Love, Honor, and Betray Roby, Lawson (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📖

coat and took a seat. She was starting to relax already.

“Welcome to Jazzy’s,” the fifty-something woman said. “What can I get for you?”

“Well, since I’m practically starving, I think I’ll have your specialty. The Jazzy Burger, medium, and the homemade fries.But before that, I’ll have a glass of Zinfandel.”

“Coming right up.”

The Jazzy Burger was by far the juiciest burger Charlotte had ever tasted, and to this day she’d never eaten an order of friesthat could compare to those they made here. Actually, ever since she’d married Curtis and had begun frequenting mainly upscalerestaurants for dinner, she never really got a chance to eat like this very often. She never had much opportunity to eat badly,but tonight was going to be different. Tonight was her night to do whatever she wanted, and she felt relieved.

The jazz band played magnificently, and Charlotte leaned forward onto her elbows and exhaled. It just didn’t get much betterthan this, and until now she’d had no idea how much she missed going out from time to time. She missed having the kind offun she’d once had pretty regularly before agreeing to marry Curtis.

When her dinner arrived, Charlotte ate and watched all the people who were still coming in, as well as those who were alreadydancing, eating, and having a great time. She was truly enjoying herself, and this wouldn’t be the last time she came here.

The waitress stopped at her table again. “So how was it?”

“Excellent. The best burger ever.”

“That it is. Can I get you anything else?”

“Yes. Another glass of wine, please.”

Charlotte swayed to the music but looked up when a man at least in his seventies stopped in front of her.

“Good God Almighty. Girl, you look good enough to eat, and back in my prime I woulda showed you somethin’.”

Charlotte couldn’t help laughing.

“You think it’s funny, but shoot. Back in the day, a woman who looked as good as you coulda had all my money and anythingelse she wanted. Even now, I feel like gettin’ down on the ground and barkin’ like a dog. Especially if I thought I had achance with your fine self.”

“I’m very flattered, and thank you for the compliment. But as you can see,” she said, flashing her wedding ring, “I’m married.”

“I can respect that, and your husband’s a lucky man. I’m still disappointed, though.”

“Sorry,” Charlotte said, smiling.

The man looked her up and down. “Mm, mm, mm. Girl, girl, girl,” he said and then walked out of the club.

Charlotte laughed again because it was this kind of thing that made her feel right at home. Years ago, older men had alwaystried to come at her. She loved older men, which was the reason she’d always been so attract­ed to Curtis, but not graveyard old. Ten to fifteen years was enough for her.

She drank her second glass of wine, but it wasn’t long before another man stopped at her table. This one, though, was maybein his late forties and looked good.

“So, how are you this evening?” he said.

“I’m well. And you?”

“I’m good. And if you don’t mind my saying so, you’re absolutely beautiful.”

“Why thank you. You’re very kind.”

“I’ve been watching you from afar all night, so I figured I’d come see if you wanted to dance.”

Charlotte knew she shouldn’t, but then she replayed that whole restaurant scene with Curtis and Curtina and then picturedCurtis in bed with Tabitha, and she said yes before she realized it.

The man led her out to the dance floor. However, it wasn’t until he took her into his arms that she noticed what kind of songthe band was playing. It was a slow one, the kind she should dance to only with her husband. It was too late, though, to doanything about it now, so she followed his steps and relaxed.

That is, until the man whispered in her ear. “You know, I have to say I’m a little shocked to see such a well-known pastor’swife hanging out in a place like this.”

Charlotte’s stomach churned fiercely. She was stunned.

“I mean, you’re bold, and I really like that.”

Charlotte was speechless and the most she could do was swallow the huge lump in her throat.

The man pulled slightly back and looked at her. “Oh, come on now. Don’t tell me you thought no one would recognize you.”

“As a matter of fact, I didn’t. I grew up not far from here, but I haven’t lived in this area since I was twenty years oldand was out on my own.”

“Well, I can guarantee you that I’m not the only one who spotted you because I heard two women over at the bar saying theywere pretty sure you were Curtis Black’s wife.”

Charlotte fell silent again.

“But don’t feel bad,” the man said. “Because as far as I’m concerned, you should be able to go anywhere you please.”

“It’s not that simple when you’re talking about the church. If this gets back to our congregation, they’ll have a field daywith it.”

The man laughed. “Well, if you want, we could get out of here and go somewhere private.”

“No, I don’t think so,” she said, but what scared her was the idea that she had to think for a few seconds before finallyturning him down. Maybe, though, it was the alcohol she’d been drinking.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

The song ended, and the man walked her back to her booth. “Thanks for the dance.”

“You’re welcome.”

Charlotte leaned her head back, wondered if she’d made a mistake in coming here, and then beckoned for her waitress.

“Having a good time?”

“I really am. And I’ll have another glass of wine, too.”

“Coming right up.”

Charlotte couldn’t remember the last time she’d ordered three glasses of anything in one evening, but it felt good. So goodthat when she remembered what a shambles her life was in and how miserable it had been making her, she took her drinking choiceto another level. Zinfandel was nice but soon she ordered a glass of Long Island iced tea and felt like she was on top ofthe world. She felt a little dizzy, but right now she wouldn’t trade this