“Yes. I could use a glass of wine,” she said.
“I’m turning in, guys. I’ll see you at breakfast. Good night,” Walter said, and went to his room.
The bar at the lodge was a small paneled room with low ceilings. It was one of the original tavern rooms of the eighteenth-century inn. Hugh found them a sofa in the back of the bar and ordered their drinks.
“Why hasn’t he gotten a job yet?” he asked.
“That’s none of your goddamn business,” she answered, smiling. “Haven’t you ever been laid off?” In her tone of voice, she was making it clear that she thought he was an asshole for being so unsympathetic.
“You misunderstand me, Casey Cat. Unu is smart enough to get a job. He doesn’t want a job. Why is that?”
“I don’t know,” Casey replied with a shrug.
“You sound like a disappointed mother,” he said. “But you are aging too well to be a mother to a grown man.”
“It’s often a wonder to me that you are in sales,” she said. “Speaking of aging, when do you expect to retire? I mean, no one in your field works in sales after fifty.”
“I’m not fifty. Hardly, my dear.” Hugh appeared irritated.
“You’re hardly thirty, my dear.” That was Unu’s age exactly. “And you’ll be fifty before me. Eleven years before me.”
“Ah, well, but what is twenty-six in female years?” He smiled and moved his face closer to hers. “None of us are getting any younger.”
“You’re crowding me, Hugh.” Casey drew back a little and sipped her white wine.
Hugh checked the bar. There were no clients here.
“I think we should leave,” he said. “Together. And go somewhere.”
Casey looked at his eyes. They were lovely. He had great beauty in his face. She envied him almost. She had never been beautiful the way he was.
“Muddy brown,” she said.
“What?”
“The color of your eyes is like mud.”
“I think you like me,” he said.
“You think everyone likes you. That is a most repulsive quality in a man. I do envy you, however.”
“Tell me all about it,” he said, reaching for his glass. He was curious as to what she’d say but wanted to appear detached.
“Because you’re so free. Your movements, your speech, your appearance. You’re not marked as exceptional or different. You’re just a tall, good-looking. . . white guy with solid connections. And you were born like that. What is that like?”
“You envy that?”
“Maybe.” Casey hated to admit it. “Yeah, maybe I do. Everyone always likes you. And if you think about it, they really shouldn’t. Take Karyn, for example. You don’t like her. And she’s probably hoping that you’ll call her for a date. It’s preposterous how much unearned power you have.”
“Power? What power? Karyn? That woman you work for? She’s. . . whatever. I’m sure she’s nice. I feel nothing for her.”
“Exactly. But then why did you flirt so hard with her? You misled her. I hate that about you.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Son of a gun.” Casey shook her head. “Does Narcissus ever take a holiday?”
“You know, it’s true.” Hugh spoke gravely, switching his tone. “Perhaps people do like me more than they should. Except you, obviously. But you really should like me because I am quite fond of you.”
“Hedge, we’re friends. You know that.” She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings.
“Close friends.” Hugh slid his left hand around her waist and placed his right on her thigh above her skirt.
“What is it with you?” Casey did not push him away but edged back a bit on the sofa. She was awfully curious about what he would say next.
He looked at her squarely, then slipped his right hand under her skirt.
“Excuse me,” she said tactfully.
He withdrew his hand. “Unu?” he asked, betting that the boyfriend might be the source of her resistance.
“I don’t know,” she answered. This was true. That morning, he’d asked, “You coming back?” And she realized she hadn’t answered him. Had she done something to make him feel she was leaving him? The thing that kept nagging at her was how he’d turned down that analyst position last week but then had given up his watch and car. He made no sense. “Get the check,” she said.
All Hugh had to do was glance at the waiter, who’d been paying attention to the table, and the man brought over the leather folder immediately. He signed his room number, and Casey got up.