Page 33 of Love Unspoken

Hayes got up then and nodded at me. "Amias, you got this?"

"Yeah." He wanted me to pick up the tab for the table. He'd been planning to do it but he I knew he was worried he'd strangle Nolan.

"I have to go, Jackson. Chérie, a pleasure. Ann, be seeing you I'm sure. Nolan, Kara…I have no words. But rest assured if you both are invited to something, I won't be there. I'm fucking done with the two of you."

I watched him leave and Ann gave an elaborate sigh. "Hayes has his panties in a bunch! We need more wine after that scene."

Chérie was not amused. "I'm tired. Jackson, I'm going to take a nap. Okay?"

Jackson kissed his wife, and she said goodbye to all of us and went to her room.

"Is she upset?" Kara asked, obviously stricken that a fashion editor of French Vogue was distressed.

"No. Just tired. Jet lag," Jackson lied smoothly.

The rest of the lunch was uncomfortable as hell, and we closed it down quickly. Jackson and I went for a walk after everyone left.

"That was interesting," he said as we warded off the chill by huddling inside our coats.

"No shit."

"Naya works for you?"

"Not me directly. She works for my VP of Engineering."

"She good?"

"Damn good."

Jackson and I walked in silence. "Nolan and his wife are dicks."

"Yeah."

"Why do you still hang out with them?"

"Habit? And Kara and Ann are friends. I don't know, Jackson, why did you invite them for lunch?" I remarked.

He laughed. "Fair enough. I guess I'd say it was habit as well."

"You want to come over to Switzerland for Christmas? It'll be a short hop from Paris," I offered.

"It'll be a long hop. We're going to be in Palm Desert for Christmas with my folks."

"The scene back there upset Chérie," I stared.

"Yeah, it did. I could tell she didn't like Ann as soon as she met her."

"Why? Most people like Ann."

"Most weak people who want to impress her like her. A strong women like Chérie, hell no. I know you love her, and I love her too, as a friend. I've known her a long time like you. But she's an acquired taste."

I chuckled.

"You still going to marry her?"

"I don't know." I can't marry her. Not when I have another woman taking over so much real estate in my brain.

"You better figure it out fast. Christmas is here soon."