Page 110 of An Oath at Midnight
He studied me for several seconds. “Fine. Honestly, I’m curious how you think I can help.” He motioned ahead. “I was on my way to a wine bar. You have a drink with me, we’ll talk.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Sounds good. What’s the name of the bar? I was meeting my friend, and I need to tell her where we’re going.”
“What friend? Your familiar?” he asked.
“Nope, Bram’s busy tonight.”
He smirked. “Oh dear, trouble in paradise already, huh?”
Dick. “Not at all. The name?”
He chuckled, amused with himself for some reason. “Angelo’s.”
We walked the block to the bar in silence. He glanced my way at regular intervals, his lips curled in what I’m sure he thought looked like a congenial smile, but I couldn’t work out what was behind it. I was usually a pretty good judge of character, but I wasn’t getting a read from him right then. Nothing but dead air.
He opened the door to the wine bar and led me to a table in the back. We sat, and he smiled again. It was…friendly. “How far away is your friend? Are we ordering for them as well?”
“She prefers to order for herself,” I said.
“Just us, then.” He stood, then strode to the bar, even though I hadn’t actually told him what I wanted.
I shifted in my seat, taking in my surroundings. The place was quiet. The people that were here mainly sat at the front near the large windows. Bram wouldn’t like this, not one bit, but we were in a public place and Ash was on her way.
Ryan was laughing and chatting with the barman like they were old friends. Finally, he walked back with two glasses of red wine. He put one down in front of me. “This is one of my favorites.” Then he rounded the table and took his seat again. “Try it.” He lifted his glass, swirling it, then breathed it in deeply, then grinned, about to take a sip.
I leaned across the table, wrapped my fingers around his glass and took it, then slid mine across the table toward him. “A girl can never be too careful.”
His eyes narrowed. “You think I’m going to drug you? Do I look like the kind of guy who needs to drug his dates?”
“I wouldn’t know. And this isn’t a date,” I said.
“We’re two young, attractive people enjoying a nice glass of wine, seems like a date to me. Try your wine.”
Such a fucking creep. I forced myself to take a sip while he watched me intently. It was nice, I guess. I wasn’t much of a drinker, wine or otherwise. It was hard, but I managed not to screw up my face.
“Well?” he said. “Do you like it? It’s stunning, isn’t it?”
Stunning? What a dick. I pitied Chloe or any other female he dated. I’m sure he thought he was impressing them with his apparent knowledge of fine wines, but he just sounded like a douche bag. “It’s okay, I guess. I don’t know much about wine.”
He sat back, his frustration clear. “But you must know if something tastes good or not?”
“Of course.”
“Take another sip.”
He was offended, and that sounded more like an order than a request, but you caught more bees with honey, right? I wanted him to talk, and a few drinks might actually loosen his tongue. I forced myself to take another sip.
“Well?” he demanded, watching me closely.
“It’s good.” Still tasted like vinegar to me.
He smiled. “Don’t feel bad, not everyone has the kind of refined palate to really appreciate a truly superior wine.”
“Oh, I don’t feel bad,” I said.
His smile widened, giving me an indulgent look, like he thought I was an adorable little moron. “You’re one of those tough girls, aren’t you, Magnolia?” he said, the smile turning into a smirk. “All bluster. You talk a big game but can’t actually deliver. Under all the black clothes and eyeliner, you’re scared out of your mind.”
“What do I have to be scared of, Ryan?” I asked, doing my best to keep my temper in check. It wasn’t easy. I wanted to throat punch this asshole, badly.
