Thankful for anything that would end the deafening silence, I shook my head. "Not at all, Mr. Miller."
"Why ya alone?"
I drew back a little and lowered my eyes, ashamed of how needy I must have seemed. I fumbled with an excuse, "I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. I didn't mean to… It's just… You see… Well, that it…"
He smiled reassuringly. "No need explaining, Miss Katie. I was just wondering. Pretty lady like you shouldn't be sitting here all alone 'less she's gettin' over somethin'. "
Finding my composure, I stiffened and narrowed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. I don't make it a habit if dumping my problems on strangers."
"With all due respect, ma'am, we ain't strangers no more." He smiled as he inched the glass closer to me. "Drink?"
I looked down at the glass then back up at him. "You don't seem like the type that needs to get a woman drunk, Mr. Miller."
He shook his head with a smile. "Just hate drinking alone, Miss Katie. 'Sides, you got that look again. The one you had when I walked up."
"What look would that be?"
He raised an eyebrow and gave me the most devilish corner mouth grin any man could muster. "Like you need a drink or two."
"Maybe I do." I took the glass and drank it down quickly. It set fire to my chest, choking me. "What the heck is that?"
"The good stuff." He took a long drink and refilled our glasses as the band played Baby's Gotten Good at Good-bye. "I hate this damn song."
I nodded. "Me too."
"Sounds like ya been through it." When I nodded, he sat for a moment studying me over the rim of his glass. "Can't figure why anybody'd walk away from a pretty lady like you."
I finished my glass and let him pour me another. The alcohol was already making me bold and blunt. "Well, thank you for the compliment, Mr. Miller, but I assure you I'm perfectly fine about my former relationship."
He shrugged as he finished his glass. "If you say so."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I gestured at the bottle.
He poured another round. "I'm just glad you ain't hurting."
I smirked. "And what difference would it make if I was?"
"Well then, I think whoever did should have his ass handed to him." He swallowed his drink down in one gulp. "Pardon my French. I just think a lady's not supposed to cry for nothing in the world and any man who'd let that happen is a damn fool." He lowered his eyes. "Least that's the way I see it."