I smiled at him. “Looks like you’ve had a long day.”
“Don’t I always,” he said, taking a seat at the dining room table across from me. “How was your day? Natalie didn’t drive you too crazy, did she? I see you took me up on having a casual Tuesday.”
I laughed, hoping it didn’t really sound as strained as I thought it did. “No…She’s uhm…studying. And yeah thanks, it’s nice to be out of a suit once in a while.”
“My poor girl. She’s been studying all day, hasn’t she?”
“No…she…she went to work out for a little while earlier.”
“Well, let me see if she’s up to going out for dinner. I could use a nice meal, and I’m sure she could too. In fact, why don’t you join us?”
I swallowed. My only plans for the rest of the day had involved going back home and taking several cold showers while trying to force the images of Natalie and those poses out of my head.
“No, that’s all right, sir,” I said, trying to politely decline and disguise the panic in my voice.
But Speaker Finley waved his hand dismissively. “Nonsense. I won’t take no for an answer. It’s my treat, to thank you again for your services.”
* * *
“Right this way,” the waitress said.
Speaker Finley, Natalie, and I followed her through the restaurant, where she led us to a table for three. Once we reached the table, I faltered for a moment, trying to decide which seat to take. Two chairs were on one side of the table, and a single chair was on the other side. I hurriedly approached the single chair, so that Speaker Finley could sit beside his daughter. Once we all took our seats though, I knew I’d made a mistake. I’d been reluctant to sit next to Natalie, but failed to realize sitting across from her was a worse idea because she would be plainly in my view for the whole dinner. I’d have to carefully control my expressions, because God forbid Speaker Finley saw the lust in my eyes when I looked at his little princess.
It was going to be a long evening, to say the least.
“Can I start you all off with something to drink?” the waitress said, smiling amicably at us all.
“I’ll just take water,” Natalie said.
“Same for me,” I said. Natalie met my gaze briefly, and I averted my eyes to the menu although I wasn’t really reading it.
“Water?” Speaker Finley said. “You two are going to make me look bad! Oh, what the hell. Give me a beer.”
The waitress winked. “Coming right up, sir.”
“Looks like you have an admirer,” Natalie teased, nudging her father’s arm with her elbow.
“Oh, nonsense. I’m too old for those shenanigans,” he said.
“No you’re not, Dad. I’m sure lots of women would be more than willing to be your future first lady.”
“Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves, dear,” Speaker Finley said with a chuckle. He pulled a pair of eye-glasses from the pocket of his shirt. “Besides, you’re the one who should be keeping your eyes open for prospects. You don’t want to wind up old and alone. You’re far too pretty for that.”
“Oh Dad,” Natalie said, exasperated.
My mouth having suddenly grown dry, I looked around, wishing the waitress would come back with our drinks already.
“What about you, Colt?”
“Huh?” My eyebrows shot up. I looked across the table at Speaker Finley, noticing that he was staring at me.
“Anyone special in your life? Strappingly handsome young lad like you must have somebody.”
Right on time, the waitress returned with our drinks, sparing me from answering. “Are you all ready to order, or do you need more time?”
“More time, please. My eyes haven’t even adjusted to this dim lighting yet!” Speaker Finley said.
The waitress laughed as if he had just said the funniest thing in the world, making it seem that Natalie had a point. Either the waitress was being flirtatious, or she was simply being extra nice because she recognized Speaker Finley and wanted to be left a hefty tip.