Page 12 of Unbearable

“Oh, what college?”

“BU, of course. Is there any other?”

“That’s where I went!” he exclaimed. He was almost too easy. She could tell the difference between a Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard man just by the way they dressed. This guy even had a Terriers tattoo on his forearm.

“Oh my gosh, no!” she answered. She had never attended college a day in her life, but he didn’t need to know that. Rule one when picking up a man was to find something in common with them—or at least pretend to.

“You have to let me buy you a drink.”

“Maybe just one.” She smiled at him as he grinned back. “I’ll just have whatever you’re having.” He motioned to the bartender who set two bottles of Guinness in front of them. He held his beer up to tap against hers. She obliged before taking a dainty sip. Without a doubt, she could drink this guy under the table, but she needed her wits about her tonight.

“Live around here?” he asked, setting his beer on the bar.

“Yeah, not too far. You?”

“I’m just here on business. I headed back to Hartford after college.”

She supposed he was trying to impress her, but every good Massachusetts native agreed on one simple fact. Everywhere else sucked. No one in their right mind from Boston would be impressed by that.

“That’s impressive. What do you do in Hartford?” she asked, batting her eyelashes. It was cliché but worked every time.

“I work for an enviromental law firm.”

“Wow, that must be so fulfilling. Helping the enviroment and everything.” She had no idea what that was, but it didn’t matter. Men were all the same. She laid her hand on his arm for emphasis. It had the desired effect. She could see the lust in his gaze as he let it linger on her body.

Turning to face him, she let her legs fall slightly open. She almost laughed when his eyes grew wide. “You must be important if they sent you here all by yourself.”

“I’m actually here with one of the senior partners, but he’s back at the hotel. Claims he’s too old for the bar scene.”

“How could anyone be too old for this?” She leaned a little closer as she lowered her voice. It created a much more intimate experience, and she wanted all the intimacy she could force on his mind.

“That’s what I said, but he begged off anyway. As long as I’m in the lobby tomorrow in time to go to the airport, he doesn’tcare what I do.” She brushed her breasts against his arm as she leaned in again to listen.

“I bet he’s a good boss.” The second rule was to make sure he wasn’t in the bar with anyone. Who would notice if he left with someone? How long before they wondered where he was? She wasn’t worried about a wife, however. She would be back in the city.

“He’s not bad. I’ve had worse.”

“I know what you mean. The man I work for now is a real piece of work. One of those who still believes it’s fine to cop a feel when he’s near you. You know what I mean?”

“That’s awful. You should report him to HR.”

“Maybe I should,” she said, her brows pulled into a thoughtful frown as if putting serious thought into it. “Thanks, I think you’re right. I’ll do that first thing on Monday.”

She watched as he puffed his chest out a little. Men liked a woman who came across as too stupid to figure out things on their own. She’d learned that early in her life.

“I’m glad I sat down next to you when my friend couldn’t make it,” she added.

“Me too. Let me get us another round.” He motioned for the bartender again. “What do you think, shall we be bold?” She shrugged. “Let’s have a round of whiskey shots to go along with our beer.” The bartender nodded and moved back down the bar.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to get me drunk.” She squeezed his biceps this time. He immediately tried to flex it.

“Just trying to show you a good time, since you were stood up,” he answered. “I’m sorry you missed your friend, just not too sorry.”

The bartender returned with fresh beer and whiskey in shot glasses. She used the moment of distraction to slide her nearlyfull beer down the bar before picking up the fresh one. As much as she would like to drink herself into oblivion, she didn’t dare.

They tapped glasses before she took another sip. This time she drank the whiskey knowing he would notice if it went untouched.

“Have you ever tried a boilermaker?” she asked. “I had a friend in college who used to drink them.”