Page 26 of Peak of Love
Instead, he launched himself into his car and drove to Grilled fucking Goose.
***
Sitting at the bar, he had a view of the couple by the window. She was wearing the cashmere sweater dress he bought in Whistler. Correction: tried to buy because she had insisted on paying for it. Celina had called Roni and asked for the bill, which she promptly paid into his account.
Dane made clear that he was supremely annoyed about her and Roni hacking his private expenses. She brushed his irritation away.
“Don’t get mad at Roni!” she had said after dismissing his complaint. “And it isn’t hacking if I’m putting moneyin, silly!”
Infuriating, how she was independent and considerate and flippant. In fact, the last few weeks revealed a recurring pattern. Dane kept in touch with the boys and Celina spent no more than a minute on the phone thanking or teasing him.
Then, he would be dismissed. She never lessened Dane’s interaction with Jerome and Jonas, although Celina didn’t engage more than was absolutely necessary.
Dismissed.Dane the dismissed.
The man poured her a drink from a cheap bottle of champagne. Celina took a sip and smiled at something her date said.
Dane tried to read her body language. Smugly, he decided she looked bored. She was smiling and sort ofbarelyflirting, yet her gaze roamed over the guy’s shoulder at something outside the window. If that wasn’t sign enough, he saw her glance at her phone under the table. Checking the time, probably.
That’s right, cheap champagne date.She’s being polite, sitting there tolerating your lame jokes and stupid tie and—
Oh, shit. She saw him.
In a ridiculously named restaurant, while he sipped whiskey that reminded him of their conversation by the fire in Whistler, Dane was caught spying on Celina.By Celina.
Her shoulders straightened, head tilted, and her mouth moved to say something to her date. And then she stood up and walked over.
Damn, that dress looked good on her. It hugged her body to perfection while looking as soft as a pillow.His own cuddly, curvy, sexy bunny, he thought before tamping down the urgent need to reach around her hips and fill his hands with her ass. He was truly depraved. Dismissed and depraved.
“Fancy seeing you here.” At least she sounded curious as opposed to upset. He could smooth out the awkwardness by being cool, right?
“Are you on a date?”Shit, so much for cool.
“Maybe. I mean sort of. Ben is a new friend. Why areyouhere, Dane?”
He sighed because there was no point lying. “I was talking to the boys and they mentioned you were eating dinner here.”
“You’re checking up on me?” He was pained by the furrow between her brows.
“No, I just—”
“Everything alright, Marcelina?” Sort-of-date-slash-new-friend interrupted their bubble.
He stood from his bar stool. He didn’t like how Benacted as if Celina should be protected from him, one of heroldestfriends. What a ridiculous idea.
“Dane,” he said, reaching over and forcing the guy to shake hands and therefore remove his grip from around her waist.
“We grew up together,” Celina explained, looking up at Ben. “I came over to say hi.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ben offered a stiff smile. “Should we order dessert or head to the jazz club now?” he pointedly asked Celina.
“Actually, I don’t think I can stay out much longer. My babysitter texted to check when I’d be back. That’s usually a sign that she can’t stay much longer.”
Dane watched as Celina took a breath, which she held for a long time. The furrow between her brows deepened before she finally exhaled. The awkwardness deepened as well.
“Of course,” Ben commented. “Let me settle the check and get your coat.”
“Thanks, Ben. I’ll head to the bathroom before we go. See you around, Dane.” At that dismissal, she walked away and disappeared into a dark hallway. Dane followed.
