LITMIR.BIZ

      SUE SPOTTED DANI already sitting at the bar, and she squeezed between the people and the tall tables to reach her. “This the best you could do?”

      Dani gave her a one-armed hug. “I just got here five minutes ago. Haven’t even ordered a drink yet.”

      Hunching over the bar, Sue snapped her fingers and shouted, “Hey.”

      The bartender raised his hand. “Be right with you.”

      A minute later he took their order for two glasses of white wine.

      Dani sighed as she flicked back her hair. “It must be your commanding presence that gets their attention. Did you see Drake off okay today?”

      “I did.” Sue rolled her eyes. “Of course, I had to put up with Linda’s jabs.”

      “Our mothers should have a contest to see who can outshame the single moms.” Dani picked out some pretzels from the bowl of snack mix on the bar and popped one into her mouth.

      “Stepmother. At least Fiona’s dad is in the picture.”

      “You say that like it’s a good thing.”

      “Okay then, at least Fiona lives with you and you’re not in constant fear of losing custody of her.”

      Dani folded back the corners of the napkin the bartender had tossed down when he took their order. “You know I’m planning to drive down to Savannah, and I’d be happy to drop in on Drake for you. Text me your parents’ address, and I’ll see if I can make the detour—just a familiar face from where Mom lives might make a big difference.”

      “That would be great, but I don’t want to put you out.”

      “Happy to do it.” Dani snatched their glasses from the bartender’s hand and handed one to Sue. “Drink.”

      Sue took a big gulp of wine, but there wasn’t enough alcohol in the world right now to drown her sorrows.

      “Stop beating yourself up. You’re saving the freakin’ world.” Dani tilted her head. “I suppose you can’t tell me about this hush-hush assignment of yours.”

      Not only did she not have a hush-hush assignment, she didn’t have any assignment—unless she counted the one to get the name of the right barbershop.

      Sue put a finger to her lips and swirled her wine in the glass. “No questions about my job.”

      “Don’t even ask about my job…except for the new resident who started his rotation.” Dani winked.

      “Not another doctor. You need to date outside the medical field.”

      “I need to date and I may have just found the answer to our prayers.” Dani tilted her head to the side and twirled a strand of her red hair around one finger.

      Sue put her glass to her lips and shifted her gaze above the rim toward a table to Dani’s right, where two men had their heads together. “Are you sure they aren’t gay?”

      “Not the way they’ve been eyeing us for the past few minutes.” Dani drew back her shoulders and puffed out her ample chest. “Besides, they have a table, and we’re stuck here at the bar getting squeezed out.”

      One of the men had noticed Dani’s move and he sat up, nudging his buddy.

      An evening with Dani always ended in the company of men, and for once, Sue welcomed the distraction. She smiled at the eager suitors.

      One of the guys raised his glass and pointed to the two empty chairs at their table.

      “And score.” Dani wiggled her fingers in the air. “I get the blond unless you have a preference. I’m just thinking about cute little strawberry-blond siblings for Fiona.”

      Sue’s gaze shifted to the dark-haired man as she pushed away from the bar. At least he was her type. “Go for it, Dani.”

      The two men jumped from their seats and pulled out the chairs for her and Dani. She and Dani did a little dance to get Dani seated next to the blond.

      He spoke first. “You two looked so uncomfortable packed in at the bar. It seemed a shame to let these two chairs go to waste.”

      “Thank you. I’m Dani and this is Sue.” Dani’s southern accent always got more pronounced in front of men, and they seemed to eat it up.

      Dani’s future husband pointed to himself. “I’m Mason—” and then he pointed to his companion “—and this is Jeffrey.”

      They all said their hellos and launched into the inane small talk that characterized meet-ups in bars. Sue had no intention of winding up with Jeffrey or anyone else at the end of the evening and tried to keep her alcohol consumption to a minimum.

      She failed.

      Mason, or maybe it was Jeffrey, ordered a bottle of wine for the table, and then another. Although Sue continuously sipped from her glass, the liquid never dropped below the halfway point, and by the time she staggered to the ladies’ room on her second trip, she realized the men had been topping off her wine.

      She’d have to put a lid on that glass when she got back to the table.

      As she wended her way through the crowded bar, she stumbled to a stop when she saw Jeffrey alone at the table. She clutched her small purse to her chest and took the last few steps on unsteady legs. “Where are Mason and Dani?”

      “They left—together.” Jeffrey lifted one shoulder.

      Sue sank into the chair, snatching her phone from the side pocket on her purse. “Whose idea was that?”

      “I think it was mutual.” Jeffrey held up his hands. “Don’t worry. I know we didn’t hit it off like they did, and I have no expectations.”

      She scowled at him over the top of her phone. “I hope not.”

      Dani picked up on the first ring. “Hey, Sue, did Jeffrey tell you I left with Mason?”

      “He did. Are you okay?”

      “I’m fine.” Dani giggled and sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you there with Jeffrey.”

      “That’s okay. As long as you’re all right. Do you have an address where you’re going?”

      “The Hay-Adams.”

      “Okay. Be careful.”

      Dani ended the call on another giggle and Sue shoved her phone back into her purse.

      Jeffrey raised one eyebrow. “Your friend okay? Mason’s a good guy.”

      “He’d better be.” Sue raised her phone and snapped a picture of Jeffrey. “Just in case.”

      A spark of anger lit Jeffrey’s eyes for a second, or maybe she’d imagined it. Then he tucked some bills beneath his empty glass. “Can I at least see you home?”

      She shook her head and then clutched the edge of the table as a wave of dizziness engulfed her brain. She took a sip of water. “I’m fine, thanks.”

      “Really? You don’t look fine. The booze was flowing as fast as the conversation tonight. You look…woozy.”

      Woozy? Someone had stuffed a big cotton ball in her head to keep her brain from banging around. After the day she’d had, she’d wanted to let loose, tie one on. Now she had to face the consequences.

      “I didn’t drive. I can just hop on the Metro, one stop.” She staggered to her feet and grabbed the back of her chair. She’d be paying for her overindulgence tomorrow morning for sure.

      Jeffrey jumped from his chair. “Are you positive I can’t help you? I can walk you to the station or call you a taxi or

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