Brad brought him a beer, putting it down in front of him. “Go figure, you two ordered the same thing,” the bartender laughed. Rob and I looked at each other and smiled. “Are you guys going to order something to eat or is it just drinks tonight?”
Rob looked at me questioningly. “Do you want to eat here, or…”
“We could go back to my place and watch a movie instead? Order take out?” I suggested.
Rob grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
Brad cleared his throat. “Okay, well I don’t need your evening plans, just a yes or no on the food guys.”
We all laughed, and I told Brad we were good.
Rob bumped my leg with his and I nudged him back. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, taking my hand across the table.
“Well, I sat at a desk all morning, hunched over my keyboard, and then went to Kyle and Whitney’s after lunch where I played with Katie and she puked on my shirt after I pushed her too high on the swing. Whitney washed my shirt. Don’t worry, I didn’t come here with kid vomit on my clothes,” I snickered. “So yeah, I’m sure I’m looking dead sexy.”
He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Trust me, you do.” His voice went deep, and I felt it in my girly parts.
I saw Tiff come out of the restroom and stop when she saw that Robert had joined me. She stared at him for a while, probably trying to determine if she had seen him before. She noticed me watching her and sent me a thumbs up. I gave her a small wave as she left.
Robert turned in his seat. “Who are you waving at?”
“Just some woman I met a few weeks ago,” I replied dismissively. “So, tell me about your day.”
“Shall I walk you through the wild and thrilling world of real estate law?” he asked with a straight face.
I clasped my hand over my heart dramatically. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Robert shook his head. “You mock me, Miss Murphy, and it hurts.”
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me about real estate law. And while we’re at it we can go watch some paint dry.”
Robert balled up a napkin and threw it at me, which I easily batted away.
“So... I was wondering if you’d like to go into Philly with me this weekend,” he said, chewing on his bottom lip as if he were nervous.
“Are you asking me to go away with you for the weekend, Mr. Jenkins?” I asked, batting my eyes. “I don’t know if that’s respectable.”
Rob laughed, but it sounded strained. “Yeah, um, I was thinking of going to see my brother and I wondered if you’d like to come along and meet him.”
Woah. This was huge. This was the guy who up until a week ago wouldn’t tell me anything about his family and now he was asking if I wanted to meet them?
Things seemed to have gone into overdrive in a very short period.
Misinterpreting my hesitation, Rob backtracked. “I’m sorry, I get we’re probably not at the meeting each other’s families yet. It’s only I promised Sam I’d come to visit him and I want to spend time with you too. But I get I’m putting a lot of pressure on this thing between us by even suggesting it.” He was rambling. I had never known the guy to ramble before. He was typically a man of few words, but now they were spewing from his mouth.
“Hey, Rob,” I interrupted. He shut up instantly. “I’d love to go to Philly with you. I’d love to meet Sam.”
Rob looked up at me through his thick lashes. “Really? Don’t feel you have to—”
“Yes, I want to!” I said a little too loudly. “Seriously. I’m thrilled you asked me to come with you.”
Robert leaned over the table and cupped my face, pulling me toward him so he could kiss me. “Thank you, Sky. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
My face flushed. “Let's get out of here,” I whispered against his mouth.
His eyes turned hot. “Let’s.”
**
We ended up going back to Robert’s house because it was closer. I had never been to his house before, so I was surprised when he pulled up to a beautiful two-story colonial on a quiet residential street not far from Adam's parents’ place. I parked my car and got out. I had followed him over and Rob was already waiting for me on the sidewalk.
“This is not what I expected when you suggested going to your house,” I said, as he took my hand and led me up the steps to the porch.
He put the key in the lock and turned the knob, turning on a light in the darkened hallway. “Were you expecting a bachelor pad like where Wyatt used to live?” he asked with a laugh.