Page 11 of Beauty Becomes You (Beauty 4)
“Maybe, but I’m not.”
“Please, you’re the youngest guy in the room. A couple of guys were going to the faculty basement. Bet you never heard about that when you were a student here.”
Curiosity nudged him. “Okay, what’s the faculty basement? And if you tell me whips and chains, I’m definitely not going with you.”
Jeremy snorted. “Well, it’s going to sound boring compared to that. It’s a recreation room for professors. Sort of a members only type of thing. There’s nice furniture, good liquor, and a pool table that’s been here since the university’s inception.”
“Huh.” This he did want to see. He’d always had a soft spot for the school, ever since he was a wide-eyed freshman. It amused him to realize there were new things to discover in a place he’d been for so many years. Blake eyed the room, catching a few curious glances his way as he did. “Let’s go.”
They rounded up a couple of tenured professors that Blake had met before and headed two buildings over and downstairs into the basement. He had promised Erin, and himself, that he would try to rejoin society. That meant more than clocking in and out of a job, whatever it was. It meant the rare social occasion like this. He looked forward to the time Erin would join him at parties like this. If he was going to sneak out of the party early and into some dimly lit recess, he’d far rather be doing it with her.
Inside the faculty basement, there were thick leather armchairs that made him feel like wearing a smoking jacket. The other guys started up a game on the green felt pool table in the corner, but Jeremy came to sit by him. There was something he wanted to talk about, but Blake could be patient. He accepted the offered glass of whiskey and a cigar.
Jeremy settled in opposite him and was quiet for a moment. “I heard you and Melinda Jenkins used to be an item,” he said.
Blake raised his eyebrows. “What of it?”
“Just wondering if there’s anything still between you two.”
Christ. First his goddamn battle scars had to be story time for the group, now he’d been lured by alcohol to talk about his past lovelorn humiliation. Being back in society was a laugh a minute.
“No. It’s over. Very much so.”
“Good to hear it.”
Blake raised his eyebrows. “Why, is there some sort of policy against intradepartmental dating?”
Jeremy laughed shortly. ?
?I hope not. I was thinking of asking her out.”
“Oh.” Well, that put a new spin on their shared nightcap.
A sideways glance. “So, what do you think?”
“About you and Melinda? I think nothing about that. Whatsoever.”
“You must think something. You think she’s too hot for me?”
“The thought hadn’t crossed my mind.” At least he could be honest about that.
“Well, come on. Give me something here. I was just about to make a move when I found out about you two. When I realized I might have invited my biggest competition inside. I heard she talked to you, too.”
Hmm. He trusted Melinda’s word not to spill about him and Erin, but it would be best not to stir this pot too strongly.
He pretended to think about it. And then he actually did think about it. Mosely was a smart guy, and he seemed ambitious enough. Melinda could help support him. Blake was no matchmaker, but it wasn’t a bad setup.
He shrugged. “What the hell do I know?”
“Thanks, man. Real encouraging.”
A surprised laugh burst from him. He supposed he really had been out of the loop for too long. He’d forgotten how to be a friend.
“Shit. Sorry.” He leaned forward, staring into his drink. The sight of amber-colored liquid reminded him of his morning with Erin a few weeks ago, and God, what a morning that had been. He couldn’t wait to repeat it. Preferably every morning from now on.
Forever. The thought should have scared him, being a standard fare red-blooded male. But the thought of not forever, of losing her, was the real threat. He would make it official and ask her to marry him, but he might scare her away. Asking her to move in had already been a big step, and she hadn’t said yes yet. She was still young. He felt vaguely guilty tying her down. Just not guilty enough to stop.
Besides, he knew better than anyone that putting a ring on her finger wouldn’t guarantee anything. It hadn’t with Melinda. All he and Erin had to offer each other was one day at a time. For the first time, he thought it might be enough.
