When he put his arm around her anyway and pulled her in against him, a hurricane couldn’t have forced her to move even one inch away from his muscular warmth.
Pushing through the door of the restaurant, they were met by the lights, noise, and crowded warmth of Raleigh TGIFers in full happy-hour mode. Surprisingly, a waitress with menus in hand waved them right in. She led them through the long, narrow establishment with a bar running the full length of the right wall and tables and booths filling the left. The aisle was clogged with patrons who, having spent the day at desks or in cubicles, preferred standing at the bar to sitting, while a thumping bassline filled the air with a heartbeat rhythm. The back room was less crowded only because the bar didn’t reach that far.
“What’ll it be, folks?”
Shay pointed to the beer menu for James’s benefit. “This place carries beer from practically every brewery in North Carolina. Should be something there you’ll like.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, I’m driving a government vehicle. But you go ahead.”
Shay looked up at the waitress. “Two O’Doul’s, please.” She didn’t glance at James for fear of what she might see in his expression, perhaps gratitude she’d chosen to share a nonbeer with him. She wasn’t certain she could handle any more positive vibes from him without embarrassing them both in public.
Her phone rang. It was Angie.
“Did he find you?”
“Hi. Yeah. Thanks.”
“You sneak. He’s gorgeous! Is he really a policeman?”
“That’s right.” Shay didn’t look James’s way because she didn’t want him to know she was talking about him.
“Where are you? I hear music. And people. Is he taking you out?”
“I’m grabbing a burger.”
“Is that safe, taking him out in public? Half the single female population of Raleigh will be on the prowl tonight. You are dressed to impress, right?”
Shay frowned. “Let me call you later.”
“I hope you can’t call back until tomorrow. And I’ll want details.”
Shay hung up and glanced around the room. Angie was right. The crowd was young, and hip, and dressed to mate. By comparison she looked, well, dull.
She stood up. “If you’ll excuse me a minute.”
James reached for her wrist as she popped up out of her chair. “You are coming back?”
She smiled. “I haven’t eaten all day. Order me a burger?”
He let her go with a grin.
Shay pushed into the ladies’ room. When she caught a good look at herself in a mirror, she groaned out loud. She looked like a repressed librarian. But it was exactly because she hadn’t wanted to attract attention at work, in case Eric did show up, that she’d been dressing down. The only not-ugly thing about her outfit was the sexy camisole she wore underneath her suit to make her feel better about herself.
She took off her jacket and rolled up the waistband of her skirt until four full inches of her legs were visible above the knee. The floating hem of her camisole hung loose, hiding the extra material at her waist. Nothing she could do about her sensible heels. No, wait! She kept a pair of cute flats in her bag. She fished out a pair of silver ballet flats. Okay, where was her makeup?
“Here, try this.” The young woman next to her had opened a full bag of makeup. Dressed in frayed denim short shorts, a Mickey Mouse muscle shirt, and western booties, she held out a teal mascara wand. “It goes with everything, trust me.”
“Thanks but I found mine.” Shay pulled out her old reliable black and began touching up her lashes.
The woman persisted. “I saw your date when you came in. He’s hot.”
Shay smiled. “Yeah. He is.” She reached into her bag for lipstick.
“You so need this.” She offered Shay an eyeliner pencil. “I mean that in a good way. You’ve got amazing eyes but your mascara needs a little help. Here let me show you.”
Shay didn’t know why she was letting a stranger line her eyes but it was sort of fun to have someone fussing over her. She checked herself in the mirror. “Thanks.”
The woman grinned. “Anything to help a girl with a hunk in hand. I’m Carly.”
“Shay.”
“He’s not from around here. I know all the local guys. I’d surely remember him.”
“He’s from Charlotte.” Shay wondered why she was giving away information to this stranger. Except that she’d been really friendly and helpful.
“Known him long?” When Shay hesitated, Carly grinned and laid a hand on her arm. “I know, I’m being nosy but you make such a cute couple. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”