Free Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts Page B

become. “I’m afraid it’s going to, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
    â€œYou had that same look on your face when you fell for Charlie. And for Sean. And Miguel. Not to mention—”
    â€œThen don’t.” Frowning, she focused on Lori. “Miguel? Are you certain? I was sure I had better taste.”
    â€œMiguel,” Lori said ruthlessly. “Granted, you came to your senses within forty-eight hours, but the day after he took you to the opera you had the same stupid look on your face.”
    â€œWe saw Carmen, ” Bess pointed out. “I don’t think the look had anything to do with him. Besides, I’m not in love with Alexi, I’m just having dinner with him tomorrow.”
    â€œThat’s what you always say. Like with George.”
    Bess’s shoulders straightened. “George was the sweetest man I’ve ever known. Being engaged to him taught me a lot about understanding and compassion.”
    â€œI know. You were understanding enough to be godmother to his firstborn.”
    â€œWell, after all, I did introduce him to Nancy.”
    â€œAnd he promptly dumped you and ran off with her.”
    â€œHe didn’t dump me. I wish you wouldn’t hold that against him, Lori. Breaking our engagement was a mutual decision.”
    â€œAnd the best thing to happen to you. George was a wimp. A whiny wimp.”
    Because it was precisely true, Bess sighed. “He just needed a lot of emotional support.”
    â€œAt least you never slept with him.”
    â€œHe was saving himself.”
    They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Once she caught her breath, Bess shook her head. “I should never have told you that. It was indiscreet.”
    â€œObservation,” Lori announced, and Bess gestured a go-ahead. “The cop isn’t going to save himself.”
    â€œI know.” Bess felt the warning flutter in her stomach. Thoughtfully she drew her finger down through the moisture on the bottle. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
    â€œBess, you don’t cross bridges, you burn them.” Lori gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Don’t get hurt.”
    There was a touch of regret in Bess’s smile. “Do I ever?”
    Â 
    Alex liked the way she looked. It took a certain panache, he supposed, to be able to wear the jade-toned blouse with bright blue slacks, particularly if you were going to add hot-pink high-tops. But Bess pulled it off. Everything about her was vivid. He supposed that was why he’d gone into her office to apologize and ended up asking her out.
    It was probably why he hadn’t been able to get her, or the idea of taking her to bed, out of his mind since he’d met her.
    For herself, Bess took one look at Zackary Muldoon’s bar, Lower the Boom, and knew she had a relaxed, enjoyable evening in store.There was music from the juke box, a babble of voices, a medley of good, rich scents. The tangle of pear-shaped gemstones at her ears swung as she turned to Alex. “This is great. Is the food as good as it smells?”
    â€œBetter.” He gave a wave in the general direction of the bar as he found them a table.
    As usual, the bar was cluttered with people and thick with noise. Since his sister had married Zack, Alex had made a habit of dropping in once a week or so, and he knew most of the regulars by name. He grinned at the waitress who stopped at their table. “Hey, Lola. How’s it going?”
    â€œIt’ll do, cutie.” Resting her tray on her hip, Lola gave Bess the once-over. Though less than ten years Alex’s senior, Lola had taken a maternal interest in him. It wasn’t often Alex brought a date into the bar, and Lola made it her business to check out his current lady. “So, what can I get you?”
    â€œTequila.” Bess dropped her bag in the empty chair beside her with a thunk. “Straight up.”
    Alex only