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you.”
    â€œYou are most welcome.”
    The bartender mixed the drink and slid it in my direction, and I picked it up to take a long, slow sip from my tiny plastic straw.
    â€œHmmm. That hits the spot. Just what the doctor ordered,” I sighed.
    â€œLong day?” Dre’ asked.
    â€œThat’s putting it mildly, but I’m happy it’s the weekend. I need a few days off to relax and unwind.”
    â€œI was just telling my partner the exact same thing. I work hard during the week, but I live for the weekends.”
    â€œI hear you,” I said and smiled sweetly.
    â€œWhy haven’t I seen you in here before? I’m pretty much a regular myself,” Dre’ said, looking at me curiously.
    â€œI’m new to Houston. Moved here from Charlotte, North Carolina, a few weeks ago.”
    â€œOh, that explains it, because I knew I would never overlook a gorgeous face like yours.”
    I smiled. “Why do you keep staring at me?”
    â€œSomething about you feels so familiar, but I can’t place my finger on it.”
    â€œReally? I hear that all the time.” I took another sip, glanced around at the small crowd, checking out the different cliques, and looked back at Dre’.
    â€œYou have a beautiful smile. You know that?”
    â€œWell, I’ve been told,” I replied, flirting back.
    â€œWhat brings you to Houston? Let me guess. Either a man or a job.”
    â€œIt’s definitely not a man.”
    â€œWhy do you say that with such emotion?”
    â€œI got out of a bad relationship a few months ago.”
    â€œWell, we aren’t all bad apples.”
    â€œOkay, if you say so.”
    â€œI heard that.”
    â€œI’m a regional sales representative for a pharmaceutical company.”
    â€œThat sounds like a cool job to have. I guess you travel quite a bit.”
    â€œYou got it. Sometimes too much for my taste, but it comes with the territory. What field are you in?”
    â€œI’m a vice president at one of the local national banks.”
    â€œSounds intense.”
    â€œIt can be. I’m an investment banker.”
    â€œWow. Impressive.”
    â€œIt’s a job, nothing special. It pays the bills. Keeps my lights on.”
    â€œStop being so modest. From the looks of you, you are doing quite well for yourself. You must be quite successful.”
    â€œI’m not going to lie. I’m good at what I do... . I’m one of the best, and being the best has its rewards.”
    â€œI bet it does.”
    Â 
    And just like that, the conversation took off at lightning speed. I was surprised at how comfortable I felt talking with Dre’, and before we realized it, they were locking the doors for the night and literally putting us out. Dre’ walked me to my car, arm in arm, and we exchanged phone numbers. Well, I gave him my number. Didn’t need his, because I knew I would hear from him again before the week was over. He delivered and didn’t disappoint. I could scratch that task off my to-do list.

Chapter 12
    Dre’
    I disconnected the call and pumped my fist in the air twice for good measure. Like in the old-school Ice Cube song, today was a good day. I was close to signing a new client at the bank, and now, as icing on the cake, Milan had agreed to have dinner with me.
    I couldn’t stop cheesing, and for some unknown reason, I felt a strong desire to share my good fortune with someone. Xavier immediately came to mind.
    I glanced at my watch. It was almost four o’clock, and I knew he had this thing about people calling him when he was writing, but hell, I had to share my news before I burst. I was like a fat kid with cake. It had been a long time since a woman made an impression on me. Usually they were a dime a dozen.
    The phone rang and rang, and I was getting ready to hang up when Xavier finally picked up.
    â€œWhat’s up, man?” I asked. “I didn’t catch you