Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology #1)(48)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Not with me. We’re just dating.” I shifted nervously. How had the conversation gone from one about my sexual interests to whether Colin and I were serious?

She smiled slightly condescendingly. The smile wasn’t mean, it was more that she knew more than me and she felt bad for my lack of insight. “We’ll see what you’re saying after a few months abroad together.”

“Oh. I’m not sure if I’m going.”

“Of course you are. What woman would give up rent-free living in Paris?”

Me, but I kept that thought to myself. I really hadn’t decided yet. “I’ll decide when the time comes.”

“Listen, I don’t want us getting off on the wrong foot. Let’s start over.” She held out her hand. “I’m Suzanne. Nice to meet you, Colin’s girlfriend.”

Was she serious? I decided to go with it. What other choice did I have? “Nice to meet you too.”

“Shall we go find the boys?” She handed me two glasses and grabbed a bottle of wine.

“Sure.”

Colin smiled when he saw me. I grimaced. He was busy smoking a cigar with Gabriel. Could it get more cliché? Had I unwittingly woken up in the 1950s? Except that his boss had asked me to participate in a sexual relationship with him and his wife.

“Maddy, honey. Welcome.” Gabriel stepped over to greet me with a half hug.

Honey? A hug? Forget the fifties, try the Twilight Zone.

“It’s so nice to see you again.” He was laying it on thick.

“Likewise.” I smiled, placing the empty glasses down on the table.

Gabriel opened the bottle and poured four glasses. “Colin was just telling me that you bartend at the Surfside Grille.”

I accepted a glass. “Yeah. I’ve been working there a few months now.” Was he purposely making me feel like I was hiding stuff from Colin? I took a large sip, hoping the alcohol would make the rest of the evening more bearable.

“I’m sure you meet a lot of interesting people there.”

I spit out my wine. I mean, spit out. It conveniently (or non-conveniently depending on how you look at it) landed on Gabriel’s blazer.

“I’m so sorry.” I reached over to help, although without a towel, I didn’t know what help I’d be. I stopped myself. Suzanne could take over the cleaning.

Colin grabbed my elbow, and I caught the look of absolute horror on his face.

“Sorry,” I mouthed.

Dinner saved us from more awkwardness. Colin had correctly predicted that the Fitzgeralds had brought in. The food was from a local seafood place near the Grille. Ordinarily, I would have dived in, but the pit in my stomach wouldn’t allow it.

I selected the smallest piece of fish I could find, and filled the rest of the plate with salad. If I was going to waste food, it might as well be something that wouldn’t keep anyway.

I listened to Colin and Gabriel talk work, and started thinking the night might be salvageable. Lesson learned, never let your guard down.

“Okay. Let’s put everyone out of their misery.” Suzanne placed her napkin on the table.

“Misery?” Colin asked.

“I know we’ve unofficially decided to leave Colin in the dark, but why should we?”

What happened to starting over? Damn it.

Colin paled. “What’s going on? What don’t I know?”

“Maddy is actually acquainted with us.” Gabriel smiled at me as he said it.

“You knew each other?” Colin looked at me for the answer.

“I met Gabriel at the Grille.”

“What?” I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Colin was trying to figure out what I was doing with a married man.

“We went on a date.” Gabriel continued and I buried my face in my hands.

“When?”

“Right after labor day.”

“Wait a second…no.” He’d figured it out. “He’s not the one you told me about when you agreed to go out with me again?”

Gabriel laughed. “I guess you owe me one, Colin. I scared her enough to send her running into your arms.”

“Meaning you asked my girlfriend to get with both of you?” He gestured to Gabriel, who now held Suzanne’s hand on top of the table.

“She seemed like the adventurous type.” Gabriel winked at me.

“She wasn’t your girlfriend at the time,” Suzanne said all sugary sweet.

“Is that something you do a lot?” Colin’s arm had left my elbow and was now around my shoulders. I had a feeling it was a reflex protective move.

“No. We’d been looking for a while…”

“Oh.” Colin started laughing.

“Do you find that funny?” Gabriel didn’t hide the annoyance in his voice.

Relief colored his face. “No. It’s that this is so much better than what I was thinking.”

“What were you thinking?” I asked.

“That you were getting ready to dump me.”

“Weren’t you the one accusing me of trying to get a ring on my finger earlier?”

“Ohhh.” Suzanne giggled.

“Considering your reaction to my theory, it dawned on me it might be the complete opposite.”

“I’m not dumping you.”

“I know. That’s why this is great.” He kissed me.

I leaned back in surprise and relief. He wasn’t upset? Colin really was more laid back than I gave him credit for.

“I’ve spent this whole night worrying for nothing.”

“I’d ask if you two wanted dessert, but maybe you’d rather do that on your own.” Suzanne smiled.

“If you don’t mind, I think we’ll do just that.” Colin pulled me against his side. “Thanks for having us.”

“So I guess we’re leaving. Thanks for dinner.”

Gabriel nodded. “Nice seeing you, Maddy. Don’t be a stranger.”

“Uh, I’ll try not to be.” I accepted Colin’s hand and stood up.

I didn’t object when Colin hurried us to the door.

“Where’s the fire?” I slipped into my seat before he could push me in. I’d never seen Colin in such a rush.

“I want to get home. I just spent the last two hours trying to come up with ways to convince you to stay with me, and now I don’t have to use them.”

“You do realize that’s the second ‘don’t leave’ speech you almost used on me.”

“Yes. But the keyword is ‘almost.’ I didn’t have to use it either time.” He put his hand behind the headrest of my seat as he pulled out of the drive.