Free Enchanted by Patti Berg Page B

gaze from her magnetic eyes and mouth and looked at her hands resting on the table, the finger that had drawn the line now drawing circles in the moisture at the base of his beer. He wanted to touch her, but instead touched the delicate silk of the gloves that lay near her hands, hands that were so close he could almost feel their heat. Slowly he raised his eyes. Her smile hadn’t disappeared. “Flirting can be dangerous, Kath,” he whispered. “It could lead to something you’ll regret.”
    Kathleen slowly shook her head in disagreement. “I’ve regretted very few things in my life. I’ve never regretted one moment I’ve spent with you.”
    Mac frowned and took another swallow of beer. “This is crazy. You can’t possibly think the two of us, together, would work. We’d argue. We’d fight. You’d drive me crazy.”
    “I hope so.” She moved her finger from the bottle to his thumb and lightly, somewhat unsure, covered his hand with hers. “That’s what makes life exciting.”
    Mac pulled his hand away and waved for the waiter. “I need another beer. How about you?”
    “Some things are easy to forget in six years. I don’t drink.”
    “What would you . . .” Mac put up his hand to stop her answer just as the waiter appeared. “A Diet Coke for the lady, and I’ll take another Molson.” He easily remembered Kathleen’s ever-present Diet Coke, but his memory failed when he tried to remember how much liquor he’d had this evening. When the first wave of dizziness hit, he realized if he’d kept count, the number would be way too high.
    Hopefully Kathleen didn’t notice his discomfort. He loosened his tie and unfastened the top button of his shirt. Again, he raised the bottle to his lips , but Kathleen caught his hand and took the bottle from his grasp. “I think you’ve had too much to drink.”
    So, she had noticed after all. “You’re right” He sighed and shook his head, totally disgusted with himself and with what was happening. “I’m sorry, Kath. I was in college the last time I drank too much. I thought I’d learned my lesson.”
    “Tonight hasn’t been easy,” she said, and he appreciated the way she seemed to make amends for his behavior.
    “I don’t usually sit in bars waiting for women.”
    “What about placing personal ads?”
    “No, this was the first, and the last. But what about you? Why did you answer?”
    Kathleen looked at the holly in his lapel, then back into his eyes. “I had to know what kind of arrogant, insecure man could write such an ad.”
    “Arrogant? Insecure? Not me.”
    “Yes, Mac. You.”
    He laughed. “You know, I haven’t laughed, I mean really laughed, in a very long time. It feels pretty good.” And then he realized that was the only thing that felt good. His head ached. His stomach churned. When had he last eaten? Early that morning? He rubbed the back of his neck. It was cold and damp.
    “Is something wrong? You look ill.” Kathleen’s concern sounded in her voice.
    “I’m fine. Just fine.” He tried to look alert, in control. Never in his life had he passed out and he’d be damned if he’d pass out in front of Kathleen.
    Beads of perspiration formed on his brow. How could he wipe them away without calling attention to his distress? The room was insufferably hot. He unfastened another button on his shirt. A gust of cool air blew out of the air conditioning vents and across his face. It revived him, if only for a moment.
    “It’s too hot in here. Would you like to go somewhere else? I’m starving. Maybe we could get some dinner?”
    “So, you intend to make this a real date?”
    He nodded slightly, afraid if he did anything else he’d fall out of his chair.
    He caught the waiter’s attention, calling him to the table. “Thanks for all your help tonight,” Mac said, his words slow, almost slurred.
    “It’s been a pleasure serving you, sir.”
    Mac stood, reaching into his pocket for his money clip. He pulled off a couple of bill