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She smoothed down the soft pleats of her skirt as she sidestepped a couple on their way out.
The hostess ushered her in and she gave Eric’s name. By the time she got his last name out, he was already on his feet and walking toward her. His shoulders were a little stiff and the smile he flashed didn’t offer any more comfort than the quick peck on the cheek he gave.
Uh-oh. She turned to the hostess who caught the exchange and took strength from the small smile she offered.
Her heart finally settled after the sprint. She glanced at her watch. Only a few minutes late and Callie had told him she would be running late. Juniper weaved between the tables and followed the direction he pointed her in for their table.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Thank you for waiting.”
Juniper slipped from her coat and Eric pushed in her chair as she took a seat. “This place is beautiful. I had no idea it even existed. I’ll have to add it to my list for clients.”
Large enough for a crowd of your most intimate friends and family yet big enough not to feel cramped. She loved everything down to the gold thread cloth napkins.
That made number nine on her list: Know what she liked.
Focus, Juniper.
Forcing herself to take a breath, Juniper counted silently to five to settle her nerves.
“I’m glad you like it. My parents come here often when they visit the city.”
“I don’t know how I missed it.”
Piano music filled the spacious dining area and worked at the knot of tension between her shoulder blades. Soft light bathed fellow diners in a warm glow as they enjoyed their meals by candlelight.
Tall windows climbed the length of the stone walls and offered a unique view over the Pacific. Waiters weaved in between the small tables-for-two with ease, and the aroma of something buttery caused her stomach to rumble with appreciation.
After leaving the final tasks of their client’s wedding in Callie’s hands for cleanup, Juniper had returned to her office and made record time in changing from her wedding gown to a sexy mid-thigh skirt and a soft blouse with a deep V neckline. On wentanother pair of heels and she’d made a mad four-block dash for their date.
“I can’t thank you enough for waiting for me. It took a little longer to get the last of the guests on their way after the bride and groom left. I hope you didn’t wait long.”
As they made their way back to the table, a waiter brought a house wine before moving on to the next patron.
Eric smiled and held up his glass. “A toast. To the best and sexiest wedding planner.”
He touched his glass to hers, his words warm yet the opposite of what his eyes said. They refused to hold her gaze and that wasn’t like Eric at all. That sent her Spidey sense into hyper mode.
The compliment rolled off his tongue easy enough but she caught the nervous tic in his jaw and the way his eyes kept darting to the windows. Anywhere but her.
“Um, thank you.” Warmth filled her cheeks as she took a sip and let the sweet flavor of the wine play over her tongue.
“I took the liberty and ordered while I waited for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, um, great idea. You must be starving.” Normally that kind of thing would have set her on edge, but this time she let it roll off. Her attention was more on the man sitting across from her and how his expression morphed from his earlier calm to outright stressed.
Eric waited until she took another sip of her wine before he continued.
“Actually. I thought the wine would help with something.”
Interesting way of putting it, she supposed. Her stomach quivered. Or more like dipped and made her breath hitch in her chest. Now the butterflies wanted to make their grand appearance? Great timing. Woozy and a bit shakier than she anticipated, Juniper placed her glass on the table and looked at Eric. “After six months of dating, I still make you nervous?” She smiled, attempting to offer him reassurance.
His brow creased and half of her wanted to reach across the table and rattle him a little until he just spilled it. The other half itched to grab her clutch and make a run for the back exit.
Was this what all her clients went through? No wonder the grooms were so laid back by the time a wedding planner was needed. They maxed out their stress levels working up to asking the big question.
“Tell me about your trip. How did everything go in Perú?” Maybe a little conversation would help. If not him, then her. “I really loved seeing all the photos you posted online. Especially all the llamas. I had no idea they could be that cute.” She reached for his hand, but he pulled out of her reach and rested against the chair.
Okay, then.
