The Way You Love Me. Donna Hill

all the people there that night.”

      He chuckled. “I try to remember faces.”

      She extended her hand. “Addison Matthews.”

      “Pleasure.” He reached for his drink and took a sip. “So you’re Bailey’s friend.”

      “Best friend.”

      “Hmm. Best friend.” He glanced in Bailey’s direction, and she was trying hard not to look interested.

      “She’s hard to get to know.”

      “Not really. She’s cautious, that’s all.”

      He nodded. “Any suggestions?”

      “About?”

      “About how to get past all of her caution signs.”

      Addison rested her forearms on the counter. She faced him. “Be honest. Bailey is a wonderful woman who puts everyone and everything ahead of herself. She could use someone in her life that puts her first for a change.” She offered a tight smile and slid off the stool. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lawson.”

      “Justin.”

      Addison glanced over her shoulder. “Justin.”

      * * *

      By the time Bailey returned with the rack of clean glasses, Addison was already in deep conversation with a guy who’d taken a seat next to her.

      Bailey unloaded the glasses. Things were always so easy for Addison when it came to men. She was fearless. She didn’t care what anyone thought, and she went after who and what she wanted. There were times when she wished that she could be as cavalier about relationships; just get in them for the good times and move on. But she couldn’t. She wanted more than the momentary excitement. She wanted something that would last and someone that would make her a priority—for once. If there was one thing that Addy was right about, it was that she did need someone to take care of her for a change. Some days she simply wanted to get in her car and drive and keep on going. But she couldn’t. Her family depended on her. She finished stacking the glasses on the shelf and hanging them from the overhead rack, and when she turned around, Justin was standing in front of her.

      “Wanted to say good night and pay my tab.”

      A knot formed in her stomach. He was leaving. What if he didn’t come back? “Sure. I’ll put your bill together.” She swung toward the register. Her heart thumped, and her hands shook. The register spewed out his bill. She handed it to him.

      Justin barely glanced at it. He reached in his jacket pocket and took out his wallet and handed her his black American Express card.

      Bailey numbly processed the payment and returned his card. “Have a good evening,” she managed to say.

      Justin stared at her for a moment. A slow smile moved his mouth. “Hope to see you again when I come back.”

      She smiled in return. “I’d like that.”

      Justin took a step back. “Night.”

      “Night.”

      He was coming back, and he wanted to see her. Bailey held on to that promise.