Page 39 of That Kind of Guy

My eyes narrowed at him. What was he doing? “Table One has a much better view of the harbor.”

He grinned down at me and my gaze snagged on the tiny white scar on his lip. Annoying, meddling, tall man. “We’d really like to be in the main room with everyone else.”

Elizabeth waved a hand. “Oh, honey, it doesn’t matter where we sit.”

Emmett stared at me intently. “I insist. Give Table One to someone else.”

I met his gaze, glaring at him for a moment before I broke. “Rachel, please put the Rhodes family at Table Ten. Right smack dab in the middle of the dining room.” I turned to Emmett with my most pleasant, polite smile. “Happy?”

His amused grin was sincere. “Absolutely. Thanks,sweetheart.”

“Anytime,darling.” I then looked at everyone. “Enjoy your dinner.”

Rachel gestured at them. “Follow me.”

Emmett gave my shoulder a squeeze and quick wink, and the family followed Rachel, except for Elizabeth, who wrapped me in a tight hug. She smelled like roses, and I relaxed against her immediately.

“What’s this for?”

She pulled back and beamed at me. “I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear the news about you and my Emmett. I always thought you didn’t like him!”

She gave my arm a light slap, and I laughed nervously.

“Oh, ha-ha. Got you,” I said in a joking tone.

“You two really fooled me,” she shook her head at me.

Elizabeth, you have no idea.

Later, when the dinner rush was in full swing and the bar was fully stocked, I decided I was getting in the way and so made my way back to my office.

“Where are you going?” Max asked the second I stepped into the hallway, blocking my path.

I pointed behind him. “I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”

“We need you out here tonight.”

“I’m just getting in the way,” I dismissed him. “Is there something in particular you need?”

Max stood his ground. He sent a glance over my shoulder. “There’s a customer who wants to complain about something?”

I frowned at him. “Who, Chuck?”

There was the tinkling sound of someone clinking their glass, and the entire restaurant quieted down behind us. I stepped back out into the restaurant, curious.

Emmett stood at his table with his glass raised.

Oh, my god. My gut wrenched with panic, my lungs constricted, and I remembered the conversation we had a few days ago, right after I had woken up.

I had completely forgotten about it.

My mind began to race. Here? No. Tonight? He was going to do ittonight? But we had only talked about it a couple days ago. There was supposed to be more planning involved. The guy could have given me some warning. I spun around, intending to sprint back into my office, lock the door, and slide the filing cabinet in front. Max, however, the little brat, blocked me again.

“No, you don’t,” he said, turning me back around. He locked his arm around my shoulders to hold me steady.

“What are you doing?” I hissed at him. “Whose side are you on?”

He continued smiling at Emmett while whispering to me out of the corner of his mouth. “Emmett slipped me a hundred bucks to make sure you were here for this.”

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