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But as many times as she replayed it over in her mind, she couldn’t deny it had been real. It was a quick conversation—and, true, they had mostly talked about the people they’d recently lost—but it had happened. And so had that almost-kiss.

Statistically speaking, she was due for a moment alone with him void of disaster—right?

The car hit a bump and jostled Cassie, causing her forehead to smack against the window. She stifled a groan and squeezed her eyes shut tighter. She’d spent the entire morning chugging water and feeling like death warmed up. After a hot shower and an equally hot breakfast, she felt almost human.

The only thing that kept her going was a text message from Jason earlier that morning, inviting her out to dinner. She had agreed on one condition—she got to pick dessert. He’d made some smart-ass comment that, given their history, they probably shouldn’t go for ice cream, but little did he know she had something much more unpredictable in mind.

But they’d only get there if she could make it through the meal.

By the time she pulled up to Armand’s Bar & Grill, her headache had receded, and hunger replaced nausea. It didn’t hurt that the aroma of surf and turf emanating from the restaurant made her mouth water. It wasn’t a large establishment, but it packed a flavorful punch.

Jason was waiting for her at a table inside. He stood up as she entered, wearing a collared shirt and dark wash jeans. She was glad she’d dressed casually, but the way he was looking at her, you’d think she looked like Cinderella at the ball.

She didn’t hate the way it made her feel.

“Hi.” He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. It was contagious. “How are you?”

“I’m great.” When he leveled her with a look, she rolled her eyes. Which made her head twinge again. “I’m still hungover. Don’t judge me.”

“I would never.” The waiter came to take their drink orders, and Jason could barely keep the smirk off his face. “I’ll take water. Cassie, do you want a tequila sunrise?”

“Water.” Cassie tried to scowl, but she couldn’t hide her smile, either. “Water will be perfect.”

“I’ll get that right in for you.”

“Oh, and could you tell Armand that Jay Broussard is here? He’ll kill me if he knows I ate at his restaurant and didn’t say hi.”

The waiter laughed like he and Jason shared a secret and then retreated to the back. Cassie raised an eyebrow. “I feel like I should call you Jay instead of Jason.”

“I like when you call me Jason.” His eyes lit up as he caught the blush on her face. “Everyone I knew as a kid still calls me Jay.”

As if on cue, a large Black man wearing an apron and a chef’s hat pushed through the kitchen doors with a slight limp to his walk. He stopped in the middle of the room. The man was twice as wide as Jason and at least two heads taller. He would’ve been one of the most intimidating men Cassie had ever seen if it weren’t for the smile that stretched from ear to ear, pushing his cheeks up so high you could hardly see his eyes.

“Jay Broussard as I live and breathe.”

“Armand.”

Cassie liked the way Armand said Jason’s last name, with the slightest hint of a French accent. He sounded like the woman from the plane, and it was clearly the result of a New Orleanian upbringing. Jason stood to hug the other man, and Armand slapped him so hard on the back, Jason’s knees almost buckled.

Then he spotted Cassie.

“And who is this beautiful woman you’re sharing your table with, Jay? Where are your manners?”

“This is Cassie Quinn.” Jason hesitated for only a fraction of a moment, but Cassie thought Armand caught it, too. “I know her from back in Savannah. At the museum.”

Armand’s eyes sparkled. He reached out and engulfed Cassie’s hand in both of his. They were warm, and at this close range, she could smell the garlic emanating from him. It was not an unpleasant aroma. “It is wonderful to meet you, Ms. Quinn.”

“Please, call me Cassie.”

“Cassie.” He patted her hand one last time and let go, spreading his arms wide. “I am Armand, the owner of this fine establishment. I cook every meal myself. Anything you want, it’s on the house.”

“Armand—”

Armand ignored Jason. “I owe this man my life. We go through this every time he comes here. I say his meal is on the house, he tells me he has to give me something, I threaten him, and he leaves my servers a hundred-dollar tip.” He clapped his hands together. “For the sake of expediency, let’s just get to the part where you both order anything you want off the menu.”

“Pasta.” Cassie hadn’t even looked at her options. “Your biggest bowl of pasta. Please. I need carbs.”

Jason laughed. “I’ll take the second biggest bowl of pasta.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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