I throw my hands up and laugh, then head into the restaurant. What’s with people insisting on me eating here today? Though I have to say, I admire her determination. For a moment, I think maybe I should set her up with Matt. I quickly dismiss the thought. I love my brother, but if I want to be Anna’s friend, that’s probably not the best idea. He’s not exactly relationship material.
As I approach the podium, I’m thankful it’s not Lisa, the hostess from the night of Matt’s dinner. I’m not sure I could look her in the eye having Seen her blowing Nash in a vision. As I’m led to my table, I wonder briefly what he’s been up to. I’ve avoided his posts lately, too skeeved out by his behavior, but I’m suddenly curious. Something to look up later.
I get seated near the windows. The view is beautiful, if a little gray and cloudy for the late October day.
“Ta da,” says a voice behind me.
I look up to see Anna approaching, now wearing her logoed shirt and waist apron. “Wow, you’re fast,” I tease.
“I’ve had a lot of practice,” she says drily. “Had a chance to look at the menu?”
“No,” I admit, flipping it open. Luckily, something jumps right out at me. “But I’ll have the rockfish sandwich, please.”
Anna laughs. “Wow, you’re fast,” she teases.
“Well, I have had a lot of practice ordering,” I joke back.
“All righty then,” she accedes, taking the menu off the table. “Anything to drink?”
“Just water is fine, thanks.”
“Sure thing,” she says confidently. “Enjoy the view, I’ll be back with your food shortly.”
Once she’s gone, I take out my phone, going to check my email. My mail folder won’t open and the phone freezes, so I do a hard reset. Once it comes back up, I note I have missed calls and texts. I groan, wondering how long it had been malfunctioning. Until I notice that one of the missed texts is from Drew.
It’s time-stamped at ten this morning. Waking up without you sucks. Hope you’re having a good morning.
Hopeful butterflies spring up in my stomach, and for the first time since yesterday afternoon, I perk up. Didn’t see your text until just now. Slept like crap, but Mondays always suck anyway. Hope your day is good. My thumbs hover over the screen. I’m not sure what else to say, so I just hit send.
Not even a minute later, my phone vibrates. Drew has replied. Slow day so far, but there’s an event at six. So just enjoying the break while I can. Maybe I can make your day better. What are you wearing?
I blush furiously at his implication. Anna chooses that moment to return with my food.
“Oh god, you guys are texting, aren’t you?” she says with a laugh.
“Holy crap, how did you know that?” I exclaim, sounding guilty as hell.
Anna has to put her hand over her mouth to keep the sound of her laughter down. “You guys are so obvious. He’s back there,” she points at the kitchen behind me, “sitting in the breakroom, phone in his hand, grinning like an idiot. And you’re out here, phone in hand, grinning and blushing like an idiot. Are you sure you don’t want me to tell him you’re here? He’s not exactly doing anything at the moment.”
I think about it for a split second, until the smell of my food wafts up and my stomach growls loudly. “Hold off,” I reply with an evil smile. “I’m going to eat my sandwich, then I’ll tell him.”
Anna presses her lips together and her nostrils flare with the effort it takes her not to burst out laughing. “I like your style, CJ.”
I do feel pretty good about things as I take my first bite. It’s just as delicious as all the other food I’ve eaten here, and I savor a few more bites before picking my phone back up.
I’m fully clothed, thank you very much, and enjoying a late lunch at the most amazing restaurant I’ve ever been to.
I set my phone back down, knowing it won’t take him long to respond to that. I take a bite, chew, and swallow. And I’m just about to take another when the phone buzzes. I go ahead with it before picking up the phone.
Seriously? Why you gotta be that way, CJ? Now I have to make you a real lunch so you know who’s the best.
I have to fight not to spit out the sandwich in laughter. When I’ve calmed, I take another bite. And another, enjoying making him wait. The sandwich is almost gone at this point, so I decide to let the cat out of the bag. I pick up my phone slowly as I chew.
I don’t know. This rockfish sandwich is pretty amazing.
I take another bite, and not a moment later I hear a distinct but distant cry of, “Son of a …” It’s unmistakably Drew, reading my text message. I wipe my face and set my napkin down, turning just in time to see him striding purposefully out of the kitchen. The other tables of diners look toward us curiously, and I blush furiously once again.
Drew stops at my table, and I stare up at him expectantly. He looks damn good in his white chef’s jacket, much the same as the first time we met. “Good afternoon, madame,” he greets me formally. “I just wanted to come out and check to see if you’re enjoying your lunch.”
I look at the remnants of the sandwich on my plate. “Why thank you, Chef. It was quite delicious,” I say, barely controlling the laughter in my voice.
“Excellent,” he says calmly, folding his hands together. He leans close and talks quietly. “If you’ll follow me, we have a very special dessert planned for you.”
My eyebrows jump up and his mouth twitches with the effort it takes for him to hold in his smile. I rise, allowing him to lead me out of the dining room and upstairs. The private dining area is completely empty, the kitchen behind it quiet.
Still, he leads me out onto the patio, to an area that can’t be seen through the windows. He backs me against the wall, his eyes burning into mine. “You sneaky little minx,” he murmurs, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
The contact, while nice, shows me nothing. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I hope it’s good. My nerves heighten, and I feel a little giddy. I let my laughter bubble out. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t going to come here today, but the universe forced me to,” I explain.
He shakes his head. “You can explain after I kiss you,” he murmurs, and then his lips are on mine. He keeps it low-key, tenderly swiping his mouth over mine, playing with me with his tongue for just a moment before pulling back. “Goddamn, I don’t know how I missed that so much after just a day. So. Universe?”
“Ah. Yeah, basically my brother declared me useless and told me to come have lunch here, since I hadn’t eaten all day and clearly needed perking up,” I explain. “I wasn’t going to, because I didn’t want to bother you at work, but then Anna caught me trying to sneak away and all but coerced me into it.”
His nose slides down mine. “Remind me to thank her later,” he says. And then his lips are on mine again as he presses closer. His warmth should reassure me, but I find the lack of any sort of vision feeding my bad nerves, and it starts to override the good ones. I press him back gently.
“Before you get to whatever dessert you had in mind,” I say, “you should know I was promised cheesecake.”