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“Do you enjoy it?”
“Other than the site visit I made to Grand Marin, yes.” We smile at each other. The waiter returns and Nate orders in Italian.
“Did you just order for me?” I ask.
“The chef’s menu is eight courses. It was either that or the basic tasting menu. You don’t strike me as basic, Ms. Vandemark.”
“Why did you invite me out tonight, Mr. Owen?” I sort of repeat.
“Nate.”
“I’m allowed to call you Nate now?”
“I was being an ass.”
“You don’t say.”
He smirks, his cobalt blue eyes glittering in the subdued light. “I could use a friend at CRBI.”
“I thought the mayor was your friend.”
“He’s okay.” He sips his wine, watching me over the rim of the glass.
“What about Daniel?”
“We’re not friends.” His voice is almost a growl.
I hum, not committing to a response.
We’re polite during the first two courses. Nate observes me as I choose the proper forks. Watches me down an oyster without flinching. I wonder if that’s why he brought me here. To suss out his suspicions. Not that I expected him to point at me and shout, “I know who you really are!” dramatic-courtroom-TV style, but you never know.
Maybe he’s telling the truth about needing a friend at CRBI. He wants something from me or I wouldn’t be sitting here.
By the time the main course arrives, I’m warm from the wine and, surprisingly, enjoying his company. “You’re better on a date than you are on a job site,” I quip.
“Is this a date?” He watches me carefully and I realize I walked into a trap.
“Meeting, then?”
His turn to hum. The sound reverberates low in his throat as he cuts into his dinner and forks a bite of veal into his mouth. I follow suit and try not to look like I’m waiting on his answer. I am. On tenterhooks.
“This is more intimate than a meeting. I want something from you, Vivian.”
A flare of desire blooms in my belly. “Is it my loyalty?”
“You came to my site and threatened the one thing in this world I hold precious. My work. I can’t allow you to do that again.”
“Follow the rules and you won’t have to worry about it.” I slice another bite of veal and tear my eyes off his attractive mug. I don’t have to look at him to know he didn’t like my answer.
“I can’t allow timeline delays. There are too many people counting on me.”
“And here I thought you and your ego were the only two involved.” I send him a sly smile.
“I play well with others, Vivian. You caught me on a bad day. This is my attempt to make it up to you.” He spreads his hands to gesture at our dinner while his forearms rest on the edge of the table. “Aren’t you impressed?”
I swallow a smile before it pushes my lips to one side. “I’ve been treated to nice dinners before, Mr. Owen.”
“In gifted shoes?”
