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“Then I’ll think about it.”
“As you do, mention nothing to Allie. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”
“Great. More secrets I have to keep from my best friend.”
“What other secrets are you keeping?”
“There’s a reason they’re called secrets.” She winked. “I should get going. I have to pick up Ozzy.”
I stood in the parking lot by her Wrangler. That car looked like it had seen better days.
“So you’ll call me?” I called out after her.
“I’ll think about it. Why don’t you send over the details?”
“All right. Sounds good. Have a good weekend doing laundry.”
“Thanks. You too.”
She jumped in her seat and took off, tires screeching. I stared after the car, timing my next step.
CHAPTER 5
LAURA
Istood frozen in front of James Silver as he lifted my hand to his lips and placed a scattering of pecks on my skin. Goosebumps spread from each spot he kissed. My breaths shortened and my knees barely held up. They had set our table on the outdoor deck at the Marina, and this blind date Allie had insisted I attend was my biggest nightmare. It appeared keeping the truth about my son’s paternity from my best friend was a mistake—because she’d fixed me with Foxy’s father.
James towered over me, trapping me in his presence. My heart was beating in some weird pattern that cut my breath short, and I was afraid to meet his gaze because a few days ago, I’d clearly told him I wasn’t ready to date. Yet here we were. On a date. I anchored myself to the deck and braved looking into his bright blue eyes.
His brow wiggled, and I cracked a smile. He was making this too easy for me. James pulled out my chair, and I slid into my seat, throwing Allie a dirty look.
Thankfully, most conversation at the table focused around next week’s operation to rescue a kidnapped woman. I focused on the menu and ordered way too much food for one person because it was easier than watching James scratch his freshly trimmed beard as he concentrated.
The waiter brought out our food: three plates for me and one for everyone else.
“You’ve got an appetite,” James said from the side.
“Not true,” I said. “I’m nervous, and I do stupid things when I’m nervous—like order too much food.”
“I always thought you had nerves of steel.”
“My nerves don’t work around you.”
He chuckled and dug into his lobster. I stuck a fork in one of my scallops and held it in front of his mouth. “Try. They’re delicious.”
“Are you doing that because you won’t be able to finish?”
“Can’t waste food.”
The amused look on his face was cute. I stuck another scallop on the fork and fed him another one. His appetite had no limit. James helped me with my three plates. Allie and Tristan had finished earlier and went for a walk around the deck to feed the seagulls, leaving us alone. I sat back in my seat and sipped on an iced tea.
“So, no time for dating?” he asked.
There it was. I rolled my eyes. “I couldn’t say no. Allie vetoed me.”
“Do I want to know what that means?”
“It’s a thing we have. You’re not allowed to argue a veto, and we each get one every year.”
