“Of course not!”
“Well, he is pretty hot. You’ve got to admit that.”
“Yes, he’s hot. And maybe my drunken self had that in mind. But he wouldn’t do that. He’s kind of a sarcastic asshole, but he’s not that much of an asshole.”
“That’s good anyway. Taylor really loves him. I’d hate to be the one to tell her that her uncle took advantage of a drunk woman. So what did you tell him?”
“I’m not even sure of everything. The night is a blur. But hopefully he’ll take anything I said for intoxicated rambles. He’s probably already forgotten I exist.”
“Maybe. Or maybe he’s been daydreaming about you ever since.”
Amanda snorted. She wasn’t sure about much regarding that night, but of that point she was positive. “The man has never dreamed about anything. He told me so. And if he did, it definitely wouldn’t be about me.”
LATER THAT EVENING, Amanda was back in Richmond and was having dinner with Taylor and another of their friends, Serena.
Serena had also gone to school with them and was currently a history teacher at the same private school they’d all attended. But Taylor and Amanda had only been passing acquaintances with Serena back in school. It wasn’t until their ten-year reunion last year that they started hanging out.
Serena was a single mother and didn’t have as much freedom for socializing as they did. But this weekend her daughter was with Serena’s ex-husband, so she’d been able to go out with them.
They’d chosen a quiet Italian bistro for tonight since they were all tired after a long week at work and weren’t in the mood for revelry. The restaurant was one of Amanda’s favorites, and since it didn’t have a bar, it wasn’t loud or raucous even on the weekends.
Amanda enjoyed her pasta and salad and homemade bread as well as the bottle of Chianti they’d split. They were sharing a piece of tiramisu now and wrapping up a discussion of Serena’s grievances about her ex, who sounded like a world-class bastard.
“I do try to be civil. I mean, the worst thing for Eva would be for me and her dad to be at each other’s throats all the time. But it’s hard.” Serena pushed her wavy red hair away from her face. “I mean, just how selfish and insensitive can a man be?”
“Pretty damned selfish and insensitive,” Amanda confirmed. “I’m sorry you’re having to deal with him. But at least you’re not married to him anymore. That’s got to be a comfort.”
“It is. I’m not sure what I was thinking, getting married at eighteen. I wasn’t anywhere close to mature enough to make a good decision back then.” Serena shook her head. “Never again.”
“Never again getting married?” Taylor asked. “Because I’d fully support that decision, but it doesn’t sound much like you.”
“I’m not saying I’m never going to get married again. But it’s going to be a really long time at least. I love my job, and I love Eva, and I love our little apartment. I’ve got great friends, and Keith is always there to help when I need a chain saw or something hung on the wall.” Keith had been Serena’s best friend for as long as Amanda could remember. He was an engineer who still lived nearby. “I don’t need a husband right now, dragging me down.” Serena smiled. “Anyway, I’m done with the whining. Someone else talk about something.”
“I’ve got nothing to talk about,” Amanda said. “Nothing new going on with me.”
She’d sometimes wondered if there was a mischievous fate who liked to determine her life. It seemed at work again just now because no sooner had she said those words than Robert Castleman walked into the restaurant.
Their table was in a far corner, but Amanda’s back was to the wall, so she could see the entrance. And there he was. Right then. Wearing a black dress shirt and tailored gray trousers and looking handsome and expensive and effortlessly sexy.
Behind him walked in an attractive thirtysomething woman. The two were obviously on a date.
Great. Exactly what Amanda needed to see just then.
“What’s the matter?” Serena asked, obviously recognizing Amanda’s distraction.
“Nothing. Just that your uncle walked in, Taylor.”
Taylor turned around. “Really? Oh, he must be on a date.”
“She’s pretty,” Serena said. “Has he been seeing her long?”
“Robert doesn’t see anyone long. I have no idea who she is, but I’m sure it’s not serious. He’s never serious.”
The words shouldn’t have reassured Amanda, but they did. Robert had every right to date whomever he wanted, and he also had a right to fall in love with them. It wasn’t Amanda’s business. She’d shared nothing of consequence with the man. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him since that night. The evening of her sister’s wedding had clearly meant nothing to him.
Just like it meant nothing to her.
It wasn’t her fault she kept thinking back to it.
It was probably just lingering embarrassment.
Robert saw them just then. He gave a half smile and raised a hand in greeting.
They all smiled and waved back, Amanda less sincerely than the others.
Hopefully he wouldn’t be compelled to come over and talk to them. He had a date to focus on, and they didn’t need to waste time with meaningless small talk.
“Should we order another bottle of wine?” Taylor asked dryly.
“What? Why?” That was Serena, innocently unaware of what their friend’s tone meant.
Amanda wasn’t unprepared. And she wasn’t surprised when Taylor continued, “In case Amanda wants to get drunk with him again tonight.”
“I did not—” Amanda broke off her automatic objection, then muttered, “Oh, shut up.”
Taylor laughed while Serena looked back and forth between them in surprise.
“When did you get drunk with him?”
“I didn’t. I mean, I kind of did. At Stacey’s wedding. But it wasn’t a big deal. I was just letting off some steam after all the stress of planning the wedding, and he was someone to talk to.”
“He seemed to enjoy it,” Taylor admitted in a different tone. “I’ve never seen him like that before.”
Amanda tried to hold back the question but couldn’t. “Like what?”
“I don’t know.” Taylor shrugged and raised her eyebrows the way Robert often did. “Invested. Or something. It was a strange night. But you’re right that it clearly didn’t mean anything. He’s been back to normal ever since.”
Amanda wasn’t sure what she thought about that conclusion, but she told herself it was a good thing. Everything was back to normal. And what she’d stupidly shared with Robert didn’t mean a damned thing.
It really didn’t.
“How’s everyone doing?”
The cool voice with that underlying texture of warmth broke into their conversation. Unexpectedly since Amanda had been rigidly disciplining her gaze and thus hadn’t tracked Robert’s movements.
But he was standing next to their table now, giving them all a polite smile.
His eyes didn’t meet hers, and it felt intentional.