I sat in my mortification, waiting for him to say something. Anything. But he didn’t. He sat back in his chair, and watched me for a minute. It was the longest minute of my day, and I’d had some long minutes today. Finally, he said, “You don’t look like shit.”
Cocking my head, I asked, “Out of everything I just said, that’s what you focus on?”
He shrugged. “Seemed like the most important thing to mention at this point.” Leaning forward, he added, “Th
at, and the fact your ex is a dick. And that you can do so much better than him.”
My belly fluttered, and I relaxed a little. “Yeah, I can,” I said softly.
“What did you do at the gym?”
“Huh?” I wasn’t sure what he meant.
Gesturing with his hand, he explained, “You said you couldn’t unkink your knots at the gym. What exercise did you do?”
“Oh, that…I did a Body Combat class.”
“A what?”
“It’s one of those classes with karate and kickboxing type moves. It’s supposed to be awesome to burn calories.”
He scowled as he ran his gaze over my body. “I don’t think that’s anything you need to worry about.”
A thrill ran through me at his words, even if I did disagree with him. I opened my mouth to speak when the waitress approached. “Can I get you something to eat?” she asked me.
I smiled at her and nodded. “Yes, please. I’m starving. Can I please get one of your beef burgers with salad, and cheese, but hold the tomato, and add avocado. And can I have it without the barbeque sauce but add honey mustard, please?”
She scribbled all that down, and asked, “A drink? And do you want chips, too?”
“Oh, honey, I really do want chips with that, but hell, I know you’ll know exactly what I’m saying when I say to you that even though today is the kind of day I need chips, I am so far from needing them that I’ll have to say no. And, yes, can I please have some water?”
She nodded at me, and said, “I hear you. Boy, do I hear you.” Looking at Griff, she muttered, “Our men have no idea how easy they have it.”
I laughed.
He didn’t.
I wonder if he’s always this serious?
“You want anything else?” she asked him as she collected his empty plate.
He shook his head. “No, thanks.”
A man with manners. I liked that.
“I’ll have this out to you soon,” she said to me, and then she was gone. And I was left with Griff who was watching me with a look I couldn’t pick.
Deciding I needed a moment, I excused myself. “I’ll be back; just gotta use the ladies,” I said, and didn’t give him a chance to say anything before heading in the direction of the bathroom. I hoped he’d still be at the table when I returned.
Five minutes later, as I was washing my hands, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Goodness, I needed some lipstick. But I had the issue of food. I hated eating when I had a full set of lips on. But, damn, I had a gorgeous man sitting across from me. And what woman wants to sit in front of a hot guy looking washed out?
I rested my hands on the sink and took a deep breath. He’d already seen me without the lipstick so really, what was the point of even worrying about this? Besides, after Tommy had trashed my heart, I’d promised myself I’d never date a man again who was more concerned about my appearance than my feelings.
Time to respect myself.
Griff might be drop dead gorgeous, and I might be interested in him, but if he preferred a woman who always had colour on her lips, he wasn’t the man for me.
I grabbed my bag and exited the bathroom. When I found him still sitting at the table, my heart did a little dance of happiness.