Having dinner with Jude wasn't what made her uncomfortable. She couldn't take her eyes off him, so she understood why others wouldn't be able to either. What really made her uncomfortable was the number of forks on the table. She had never eaten at such a fancy restaurant before and didn't want to look stupid. Especially not in frontofJude.
Returning again, the waiter set down a silver basket with a linen-wrapped loaf of bread and two small bowls, each filled with a rounded scoop ofbutter.
"This is our famous house-made rosemary bread," the waiter said. "You have your choice of our sun-dried tomato butter or the champagne brie. I think you'llenjoyboth."
As soon as he left, Jude unwrapped the bread and offered Lucky apiece.
"You have to try those, they're amazing,"hesaid.
"You've eaten herebefore?"
"Yup, we stay here every time we play in Dallas. It's Stan'shometown."
"No, it's not," she said,laughing.
"You never know. All I know is that's one bad-ass old man. Alwayshasbeen."
Wanting to taste the champagne brie first, she spread the smooth white cream onto the bread. It was light, slightly sweet and mild tasting but amazing. Next she grabbed another piece of bread and smoothed on a dollop of the red-fleckedbutter.
The sun-dried tomato butter had a more savory and heavier flavor than the champagne brie but was equally as tasty. The warm rosemary bread complemented them both with its delicate herb flavor. Lucky would've been happy just filling up on thebread.
As the night went on, they could hear Kat with Ross and Mark getting louder at the bar. Some of the restaurant patrons shot them dirty looks and Kat responded by giving them thefinger.
"I've seen how this turns out. What do you say we ask them to pack our food and eat in my room?" Judeasked.
"Sounds good. I'm embarrassed for them already, I don't need it to getworse."
Once they were in Jude's room, which was just as lavish as Lucky's, he unpacked their dinner of steaks, roasted asparagus, and a special baked dish of thinly sliced potatoes layered in a jalapeño cheese sauce on the coffeetable.
"Hey, they must've made a mistake, there's a bottle of wine in here.Wantsome?"
"Okay, I'll try it," Lucky said as she sat on the floor next to Jude as he poured the wine into hotelglasses.
Lucky thought it was the best meal she ever ate, but she knew the company had a lot to do with it. She probably would've been just as happy eating at McDonald's with him. As they finished their meal, Jude turned on the TV and found an oldmovie.
Sitting on the couch, Jude turned to her. The gold in his green eyes sparkled, but she wasn't sure if that was just the wine. His expression was playful and serious at the same time and the slightest smile played onhislips.
"You're too far, come closer," he said, patting the cushionbesidehim.
She sat next to him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. When she leaned into him, making herself more comfortable, his arm slid so it pressed against her back and his hand rested on her hip. She thought she was in heaven. Curling up with Jude on the couch in front of the TV was easily the most romantic thing that had ever happened toLucky.
The movie was boring and between that, the long bus ride, the heavy meal, and the wine, she felt her eyelids get heavy. She hated missing what happened at the end of the movies though, no matter how dulltheywere.
As she struggled to stay awake, her head slowly slipped down from his chest to his lap. He moved her hair back from her face and slowly stroked her cheek until she fellasleep.
Opening her eyes, Lucky noticed the purple-blue sky through the open drapes and wondered how long she had been asleep. The TV was still on and she could hear Jude breathing steadily. Lucky lifted her head from Jude's lap and looked up at him, his head resting on the back of the couch, his eyes closed, his arm stillholdingher.
Rubbing her eyes, she felt out of sorts. It took her a few minutes to remember what city they were in. Taking in the opulence of the room, she remembered Stan saying he was fromDallas.
She knew there was no rush. Their show that night was hours away, and it wasn't even morning. Stan wanted to hit the road immediately after because Phoenix was such a long haul. Looking back up at Jude, she wondered why he slept like that instead of wakingherup.
He groaned and moved his head side to side and began massaging his neck. Feeling even worse since he was in pain, she stood up and grabbed the hand that was still onherhip.
"Come on, you'll feel better with some sleep," she whispered, not sure he was reallyawake.
As he followed her into the bedroom, he yawned, then collapsed on the bed fully dressed. She drew the curtains and got into bed with him and as she closed her eyes, she felt him move closer to her and fit his body alongside hers. Certain he didn't know who she was, she didn't sayanything.
"Good night, Olivia," he whispered in her ear before falling backasleep.
She lay there listening to her speeding heartbeat, with his warm body next to hers, believing her life couldn't get anybetter.
