When Grace pushed through the front door, she spotted Dex wavingat her from the back. She could feel the cool air whoosh through the small,hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant as the door closed behind her. They’ddecided to meet there because it was a gem frequented by mostly locals.
She shrugged off her jacket as she strode through the small aisleand tossed it into the booth before she slid in. “Okay. Give me the fullstory.” She sure hoped there was more than Dex had already told her. At leastbetter than the last date. Even though she didn’t see a perfect fit for Dex inElena, she’d thought they’d at least have something in common.
“The night started well. We had some good conversation.”
Oh no. This didn’t sound good. “I see a but coming.”
Dex smiled and held up a finger. “As I said on the phone, Elenapeppered me with questions about my job most of the night.”
Okay. That was a good sign. “She was interested in what you do.That was nice, right?”
“It was.” Dex nodded. “She genuinely seemed interested as I toldher about the different kinds of plants, trees, and shrubs that work well inthe area. And she seemed to have some horticultural knowledge as well. I thinkshe said she’d taken a class in college. But when I went into irrigation, hereyes glazed over.”
“You didn’t. Dex, I told you just minimal information about yourjob. Women don’t want to hear about digging in the dirt.”
“She asked.” Dex raised her eyebrows. “When I mentioned that Ialso do Christmas-light decorating in the off season, she perked right up. Saidthat she loves Christmas lights and that’s one of the places she gets herinspiration.” She threw her arms in the air. “The vivid colors bring vision toher art.” Dex’s tone lilted up and turned playfully sarcastic.
“She really said that?”
“Yep.” Dex flattened her lips into a cocky grin.
“Christmas lights? That’s what inspires her?” Grace stared blanklyat her, trying to visualize the whole scene. She hadn’t seen that coming. Herconversation with Elena had been perfectly normal, and she seemed veryknowledgeable about art.
“Remember when we used to lie under the Christmas tree for hoursstaring up through the branches?” Dex asked. “They were mesmerizing.”
“Yeah, but I never once thought about them as art.”
Dex blurted out a laugh. “She showed me some of her art.” Dexpicked up her phone and pointed at it. “On the big screen, no less. From what Isaw, the wildly abstract paintings seemed to already have plenty of vibrancy. Idoubt she has anything hanging in Wicker Park, and I think I may have paid herfood bill for the rest of the week.”
Whatthe…I gave her money for dinner. “Oh my God, Dex. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I got off free on the last date.”
“But Maple and Ash is pricey. This one probably cost you enoughfor both.”
“It did. But that’s fine. She can be my pay-it-forward for theweek. My parents would be proud.”
Grace chuckled. “They would be, indeed.”
Date number three had been up for discussion, but Grace hadconvinced Dex that she’d have a great time with Ruby. It would be an adventurefor Dex if she’d just let it play out. Ruby and Grace had met at the gym yearsago. She was the best personal trainer they had and the only woman she feltcomfortable with coaching Brent during their budding romance period. Rubystrictly dated women and was also fun and spontaneous. She wasn’t opposed tobecoming intimate on the first date and leaving it at just that, fun.
Chapter Eight
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse was one of Dex’s favoriterestaurants in Chicago. It had a comfortable atmosphere and burgers to raveabout. As she got out of her car she glanced down at her black skinny jeans andriding boots, wondering if she’d dressed too casually for the night. Herleather jacket covered the scoop-neck goldenrod T-shirt she wore. She’d chosenthe color because Grace had told her more than once that it brought out thesunbursts in her eyes.
Ruby had said in her text that she was familiar with Gibsons, soDex had hoped she’d worn jeans as well. She wasn’t disappointed when shespotted Ruby sitting at the bar dressed in the leather jacket they’d bothagreed to wear as an identifier, a powder-blue V-neck underneath, and skinnymaroon pants that led to black stiletto-heeled boots. Her auburn hair swayedacross the middle of her jacket as she turned to survey the bar.
As soon as Ruby spotted Dex over her glass, she set it on the barand charged her way. Dex was taken off guard by the strength of the hug she wasswept into.
“It’s so great to meet you. Grace has told me so much about you,”Ruby said with a huge smile.
That was a first. Neither one of the other dates had mentionedanything about Grace. “It’s nice to meet you too.” Grace had given her minimalinformation on Ruby other than she was fun.
“The table should be ready shortly.” Ruby took Dex’s hand, led herto the place at the bar where she’d been sitting, and pulled out a barstool. “Isaved you a spot. Do you want a drink?”
The woman was like a whirlwind as she waved the bartender over andthen slid onto the stool next to Dex.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
She noted the copper mug in front of Ruby. “I’ll have a MoscowMule.”
Ruby smiled. “Good choice. They’re excellent here.”
They’d finished their drinks and ordered a second round beforethey were seated. Dex had learned a lot in their short time at the bar. Rubyand Grace had been friends for a little over a year. They’d met at the gymwhere she and Grace both worked. Ruby had fully admitted that she’d hit onGrace a number of times. They both agreed Grace was sizzling hot and it was ashame that she was straight. It was funny how a little alcohol made thatreality hurt less, or maybe Dex was just finally getting over her.
They both ordered burgers and, at Ruby’s suggestion,
