As they approached the inner front door of the restaurant, Bryce stepped ahead as he had at the club, holding the door open with his right hand while possessively pressing his left hand against her back. She had just started to step through when she came face-to-face with her ex-husband.
Greg was with two other men whose faces were familiar to her. She thought they were regulars at the downtown club. When Greg saw her, he started to smile in welcome before he registered Bryce at her side.
“Laney,” he said, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “I didn’t realize you were working Rosedale today.”
“Hello, Greg,” she said.
Greg motioned to the other two men to go ahead. “Grab a table. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Greg Mitchell,” he said, extending his right hand to Bryce. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
“Bryce Adams,” Bryce said, shaking Greg’s hand.
The three of them had stepped back and to the side of the hostess area so as not to block incoming patrons. Bryce positioned himself close to Laney’s side, his left hand still resting on her back in that possessive way he had. Laney could see from the expression in Greg’s green eyes that he had picked up on the body language. Good, she thought, staying put instead of moving away from Bryce’s touch. Let him think something is going on even though nothing is. Maybe that will make him leave me alone.
“Bryce is Doris and Ed Davidson’s grandson,” Laney said. “He’s in town to get their house ready to list.”
“You’re staying next door?” Laney almost laughed at Greg’s expression.
“Sure am,” Bryce said. “Laney’s been showing me around. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“You know each other?”
“Laney was my babysitter when my mother and I lived with my grandparents,” Bryce said. “My favorite babysitter, I might add.”
He slid his hand up to her shoulder and draped his arm casually around her.
“We need to get going,” Laney said, making a point of glancing at her watch. “I need to get back to work.”
“Sure, sure,” Greg said, stepping back. “Same here. Nice meeting you, Mr. Adams.”
“Nice meeting you, too, Greg,” he said. “It gives me a chance to thank you.”
“Thank me?” Greg was puzzled. “For what?”
“For being a fool and setting this woman free,” Bryce said. “I really appreciate it.”
Greg’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Bryce winked at him, pushed the door open with his right hand, and with his left arm still around Laney’s shoulders, escorted her out of the restaurant.
Greg was with two other men whose faces were familiar to her. She thought they were regulars at the downtown club. When Greg saw her, he started to smile in welcome before he registered Bryce at her side.
“Laney,” he said, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “I didn’t realize you were working Rosedale today.”
“Hello, Greg,” she said.
Greg motioned to the other two men to go ahead. “Grab a table. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Greg Mitchell,” he said, extending his right hand to Bryce. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
“Bryce Adams,” Bryce said, shaking Greg’s hand.
The three of them had stepped back and to the side of the hostess area so as not to block incoming patrons. Bryce positioned himself close to Laney’s side, his left hand still resting on her back in that possessive way he had. Laney could see from the expression in Greg’s green eyes that he had picked up on the body language. Good, she thought, staying put instead of moving away from Bryce’s touch. Let him think something is going on even though nothing is. Maybe that will make him leave me alone.
“Bryce is Doris and Ed Davidson’s grandson,” Laney said. “He’s in town to get their house ready to list.”
“You’re staying next door?” Laney almost laughed at Greg’s expression.
“Sure am,” Bryce said. “Laney’s been showing me around. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“You know each other?”
“Laney was my babysitter when my mother and I lived with my grandparents,” Bryce said. “My favorite babysitter, I might add.”
He slid his hand up to her shoulder and draped his arm casually around her.
“We need to get going,” Laney said, making a point of glancing at her watch. “I need to get back to work.”
“Sure, sure,” Greg said, stepping back. “Same here. Nice meeting you, Mr. Adams.”
“Nice meeting you, too, Greg,” he said. “It gives me a chance to thank you.”
“Thank me?” Greg was puzzled. “For what?”
“For being a fool and setting this woman free,” Bryce said. “I really appreciate it.”
Greg’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Bryce winked at him, pushed the door open with his right hand, and with his left arm still around Laney’s shoulders, escorted her out of the restaurant.
