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“She’s calling this early?” Cameron asked. “It must be an emergency.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” She switched over to answer her boss. “Hello?”
“Any updates?”
“Andrea made it here. I’m adding to the article from my interview with them together.”
“Make sure you talk with her one-on-one too. I’d love to know what she thinks without Lance in the room.”
Inwardly, she winced. “Will do.”
“Keep me posted.”
Her boss hung up without another word.
Chapter 23
Lance reserved a private room for him and Andrea for dinner. Aside from ice cream, Italian food was her guilty pleasure. Lance placed his hand on the small of her back as the waiter led them to their table.
Did she feel his hands twitching? His mind went to the worst-case scenario. He’d tell her the whole truth tonight. Andrea would then throw her drink in his face and storm off. The press would have a fit. He’d be labeled as a cheater. Planning his wedding with his ex-wife and his fiancé didn’t know the full story.
How did he think he could get away from the truth? He swallowed. Andrea knew, just not who Chantelle was fully. He’d convinced himself that it wasn’t her business. He didn’t badger her about her exes. Then again, he would want to know if Andrea was spending time with her ex-husband. Lance’s head ached from the stress building inside. He'd tell his future wife everything. He wouldn’t hold back.
Their drinks sat on paper napkins, while low hanging lights illuminated the secluded space. A wine bottle with two classic fluted wine glasses sat in the center along with the salt and pepper shakers. He pulled out the chair for his fiancé and kissed her cheek.
“This is… nice,” she said, draping a paper napkin in her lap.
“I know it’s not fancy,” he said, sitting across from her, “but it’s some of the best food in Delta Heights.”
Andrea folded her slender fingers on top of the tablecloth. “So you’re really a small-town boy at heart. The fancy suits, house, and car are just for appearances.”
“I like the simple things.” He winked at her.
“I can see that.” She turned and stared at the intimate setting. “It is nice. Plus, it’s Italian, so it gets my vote. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He rubbed his hands down his pant legs.
“Are you okay? You look... tense.”
Lance exhaled and poured them each a glass of the red wine. After serving her and himself, he said, “I need to tell you something.”
Andrea took a sip from her glass. “What is it?”
“Two things. One... Now that I’ve resigned from my dad’s firm, I know what I want to do instead.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Are you sure that’s best? What else would you do?”
“I’ll be running my sister’s foundation full time. I’ll also be able to do more work at the community center. I told you about the boys I mentor.”
“I know, but...” She rubbed at her brow. “You were so close to your promotion. Why would you want to throw that away? I thought you were happy there.”
“I was, but I’m not anymore.”
“I guess your mother was right.”
“What about my mother?” What did his mother do now?
Andrea sat back in her chair. “She mentioned a few things. She mainly suggested that I slow down.” She rested her elbows on the table. “Lance, I have to tell you, I’m still overwhelmed.”
