s shoulders and tugged him towards the door. ‘Come on old man, time to get you home. Pamela will be wondering where you are.’
‘Shh, keep your voice down,’ Bill said in an exaggerated whisper. ‘I think I might have pulled that lovely lass back there with the blue hair.’
As Luke turned and gave her a sweetly exasperated glance, Mia burst out laughing. She’d heard Luke talk about Bill, about how he’d taught him everything he knew about running a bar, and the affection he had for the older man was obvious.
‘Make sure you don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ Bill crooned as Luke waved him out. ‘Leaves you plenty of scope, mind. Or it would have, in my day. The hips are a bit stiff now, and the ticker not as good as it was. Still, a little blue pill and—’
‘Goodnight, Bill,’ Luke interrupted firmly. ‘I messaged Pamela to say you’re on your way, so no dawdling.’
Bill touched his hand to his forehead in a salute, then gave Mia a final wave before heading off.
‘Crazy old man,’ Luke muttered as he locked the door.
‘Yeah, but you love him.’
Luke laughed softly, shaking his head. ‘Yeah, I suppose I do. He’s been a hell of a lot more of a father to me than my own, that’s for certain.’
Mia raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re not close to your dad?’
He shrugged his powerful shoulders and she tried not to stare as the muscles flexed beneath his tight polo shirt. ‘Not particularly close to either of my parents. Phil still keeps in contact but I was always, well, a bit of a disappointment, I guess.’ He pulled a stern face, the next words clearly mimicking his father. ‘Doyles are professionals. Not barmen.’
‘Being a bartender is a profession,’ Mia argued, annoyed for him. ‘And now you’re a business owner.’
‘Yes.’ The single word was delivered in a heavy tone, and Mia knew they were about to touch on the subject he’d not wanted her to know about. As his eyes found hers, she saw frustration and sadness. ‘Do you mind if we have the conversation I think we’re about to have, back at my place?’
His place. So far they’d not been to each other’s flats. He’d offered to walk her back last week but she’d declined, worried that if he kissed her goodnight outside her door, she’d invite him in.
Now the worry returned, yet the flash of heat across her skin, the flutter in her belly … they were down to something else entirely. She wanted to see his private space. Wanted whatever might happen there, despite the fear that the promise she’d made to herself not to dive into another relationship, was looking shaky.
‘Mia?’ His concerned gaze found hers. ‘You do know I’m not planning some grand seduction? That I’ve not put black silk sheets on the bed? Hell, I’ve not even changed the sheets, so you’re quite safe, because no way does Luke Doyle tempt a woman into his bed if his sheets aren’t clean.’
She laughed at his silliness, but the flat green of his eyes told her he was upset. Hurt, no doubt, at what he believed her silence implied. That she didn’t trust him. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to go quiet on you.’ She rose to her feet. ‘I’d like to see your place.’ Walking up to him, she gave his arm a nudge. ‘See the famous weight room where you post your messages.’