Page 82 of The Spy Ring

TWENTY-EIGHT

Jagger

Tiffany was beautiful when she had a bit of beef sliding down her chin.

“Is it there?” She pointed to the opposite side of her chin where no beef could be found.

“No, maybe I should lick it off. Seems a waste to wipe away perfectly good steak,” I said dabbing my white cloth napkin to the corner of my mouth.

Her eyes widened as she glanced around the restaurant. We sat at the end of a long table. Next to us was Henrik’s cousin and his wife. His wife leaned over to Tiffany.

“He does have a point. This meat is tender.” The woman with the long black hair winked at Tiffany.

“Jos, maybe you let her decide,” her husband said shaking his head.

“Pierce, I’m just helping with their problem. And the food is really good. When we visit Chicago in the future, we’ll have to come back here.”

The steak suffered the most in all this as Tiffany tackled it with a napkin to her chin.

“There, it’s gone. Problem solved.” Tiffany turned slightly in her chair, giving Jos more of her back.

And what a beautiful back it was. Creamy, and having licked it earlier today, I knew it was the perfect mix of sweet and salty.

Tiffany’s jade dress was almost backless, giving everyone a view of her flawless skin.

“You’re beautiful.” I put my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my hand gazing over at her.

“The meat is now on your cheek,” Jos said pointing to her own cheek for location.

“Excuse me.” Tiffany got up and walked toward the restrooms in the back while cupping her cheek.

I watched her hips twist as she danced around the tables on her way toward the back.

“She’s so graceful,” I said.

“You’re a lucky man,” Jos said.

I smiled at the woman. “I am.”

They seemed nice. We had talked earlier just before the food was served at the rehearsal dinner. Me, along with Alex, managed to find a restaurant in Humboldt Park. Alex arranged to close the restaurant for the night, and I scoped out the place until I was sure it was safe.

I glanced over at the table close to the door, where David sat with some little kids. One being Pierce and Jos’s little boy. I thought David wouldn’t want to hang with small kids, but he’s having fun making them laugh.

It felt like for the first time in my life everything was falling into place. Even the white lie I told Tiffany this morning was for a surprise I wanted to show her on Monday.

I told her I went home to change, which was true, but I also had a meeting to sign a lease for a building I’m renting. It’s perfect. There are two floors. The bottom floor has a large window facing the street which can be used for my ninja gym, and the top floor is a small two-bedroom apartment.

When I asked her to move in with me, I meant it. Even though we haven’t known each other long, I can’t imagine not being with Tiffany.

My phone vibrated in my pants pocket. Lifting it, I noticed it was from Tenn.

“Hey, Tenn. Any news on Emma?”

“I’m outside,” he said.

“What?”

“The restaurant. I’m in the alley next to the restaurant you’re in,” he said.

---