Aiden soon recovers and stands up too, side-hugging me. “I’m glad you made it. Was the traffic bad coming down from Lincoln Park?”
I wave a hand dismissively. “The usual.”
Aiden smiles. “When will you cave and come live closer to the office?”
“If you find me an affordable brownstone in the Gold Coast with a small garden for my chickens, I’ll be happy to take it.”
Before I can do it myself, Jace pulls the chair out for me to sit. Broody, smoldering hot looksandimpeccable manners… Well, considering the number of hearts he’s broken over the years, I shouldn’t be surprised.
The table is round, so I end up sitting in the middle between Aiden and Jace, with Kirsten in front of me in a perfect male-female balance. A server comes over immediately to take our drink orders. Aiden picks the wine and, as soon as the server leaves, he and Kirsten start discussing their champagne selection for the wedding.
Apparently, they couldn’t get enough bottles of their preferred vintage, and Kirsten is all stressed out about finding areplacement. I tune them out, especially since Jace hasn’t taken his eyes off me for a second since we sat down. Not even to look at the menu. His eyes trace my lips and the curve of my bare shoulder. I can feel the heat radiating off him, even if we’re seated too far apart to touch.
I’ve never wished for a booth table more than now.
The server comes back with our bottle of fancy Chardonnay and pours us each a glass before taking our food orders.
Once the server is gone, Kirsten puts on her best serious face, and, staring at me, raises her glass. “A toast.”
We stare at her interrogatively, wondering what we’re toasting to.
“To romance,” Kirsten says. “Aiden and I are getting married. And now you and Jace are together.” She looks at Jace, her eyes appraising. “Guys, you’re the perfect couple. You must be the talk of the office.”
Jace and I share a look, and I even manage to say something. “Well, I’m not sure Eloise and Betty know,” I say, referring to our nurse and receptionist.
“Oh, they know,” Aiden says.
I gape. “How?”
“I told them.”
“But why?”
“Why not?” Aiden shrugs. “Is it a secret?”
“To romance,” Jace interrupts, clinking his glass with Kirsten’s and then mine and Aiden’s last. We all toast and take a sip of wine. Mine probably a little longer than everyone else’s.
Jace leans into me and brushes the skin of my neck with his lips. To the others, it’ll look like a casual kiss on the neck, but he whispers, “Relax, we’ve got this.”
Relax?
How am I supposed to relax when his lips must’ve left blisters on my skin?
And yet, I feel slightly less on edge. Jace is right. We’re going to rock this dinner. I’m sure I’m blushing when he pulls away, but I give him a smile of encouragement. Jace smiles back and takes my hand over the table, then he leans forward to listen to Kirsten and Aiden’s wedding plans. I have a hard time following the conversation. I’m too busy with the way Jace’s thumb is casually circling the inside of my palm.
When the food arrives and he has to let go of my hand to, you know, eat, I feel the loss keenly.
The server drops the plates in front of us, repeating the name of the dishes. When my turn comes, he announces, “Teriyaki tofu with charred spring onions with a side of cremini mushrooms.”
I try to keep my face neutral as he places the wrong side dish in front of me. I had ordered the Japanese mushroom rice hot pot, but whatever.
“Please let me know if you need anything else.” The server leaves.
I grab my chopsticks and move one mushroom aside.
“Is everything all right?” Jace asks.
“Yeah, the server got my side wrong. It’s no big deal.”