Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [62]
“I’ll buy you dinner,” Caine said.
Buddy hurriedly grabbed the menu. “In that case, I’ll have the filet mignon.”
Faith could practically see Caine gulp. The filet was one of the most expensive things listed, with a price of over forty dollars.
“And I’ll have the Caesar salad to begin,” Buddy continued.
There went another eight dollars.
Caine put on his war face, and Buddy decided not to push him any further.
Until it came time to order drinks. “I’ll have whiskey, neat,” Caine said.
“Make that two,” Buddy said.
Caine yanked the menu from him and handed it to the server.
Faith tried not to grin as she ordered the grilled salmon for her grandmother and herself. “We’d like a separate bill for the two of us.”
“Wipe that smile off your face, Sunshine,” Caine whispered in her ear. “Your dad’s got company.”
Her gaze darted to her father’s table. He was standing to welcome a beautiful woman with an intimate smile. The woman had the smile, but now her dad did too.
That was no way to smile at a client. Maybe she was an old family friend that Faith didn’t know about? Just back in town after years away?
“Who’s that woman with your father?” Gram demanded.
“A client,” Faith immediately said.
“Really?” Gram didn’t sound convinced. Didn’t look convinced either. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to join him? Because he was having a business dinner?” Gram said. “Then why were you two spying on him?”
“We weren’t spying. Dad wouldn’t approve of me eating dinner with Caine,” Faith said.
“That’s true,” Gram said. “But I like you,” she added, patting Caine’s hand.
“Thank you.”
“But that could change in a split second if you mess up,” Gram warned him.
“Understood.”
“She knows the Swedish mob,” Faith told Caine.
“They are better than the Finnish mob,” Buddy said, for which Gram gave him a look of deep gratitude.
“Thank you,” Gram said. “I’ve been trying to tell my family that, but they don’t believe me.”
“Young people these days.” Buddy shook his head. “They think they know everything when they really know nothing.”
“Even worse, they think we know nothing,” Gram said.
Buddy nodded. “Pitiful, isn’t I? And wrong on so many levels.”
“You’re a very smart man, Mr. Doyle.”
“Oh, call me Buddy, please.”
“Is there a Mrs. Doyle?” Gram asked.
“My wife, bless her soul, passed away ten years ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. My husband died several years ago as well.”
“You have my deepest sympathy.”
“Thank you.” Gram smiled at him. “That’s kind of you.”
“So what are you doing here, Buddy?” Faith said.
“Trailing you two,” he readily admitted.
“Why?”
“Curiosity.” He returned his attention to Faith’s grandmother. “As you could tell from my earlier comment, I don’t usually frequent places like this. I’m more a corned beef and cabbage kind of guy. Have you ever had it at O’Sullivan’s?”
Gram shook her head.
“Oh, you are really missing something special. Would you care to accompany me there some evening for dinner?”
Faith couldn’t believe how fast the guy moved. She’d had him pinned as a grumpy old guy in his gray cardigan. Yet here he was in a black suit, white shirt and green tie with little dark shamrocks on it. She was impressed.
So was her grandmother. “That sounds lovely, Buddy.” She beamed at him.
Buddy beamed back.
“Are you going to let him get away with this?” Caine whispered in her ear.
She shivered. His lips brushed her skin through the silky cover of her hair.
“Did you check him out?” Caine added softly.
“Look at those two lovebirds,” Buddy said. “Whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears.”
Faith shook her head to both Caine’s question and Buddy’s teasing comment.
When Caine moved his hand to Faith’s thigh under the table, she nearly jumped out of her seat.
“You okay, hon?” Gram asked.
“Fine.” She shoved Caine’s hand away and gave him a stern look filled with furious warning. No way was she having an orgasm in front of her grandmother. Faith would be in therapy for years. Decades. She’d never recover.
Faith couldn’t relax for the rest of the