Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Nerves shimmered in my stomach as I climbed out of the rideshare. I shut the door and took a moment to smooth down the dress I’d purchased a few days ago.
It was tighter than anything I usually wore, but there was shapewear built into the dress, which kept any bulges contained.
The shiny black fabric draped at the neckline, revealing the tops of my breasts.
Because of the built-in bra padding, they were a lot more prominent than usual.
The dress was ruched down each side and stopped just above mid-thigh.
During my shopping trip, Davide texted continuously and demanded pictures of each of the dresses I tried on.
He’d been so insistent and obnoxious that I relented and started sending them.
When he saw the dress I was currently wearing, he’d told me that if I didn’t buy it, he would come to the store and purchase it himself.
Knowing that he wasn’t lying, I bought it.
I truly liked the way I looked and felt in it.
I even sprang for a new pair of peep-toe pumps with a three-and-a-half-inch heel. They were taller than any of my other heels, so I wasn’t quite as steady on them as I want to be, but, like the dress, I liked the way they looked on me.
I’d had the rideshare drop me off half a block from the restaurant because of my nervousness. I wanted a chance to take a couple of deep breaths before I ran into anyone I knew.
As I walked toward the entrance, I saw Seth standing just outside, his head tilted down as he looked at the phone in his hand. My clutch vibrated in my hand, and I pulled out my cell to see that he had just texted me.
Seth: I’m outside the restaurant. Do you want me to wait for you at the bar or here?
Since I was only a few feet away, I called his name, “Seth.”
His head came up as I approached him, and his eyes widened when he saw me. He tucked his phone back into his pocket as he took a step toward me.
“Grier, wow. You look gorgeous.”
He greeted me the same way he always did—with a hand on my waist and a quick kiss on the cheek.
Somehow, it felt different. His hand was lower, closer to my hip, and he used his hold to pull me closer for the kiss rather than leaning over and keeping space between our bodies.
He smelled warm and spicy, and I caught the scent of mint on his breath.
Our bodies brushed as he lifted his head and looked down at me. “Hi,” he said.
My stomach fluttered again. This time with attraction. Objectively, I knew that Seth was exceptionally handsome, but the firm way he was holding me and the appreciative way his eyes roamed over me made my mouth dry.
Clearly I had a thing for men who weren’t afraid to take charge. I just hadn’t realized that Seth was that type of man.
“Hey,” I finally replied when the silence stretched between us for too long. “You smell really good.”
My cheeks heated as the words popped out of my mouth. Seth smirked and squeezed my side before he released me.
“Thank you.”
I took a step back and cleared my throat. “Actually, I need to be thanking you. I’m glad you were able to join me tonight.”
He reached out, running his hand down my forearm to clasp my palm before he laced our fingers together. “Me, too. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to ask you out since you started working for Davide, but he told me that he’d ban me from the gallery if I did.”
“He didn’t.”
Seth nodded. “Oh, yes, he did. He’s been quite territorial about you and anything that might make you want to quit.”
I laughed a little. “So, it’s not because I’m a good friend but because he doesn’t want to lose an employee?” I teased.
“I think it’s mostly the good employee bit with a healthy dash of friendly protectiveness.”
We were both laughing as we walked toward the entrance of the restaurant. Seth paused to open the door for me and used a hand on my lower back to guide me through first.
While my body didn’t respond to his touch the way it did Elijah’s, I still enjoyed the heat of his palm against my back and the way his hand slid around my waist to hold me to his side as we stopped in front of the hostess station.
“Good evening. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked with a smile.
“We’re here for the Faulkner event,” I answered.
“Of course. Please follow me.”
Seth’s arm remained around me, his hand curved around my hip, as we trailed her.
The back of my neck prickled, and I turned my head to look toward the bar.
My eyes immediately landed on the tall man with dark hair leaning back against it, a beer loosely held in one hand.
I blinked in surprise when my gaze met Elijah’s burning blue irises.
What was he doing here? I would have expected to see him if Lucy and Chris were hosting the event, but he wasn’t close to Yancy and Charles. Was he?
The tip of my pump caught the edge of someone’s chair. Stumbling, I apologized to the diner seated in the chair and forced myself to focus on where I was walking.
“You okay?” Seth asked.
“Yeah.”
“That the guy?”
I blinked, once again taken aback. “What?”
“Davide mentioned you’d recently stopped seeing someone because he acted like you were nothing but a booty call. It was part of his warning-slash-threat for me to treat you like a queen. He said you deserved better than that, and I’d better make sure I gave it to you.”
I glanced up at Seth’s profile. “Really?”
His answering smile was small. “Yeah. He may not come right out and say it, but Davide loves you like a little sister.”
My stomach bloomed with warmth, but the feeling dissipated quickly when Seth asked, “So, was that the guy?”
“Yeah,” I answered with a sigh. “I didn’t think he’d be here tonight. You know Lucy from the gallery, right?”
Seth nodded.
“He’s related to her friend, Marcus. They spend a lot of time together, and that’s how I met him.”
“Hmmm. Well, he definitely doesn’t look happy to see me.”
It took everything I had not to glance over at Elijah again.
Chills skittered down my spine. Before I could formulate a reply, the hostess led us through a short hall that opened into a private dining area.
Tanya, Jordan, Yancy, and Charles were the only ones there.
This wasn’t surprising. Chris, Lucy’s husband, was a stickler for punctuality, but Lucy was not.
Chelsea was always five minutes late to every brunch or dinner.
Only for work was she on time, and that was mostly because she said listening to Chris bitch about it under his breath wasn’t worth it.
He never outright said anything because he knew that Chelsea would give him shit right back and point out all the times he needed her to stay late at the office, usually by a great deal more than five minutes.
Yancy grinned as soon as she saw me, her eyes twinkling as took in Seth’s arm around my hip. “You brought a date!” she squealed, running over to throw her arms around me.
Thank goodness Seth’s arm was around me because she almost knocked me off my peep-toe pumps.
“Oops,” Yancy said, releasing me and stepping back. “Sorry.”
Judging by the flush in her cheeks, she’d already had a drink or two. I smiled back at her. “It’s okay. Yancy, this is Seth. Seth, this is Yancy.”
“It’s so nice to meet you!” she exclaimed, holding out a hand.
Seth released me and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you too, Yancy. Congratulations.”
“Thank you so much,” she said, her voice still high and happy. “Let’s get you two a drink!”
Seth chuckled when she turned and stumbled over her own feet a little, but his hand shot to her elbow to steady her. I liked that. There was a small bar area against the far wall and one bartender. However, before we reached it, Yancy stopped in front of Charles, Tanya, and Jordan.
“Guys, this is Seth. Grier’s date.” She gave them a silly, exaggerated wink as she said it, which made me up her speculated drink consumption from one or two to three or four.
The men shook hands, introducing themselves. Tanya offered her hand and name as well.
Before the small talk could get underway, Seth touched my lower back with the tips of his fingers and asked, “Would you like a mojito, or would you prefer a glass of wine?”
Surprised he remembered my preferred cocktail, it took me a second before I answered. “Oh, um, a glass of pinot noir, please.”
His fingertips traced across my lower back to my hip as he stepped back and headed toward the bar.
A small shiver ran through me as I watched him walk away.
My interest was officially piqued. His touch might not set me on fire, but I was noticing things about him tonight that I hadn’t noticed before. And I liked what I saw.
“I could use another glass of wine too, Charles,” Yancy said, leaning into her fiancé, batting her lashes.
With a chuckle, he kissed her forehead. “Sure, babe.”
“And a glass of water,” Yancy continued. She turned to Tanya’s husband, Jordan. “And I’m sure your wife could use another cranberry juice.”
I nearly snorted at her obvious attempt to get rid of both men. Jordan didn’t even hesitate before he kissed Tanya’s shoulder and walked with Charles toward the bar, both men stopping beside Seth.
Chelsea stepped closer to me. “He. Is. Gorgeous,” she said, lowering her voice just enough that the guys couldn’t hear her.
“He is very good-looking,” Tanya chimed in.
My face heated as I glanced around but there was no one to save me. “Y’all, this is our first date.”
“And he knew what you like to drink without asking?” Tanya continued. “Impressive.”
“How did you meet him?” Yancy asked, almost speaking over Tanya.
“He’s a friend of Davide’s. He comes into the gallery all the time.”
“He’s obviously into you,” Yancy said, leaning closer to Tanya. “Did you see the way he looked at her?”
Tanya smiled serenely. “I did.”