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“Amaretto”

Just then, the bartender sets a frosty eous stranger I realize then he never told me his name

“Get her another,” he tells the bartender

I should refuse I cao, and I still haven’t eaten lunch I knoithout looking that dinnerti to fill my stoer is buyingto smile at him, partake, and continue to stare my fill

“Thank you,” I murmur

When the bartender steps away to eous man cocks his head “Has anyone ever made you furious beyond words?”

I consider his question While I had a college roommate who came close once… “No”

But disappointed me? Oh, yeah All the time

“So you don’t have any advice?” He gulps half his beer, giving no hint that he’s actually enjoying it on the way down

“Other than to say it’s not s it in booze, no”

He grunts before he downs uessed you’ve never been that angry You’ve got a halo”

“What does that mean?”

“The overhead lights reflect off all your shiny blond hair When I walked in the door, it was the first thing I noticed Makes you look like you have a halo” His eyes narrow again “You’ve got an angelic face to match”

Is that a compliment or a sneer?

The bartender sets my fresh drink beside the empty one, then sweeps the first tu at hiser

“I’ue

He raises an inky black brow and studies aze “You’re under twenty-five You have a steady job Your apartment is somewhere between clean and spotless You’ve probably never hadticket And”—he leans in, dark eyes drilling down through mine as if he can read my mind or see into my soul—“I’ll bet you’ve had fewer than five lovers You’ve definitely never had a one-night stand Where I coel”

My uess so much about me? “What makes you think all that?”

“More than fifteen years in law enforce to try convincing ?”

“This isn’t about me” I clear ry, and I asked if you were okay If you don’t want anyone to care, then I won’t”

Finally, he slides onto the stool next to h close toexcept him