Page 27 of Under His Touch

“I told Mom, and now she has her heart set on it.”

I groan and sit back in my chair. “I’ll see what I can do, but Amanda won’t be able to cater. They don’t allow that.”

“You’ll make it up to her with Alec’s wedding.”

“True,” I say. “I’m not making any promises. But I’ll make some calls first thing tomorrow.”

I open my notepad and we spend the next fifteen minutes going over the guest list, the menu and decorations. Our meals arrive and after every bite, both Sara and I glance out the window, looking for lover boy and his date.

I tap my pen on the table. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Alec said he’d come to the anniversary party.”

“Maybe he’ll bring his fiancée,” she says, and wipes the corner of her mouth with her napkin. But as I think about Alec showing up with his fiancée, the chicken I just swallowed sits like lead in my stomach. “What?” Sara asks me when she notices I’ve gone quiet.

I blink. “Nothing.”

“Megan, please don’t tell me you’re still hung up on him.”

“I was never hung up on him,” I say. I glance out the window again and sit up a little straighter in my chair when the door opens, and the handsomest guy I’ve ever set eyes on steps outside.

“It’s them,” I say, and hope Alec can’t see us staring. Or can he? His head lifts and his gaze zeroes in on me. Surely he can’t see me watching from the dim light in the restaurant. He lifts his hands and gestures for a cab. It arrives, and he pulls money from his pocket and hands it over as Danielle gets in the backseat, no kiss goodbye.

The cab drives off, and he immediately starts our way. “What’s he doing?” I ask.

“I think he sees us,” Sara says. “He’s on his way over here. I don’t think the date went well.”

“Great,” I say, hating the relief I feel. I don’t want Alec. I don’t even really like the man he’s become. I don’t think.

I grab my napkin, twist it in my hands and scan the restaurant to find Alec stalking toward us. He doesn’t look angry, and I’m glad for that. Maybe the date went better than I thought.

“Megan,” he says, and steps up to the table. He bends, drops a kiss onto Sara’s cheek and flashes her a smile. “Nice to see you again, Sara. I’d like to get caught up, but right now I need to talk to Megan. Would you mind?”

Sara drops her napkin onto the table. “Actually, we’re finished here.” She checks her watch. “I need to get going. Work never stops. Megan, I’ll grab the bill on the way out.”

Sara snatches up her purse and leaves, and I sit there staring at Alec. What the heck is going on? He’s scrubbing his chin, his gaze latched on to mine.

“Have a seat,” I say.

“Can you come with me?”

“I... Sure.” I stop twisting my napkin and reach for my bag. Alec slides his hand around my body and places his big palm at the small of my back as he leads me out. “Where are we going?”

“I need air,” he says.

He guides me to the limousine that picked me up that first night and opens the door for me. I slide into the back.

“Hi, Phillip, it’s nice to see you again.”

“You as well, Megan.” He gives me a big smile, like he’s actually delighted to see it’s me getting into the backseat.

“What’s going on?” I say to Alec as he climbs in beside me. I scan his face, still unable to read him. He clearly has his guard up. “Did the date go well or not?”

“Not,” he says. “Phillip, how about a drive through the city.”

“Very well, Alec.” With that Phillip presses a button on the dashboard, and the privacy divider goes up.

“What happened with Danielle?”

“She was a good choice. I can see why you picked her. She fit my needs, but when I came right out and told her I wasn’t looking for love, things fizzled from there.” He shakes his head. “Here I thought it would be easy.”

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