Page 87 of Silk and Steel

I don’t consider high sixties chilly, but I’m too worked up to think any more about it. The subject of our moving in together beats like the tell tale heart in the back of my mind. I can’t just bring it up out of the blue. I should at least wait until the entrées arrive, or preferably, dessert.

“You’re looking radiant tonight.”

“Thanks,” she says, ruby red lips stretching into a smile. She’s had her hair done. It falls in light golden curls tumbling down her shoulders and back. Eyeshadow and liner make her blue eyes pop in a haunting, almost unworldly way. Thediamond earrings I bought her last week glitter in the overhead lights.

I’m starting to feel bad that I didn’t freshen up my shave at least before I came to this date.

The champagne arrives, along with a steaming basket of rolls. I pour each of us a glass of bubbly. Emory purses her lips, blue eyes inscrutable.

“You ordered champagne. What’s the occasion? Did you get a raise or something?”

“Jax? Give a raise? No, we’ve just been busy the last few days and haven't had a chance to see each other. I guess I’m celebrating the fact I no longer have to miss you.”

Her blue eyes sparkle, matching the glittering champagne.

“You’re so sweet. Now I’m really getting suspicious.”

We share a laugh, order our entrées, and talk a little bit about our respective days. It turns out we both have a common problem.

“I’m so sick of driving,” she groans. “The latest shoot is at two different locations. I’ve been running up and down the coast all week.”

“On that subject, I think I have a solution that will lead to less driving for both of us.”

“Oh?” she grins. “Is it to retire to a private island in the Caribbean?”

“I wish. No, I was thinking…”

I take a sip of champagne to bolster myself.

“You were thinking?” she prompts.

“That we might move in together.”

Her eyes widen, and her lips form an O.

“Oh! Um, okay, sure!”

“That was easier than I was expecting it to be.”

“Come on, Cole. You practically moved in already. We might as well make it official. Wait.”

Her eyes narrow, and her nose twitches.

“You’re not expecting me to move into your dingy little apartment, are you?”

“Hell no.”

“Okay, then, glad we got that sorted out.” She laughs and sips her champagne. “And here I thought you were going to ask me something else.”

That gives me pause.

“Wait a minute, what did you think I was going to ask you?”

“Oh, I don’t know, specifically. I was hoping for some kind of freaky sex thing.”

That pulls a laugh out of my core.

“Last Saturday wasn’t freaky enough for you?”

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