Tomorrow night, he’d have to believe he’d well and truly caught her—but not before she’d caught him first.
“Hello, Dr Collier Nice to see you again.” Joey took his hand and gripped it with real warmth as he turned away from the door. “You’re here for the weekly feast?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he assured her with a wink. “I understand it’s Mexican tonight—and Mrs O’Brien never disappoints.”
He looked over Joey’s shoulder as others drifted into the common room and found seats at the tables set up for the occasion. “May I join you for dinner? I have to admit the prospect of a delicious meal in the company of a lovely young lady is most appealing.” His faint English accent gave his words a very definite charm, and the hopeful expression on his face was very hard to resist.
Joey thought for a moment of the evening’s purpose and reached a sudden decision. He’d been so damned arrogant yesterday—ever since she’d met him, in fact—that it would serve him right to find himself sharing her.
At least until she was ready to let him have her.
She consented graciously to the doctor’s request and allowed him to seat her at the small table while the local girls who served as waitresses moved among the guests The room was rapidly filling, Joey scanned the faces but did not see Luke’s among them. Somehow that didn’t surprise her. He’d turn up eventually—like a bad penny. But a very, very valuable penny, she reminded herself.
“How are you doing these days, Joey?” Dr Collier asked as they unfolded their napkins. “Any more luck with finding a guide?”
“I’m still working on it—but I’d say things are definitely looking up,” she replied, masking her unease with a smile.
“Delighted to hear it.” With raised brows he made a great show of breathing in air suddenly redolent of the spicy aroma of Mexican cooking. Even Joey’s mouth watered.
She caught the attention of a passing waitress. “Do you think you could add one more setting? I’m expecting another person”. At the waitress’s brisk nod she leaned back in her seat and tried to relax. It was not as easy as she would have wished, though Dr Collier’s presence certainly helped.
The doctor’s inquisitive look required an explanation. “I hope you don’t mind, Allan, but I had arranged to meet someone else here tonight as well. I believe you know him ” Her gaze moved back to the door. Everyone had been seated, and service had begun. What kind of game was he playing with her?
She was hardly aware of Collier’s reply. Just as one waitress finished setting a third place and another was serving up generous portions of enchiladas, tacos, refried beans, and rice, Luke arrived .He swept in on a breath of cool air and shut the door behind him in one smooth motion, turning to stand almost defiantly in the entryway. Joey rolled her eyes and stifled a groan. He never failed to make a dramatic entrance, and if he had planned to draw the castigating eyes of the town to him once again, he had certainly succeeded.
Dr Collier paused in the act of raising a forkful of rice to his lips as he followed her gaze to the door. The clink of silverware and glasses faded to silence. Joey felt her own face flush with chagrin and something she didn’t care to name.
Luke’s attention was only for her. Like a hero out of an old western, he strode into the room, ignoring the stares, and stopped before the table. His green-gold eyes moved from hers to Dr Collier’s.
“I see there has been a change in plans. I hope I’m not intruding.” His voice was silky and almost intimidating, but the force of his concentration was now on the doctor. Collier shifted in his seat but set his fork down calmly, giving Luke stare for stare. Fascinated in spite of herself, Joey twisted her hands in her napkin and watched.
“Ah, Luke. So nice to see you. It’s not often we’re graced with your company here.” His mild blue eyes shifted from Luke to Joey and back again. “Joey was just telling me she was expecting another friend tonight .I can see I won’t have to introduce the two of you.”