Page 67 of Relentless Pursuit

“For your birthday.”

“How did you know that?”

“I know when your birthday is, so I just figured your parents would visit you.”

“Oh, right.” She finished her bacon. “They want to do dinner. Some place exclusive with a trendy chef. My mother is a real foodie, so she likes to check out as many places as possible when she comes here.”

“Sounds like a lovely evening.” He’d always admired the Quinns. They were good people. Julian often enjoyed having dinner at their house when he was growing up. They were very similar to his family. Dinners were home-cooked and spent around the table. They’d talk long after the food was gone about current events and how everyone’s day had gone.

“Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll have Chloe make a reservation for you. I’m sure Jack and Caroline will be joining you. I can get you in anywhere you’d like.”

“Thank you.” She shifted in her seat. “I’m sure my mother has a list. In order of preference.”

“Your jitters unsettle me.” He took her hand in his, hoping she would open up to him. “We can do more than what we did last night, you know. I’d like for us to talk outside the bedroom.”

“I was wondering...well, I’d really like it if you could join us.” She took a breath. “Me and my family. For my birthday.” She glanced down at their joined hands. “Please.”

Me? She wants me to come?

“I know it’s more than the parameters of our arrangement, but...” She sighed. “I’d really like you to go with me.”

The parameters of our arrangement? What the fuck?

He picked up his mug, allowing the hot, freshly brewed coffee to coat his throat as he pondered her question. It wasn’t her request that bothered him. It was her view of what they were to one another. He had no one to blame but himself for her thinking. That was going to change.

“Kayla.” He set his mug down. “I think I’ve made a mess of things between us, and I need to—”

“Wait.” She stopped him. “Never mind. It was wrong of me to ask. Just eat your breakfast. Forget I asked.”

“No.” He stood firm, because it was time for him to take the next step. “Not until I answer your question.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do, and because it’s a weekend and you’re on my time, you can’t argue with me.”

“Okay.”

“I’d be honored to accompany you to your birthday dinner. I’m flattered you asked.”

“You would? You are?”

“Of course.” Her shock was disconcerting. Couldn’t she tell things were different with her? How could she? He needed to do a better job moving forward.

“Thanks.” She took a forkful of pancakes, clearly relieved that she had gotten that question off her chest, but he was about to burst her bubble. The bubble she’d put the two of them inside.

“Will I be telling Jack on my own or would you like to do it together?”

“Oh right, I guess we should do that before we just show up to dinner.”

“It’s a good idea.”

“I’ll tell him,” she stated. “It’s probably time. You’ve been more than patient.”

“I did what you needed, I’ll feel better once he knows. Why don’t we tell him together? We could meet him for lunch one afternoon.”

“Then we’d be ambushing him.” She crinkled her nose. “How about I just call him?”

“It would be better coming from me.” He leaned back, stretching his legs. Jack wasn’t going to like the idea of Julian dating his baby sister. He was going to like it even less when he found out they had kept it from him. “I have to go out of town this week. I have to depose two witnesses. I’ll be back Friday afternoon. I could do it then.”

---