Sean

“Are you trying to stare a hole into the door?” Grace asked.

I laughed loud, trying to cover the fact that Grace could see right through me, and took another sip of my drink.

“What are you on about, Gracie?” I asked.

She huffed, then continued polishing the bar.

“Nice try, Sean,” she said.

“Gracie, darling, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Uh-huh,” she replied.

But when she looked up and flashed me one of those short Grace smiles, I knew she didn’t buy it.

I didn’t buy it either, but a man had to maintain his front.

So instead of trying to prove my innocence, I stood and then began to mingle with the other guests.

But even as I did, I kept an eye on the door.

I’d sent the driver to pick up Jess a little over an hour ago and hadn’t gotten any word back.

I knew that if I called, Jess would have something to say about it, so I was simply going to have to wait until she arrived.

And try not to go insane while doing so.

I couldn’t remember a time when I had been this anxious, especially not about seeing a woman. A woman who didn’t actually seem to like me.

That wasn’t entirely fair.

Jess did like me. She didn’t want to, and she tried to fight against it, but I could tell that she did.

What she didn’t do was respect me, and she certainly didn’t think I was a good role model for my son.

And my money, my name, my ravishing good looks and impeccable comedic timing would not sway her.

All of the tools that were at my disposal were meaningless with Jess.

And that made me nervous.

And nervous was a feeling I despised.

I couldn’t put everything into this night, but I promised myself that I would make the best of it. I would make Jess see that I was a man who could be respected and trusted, one who would set a good example for Jake.

So, I would have to win Jess over, and figure out how to do that. Nothing in my life mattered more than doing so.

“Drinks for everyone, Grace!” I exclaimed.

The bar went up in cheers, and I looked at Grace, who frowned slightly, but only for a moment.

I’d hear about this one later, but I needed to do something to distract myself, and free drinks was a good way.

I still kept an eye on the door, waiting for Jess to arrive.

And then she finally did.

She looked ravishing, her jeans making me jealous they got to be so close to her, her shirt showing a little bit of cleavage, something that more than I noticed. She’d also pulled her hair back, but instead of the low ponytail that she seemed to favor, it was brushed away from her face, leaving a smooth expanse of brown skin that I wanted to kiss.

Instinct told me to go to her, but I didn’t. Instead I nodded at a few more patrons and then, finally, made my way over to her.

“You didn’t mention a driver,” she said.

“I have to keep you on your toes, don’t I?” I asked.

She didn’t respond, but smiled at me, the expression telling me that she was indulging me.

“Over here,” I said.

“Where?” she asked.

“There,” I said, gesturing toward my reserved table.

She frowned, but then started to walk beside me.

Once we were seated, Grace came over.

“Hello,” she said, looking at Jess.

“Nice to see you again and under better circumstances,” Jess said.

“It is. Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“Water,” Jess said.

“Sean?”

“Water,” I responded, wondering how Jess would react to that.

Grace left without another word, but Jess looked at me.

“You don’t have to get water just because I am,” she said.

“And what makes you think I’m doing that?” I asked.

That was exactly what I was doing, but there was no way I would admit it.

Jess studied me for a moment, then smiled, the expression soft, open.

“Jake makes that face too,” she said.

“What face?” I asked, not exactly following.

“That one you just made, all earnest and serious. He makes that face too. When he’s lying,” she said in a voice that I didn’t quite like.

She smiled, the expression taking some of the sting away, and then took a sip of the water that Grace had deposited in front of us without a word.

“That wasn’t a lie, it was more of a…” I trailed off and she laughed.

“Yeah, that sounds like something he’d say too,” she said, that bite back in her voice.

“You found me out, Jess. I was being a polite host and having what my guest was having,” I said, fighting to keep the annoyance out of my tone.

“You don’t need to do that, Sean,” she said, being serious.

“Do what?”

“Try to impress me.”

“That’s direct. You think I’m trying to impress you?” I asked. I hadn’t been, not really. I’d just wanted to be thoughtful, make her feel comfortable. A waste it seemed.

“The car. Sitting here at this table. What should I think?” she said.

“What of them?”

“I get it. You’re a big shot. You don’t have to try to prove that,” she said.

I looked at her, frowning.

“What? You don’t like that I called you out?” she said.

A slight smile was playing on her face, but I felt my own temperature rising.

“You think that’s what I did?” I asked.

“What do you think you did is a better question,” she said, her expression dropping a little bit.

“I did what I always would. I provided transportation for a person I knew didn’t have any. I brought you to sit here, at my table, the table I sit at every night,” I said. I didn’t expect her to know that only family or those damn close to it were invited to this table. Or that I was trying to open myself up to her, let her into my life like I was coming into hers. Or how much it sucked that Jess didn’t seem to have any interest in letting that happen.

“Oh, so you’re saying that there’s nothing special about this?” she asked.

“Guess not,” I said tightly. “Excuse me.”

I left, angry, but not wanting to express that to her.

She really thought I was that?

Looked like I had a long way to go with her.