Page 83 of Tempt Me

“Mila!” Cooper called. My stomach burned again at the nickname. She hadn’t asked me to call her that. I hadn’t been brave enough to try it, not yet. It was another proof of where I stood in the hierarchy of Jamila’s affections.

Dropping my hand, she shuffled around the other patrons toward them. I followed in her wake.

“Can we squeeze in another chair?” Cooper asked the hostess, who held a fistful of menus.

“Two, babe,” Ben said.

“What?” At last, Cooper spotted me. “Natalie! What a surprise. Of course.” To the hostess, he said, “Can you make it six?”

As the hostess grabbed more menus, Jackson hugged me. “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at Jamila. From the shock on her face, I could tell she wasn’t prepared to talk to my brother about us. Still, she was the most confident woman I knew, so I hoped she’d follow through on her promise and find a way to tell him we were together. She’d make him think it was the best idea he’d ever heard. Then when I told Mother I was dating a woman and would never, ever marry Daniel van der Poel, he’d stand beside me and support me.

I gave her my most encouraging smile and brushed her hand with my fingertips.We can do this.

She flinched at my touch and crossed her arms. “We’re having a working breakfast.”

My skin went cold like someone had turned on the fire sprinklers.

“Working on a holiday weekend? You are a taskmaster,” Jackson said. “Or maybe the taskmaster is Nat.” He knuckled my head, messing up my French braid.

I slapped his hand away. “Stop it.”

“Just showing you some brotherly affection.”

“Well, stop. I don’t like it.”

His eyes went wide. “You don’t?”

“I’m not twelve anymore.”

“Right. Sorry.” He held up his hands.

I tried to tuck my hair back into the plait, but it was hopeless without a mirror. Giving up, I hugged Alicia. “Good morning. Feeling okay?”

“Yeah.” She rubbed her slight baby bump. “We’ll feel better once I’ve consumed some carbs.”

Jackson slid an arm around her waist. “We’ll get you some saltines in a minute.”

She smiled, love pouring out of her blue eyes. “Thanks.”

I glanced at Jamila, but she’d set her jaw just like yesterday after we’d met Jackson and Noah on the trail. Her eyes held a hard glint like smoky quartz. Cooper tugged Jamila away, and with a hand on her back, followed the hostess into the restaurant. I trailed behind my brother and his wife.

The round table would’ve been perfect for four but was tight with six. I squeezed between Cooper and Jamila. My brother sat across the table from me.

“So. What are you guys doing way out here?” I patted my sweaty temple with my napkin. They all belonged in north San Francisco, not the south suburbs.

Ben leaned forward. “We found this place on a weekend trip down to the beach. Their pancakes are to die for. And this guy likes their egg white omelet even though egg whites suck all the joy from breakfast.” He elbowed his fiancé. “So now, whenever we have time, we come down here. Plus Cooper and Jackson had some best man stuff to talk about.”

“Best man stuff?” My brother asked. “Does this mean you’re askingmeto be your best man? What about Mateo?”

Cooper shot his fiancé a narrow-eyed stare. Ben rolled his eyes.

“Yes.” Cooper cleared his throat aggressively. “Will you be my best man? Mateo is in the wedding party, but I-I want my best friend standing next to me.”

“Coop!” Jackson’s voice cracked, and his eyes glittered. “I’d be honored.”

“Aw.” Ben clasped his hands under his chin. “You guys are too cute. Now that that’s settled”—he picked up his menu—“I’m stuffing my face with carbs.”

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