The Roommate Pact(62)

Angela appeared on Claire’s right side, her eyes wide as they tracked down his body.

Well, maybe Claire had been right about that.

Claire moved closer to him and wrapped her hand possessively around his bicep.

“Angela. Hey,” he said, attempting to sound surprised to see her.

Rubbing her hand up and down his arm, Claire asked him in a voice sweeter than he’d ever heard come out of her mouth, “Who’s this?”

Angela’s shrewd gaze seemed to size Claire up. When he didn’t reply right away, she stood a little straighter. “I’m Angela. Graham and I went to school together.”

“Did you?” Claire looked up at him. Those hazel eyes he adored were overflowing with mischief, and he wasn’t quite sure which impulse was stronger: see how this played out or get the hell out of there. “I don’t remember you ever mentioning an Angela.” She shrugged and glanced back at Angela. “Nice to meet you, though.”

Angela’s tone sharpened a fraction. “Same.”

“You two were at the same high school, huh?” Claire asked. She brushed a palm across his muscled chest and his breath shallowed. “Wow, what was that like? I bet all the girls were after him, weren’t they?”

Angela shifted on her feet. “Um...”

Before Angela could say more, Claire kept going, “If not, boy, what a mistake that was, huh? Just look at this guy. And he’s a fireman, too.” She made a slow pass over his bicep as she lowered her voice conspiratorially and dipped her head in Angela’s direction. “He doesn’t mind wearing the uniform during off-hours, if you know what I mean.”

“Claire,” Graham muttered. “Fuck.”

But she wasn’t done, apparently.

“He’s a local hero, too. Broke his leg saving an old woman from a fire in her apartment. Can you believe it? I guess I lucked out no one snagged him back then, though, because I wouldn’t have had a chance. A man like Graham doesn’t come around often. Sweet, kind, brave, and he’s even hotter underneath.” She winked. “Trust me.”

Angela blinked, her gaze bouncing between him and Claire.

Claire’s phone dinged. “Oh!” she said happily. “We’d better go, our table’s ready. It was nice to meet you, Andrea.”

“Angela.”

“Right, sorry.” Claire flashed a final smile and looked at Graham expectantly.

He was having a hell of a time keeping from laughing. He swallowed hard and forced himself to look at Angela. “It was good to see you.”

Angela mumbled a goodbye as Graham and Claire turned to leave. When they got to the door he whispered, “Was that fun for you?”

“So much, thank you.” On the street after the boutique door had closed, she clapped her hands. “That was the best thing ever. Did you see her face? She’s regretting turning you down so hard right now.”

Satisfaction, immature as it was, flared. “She is?”

“Yes. I guarantee if I hadn’t been there she’d have given you her number.” She suddenly paused, frowning up at him. “Wait. Would you... Do you want her to?”

He made a face. “Hell no. I’d pick you over her every day of the week.”

A beautiful, genuine smile spread across her face, and she fell back into step beside him. “Good.”

Once they were settled at their table with drinks and food between them, Graham used the opportunity to bring up some of the things he’d found on Google that day he’d been searching about passions in life.

“I have a question.”

“Okay.”

“If money was no object, what would you do for the rest of your life?”

Claire regarded him over her wineglass, then set it gently on the table. “Where’d that come from?”

Graham shrugged, the interaction with Angela leaving him feeling lighter than he had in weeks. “Just something I came across the other day. I’ve had some time on my hands, if you hadn’t noticed.”

She grinned and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “I know what your answer would be.”

“What’s that?”

“Disappear into the mountains. Maybe have a cabin near the best climbing spot, and have food and supplies delivered on a regular basis so you never had to leave.”

Graham laughed and pushed his bread plate to the side. “That’s pretty damn close.”

Claire twirled her fork in her hand and glanced at her plate. “I’d probably go around finding the best cuisine in every city. Trying a bunch of places and then promoting the best. Even better if they were those hidden-gem, locally owned businesses. What I wouldn’t do for people to recognize places like that instead of going to the same chains over and over again.”

“I could totally see you doing that,” Graham said, leaning back in his chair. “But you could do that now, you know.”

“How?”

“Start a blog or Instagram page or something. Take pictures and write posts about your favorite places around Denver.”

Her eyes went wide. “I’d have an excuse to eat out more...” She sat up and her mouth dropped open. “Oh, my gosh, if I had a decent following do you think places would give me free food?”

Damn, she was cute. “Probably.”