Fiona’s Chapter #2
“Hmm, I would’ve sworn he was interested in more than sex. Okay, I guess time will tell. We’d better head back before dessert comes and the guys eat ours too,” Akiva suggested.
I growled as I said, “I’ll slice their asses if they touch my dessert. Some things are sacred.”
The tension due to the topic of Keir disappeared.
We left the bathroom laughing and chattering.
We’d exited the short hallway that connected to the main walkway around the central dining area.
The noise was greater out here, so I was surprised when someone yelled, “Fiona.” I figured they were speaking to someone else, so I kept going.
However, I stopped when my arm was caught, and I came to an abrupt halt. I turned to reprimand whoever did it. As my gaze stared at the hand, a familiar scent hit my nose. Disbelief overcame me even though I knew it was him. Akiva and Cerys stopped walking to frown at him.
“Go ahead to the table. Tell everyone I’ll be there in a few moments,” I told the ladies, plastering a pleasant smile on my face.
“Are you sure?” Akiva asked.
“I am. We work together. He needs to talk. But if my dessert is already there or comes before I get back, please guard it from those hungry animals.” I winked.
Both of them chuckled, then, after one more glance at him, they left. I turned back to Eithan. I was stunned to see him. What were the odds we’d be here on the same night at the same time?
“Eithan, good evening. Fancy meeting you here.” My brain went blank, making me unable to say anything else.
“Good evening, Fiona. You look fantastic tonight. I’ve never seen you with your hair down in the whole two years I’ve known you. You should always leave it down,” Eithan said. His eyes were scanning me from my shoes to my face. They were excited.
“And your dress, wow. It only enhances your natural beauty. What are you celebrating? Is it someone’s birthday?” he asked. He scanned the crowded confines, looking for my family. He’d met Gal and Granddad before.
“Thank you. This dress is one I’ve had but haven’t had the chance to wear. As for what we’re celebrating, nothing. It’s a night out with family and friends. What’re you doing here?”
“A buddy of mine from high school is in town. I brought him here for dinner. The food can’t be beat. You said family. I assume you mean your brother and granddad. Mind if I say hello? It’s been ages since I’ve seen them,” he reminded me.
“Won’t your friend get upset if you don’t return right away?” I asked, hoping to persuade him to return to his table. But just my luck, he waved off my fake concern. After what he said the last time we saw each other, I didn’t want him near Keir and the others.
“He’ll be fine. I’ll send him a quick text to hold tight. Just give me a few seconds,” he said as he took out his cell phone.
I kept a smile plastered on my face and gritted my teeth. In no time, he was done. Eithan tried to put his arm around me, but I moved out of reach, making it seem like an accident. Or I thought it did. His mouth tightened into a thin line for a moment, then relaxed.
“Lead the way,” he said.
I finish walking the fifteen or so feet left to the entrance of the private room. As he saw where we were headed, he whistled. “Wow, you’re in one of these? They’re damn hard to get. You have to ask months in advance.”
Was it true? I had no clue. Eating here wasn’t normal, let alone doing so in a private room. He opened the door. As I entered, Keir’s worried face smiled until he saw who was behind me. Keir’s eyes narrowed. I sped up.
“Look who I ran into. He wanted to stop and say hello, Granddad, Gal,” I announced cheerfully.
The next thing I knew, Keir’s arm was around my waist, and he brought me flush to him. He stared challengingly at Eithan.
“I was coming to look for you. You know how I hate it when you're gone too long. Officer Sanchez, what a coincidence. Do you come here often?” Keir asked.
“Occasionally. What brings you here? It appears you’re celebrating,” Eithan replied. Both men were staring daggers at each other.
“We are. A few dear friends are in town for a few days. I had to introduce them to her. Fiona is too amazing to keep hidden away.”
There were hints of challenge and smugness in Keir’s tone. I subtly elbowed him to make Keir stop.
“It’s nice to see you again, Eithan. We’re just waiting on our dessert. We’ve been blessed that our new friends asked us out. I can’t recall the last time I’d been in a place like this,” Granddad said.
All the shifters could taste and feel the tension hanging in the air.
“Mr. Katz, the pleasure is all mine. I’ve been telling Fiona she needs to get out more, to live life.
She’s buried in that lab too much. In fact, we should arrange an outing sometime, Fi—just the two of us.
We’ll have a blast,” Eithan said, trying no doubt to get a rise out of Keir, whom he kept shooting glances at under his lashes.
“Eithan, my schedule will be hectic over the next several months. You might as well know, but please, don’t tell anyone at work.” I paused until I received his nod.
“I told you about how Daniel and I sorta got into it over him refusing to get coverage for me. Well, I’m in the process of submitting my resume to every place I’d consider working.
Several labs have asked me to work for them since I started at the PD.
It’s time I move on and try something different. ”
Eithan’s smile froze, and his eyes widened. He took steps toward me, coming to stand right in front of Keir and me.
“You can’t do that, Fiona. We need you there. The lab will fall apart without you. You know that.”
“That’s not my concern. Daniel wants to play favorites and burn out his top performers, then he can work with them. I’m tired,” I snapped back.
Before Eithan could say more, the door opened, and two waiters came in, carrying trays laden with our desserts.
“Oh, look, there they are. We won’t keep you any longer. I’ll see you next week at work,” I said sweetly.
My friend-turned-I-don’t-know-what wasn’t ready to leave. It was clear from the clenched fists and jaw, and the way he glared at Keir. I had had enough. I refused to be treated like a bone between two hungry dogs.
“Excuse me, I need to sit and eat. Goodnight. Have a great time with your friend,” I said breezily.
Eithan mumbled something about not keeping us from our dessert.
He nodded to my family and gave a vague smile to the rest of the room before casting one last baleful glance at Keir and then walking out.
I drooped as soon as I knew he was gone.
I was surprised when Keir said nothing. All he did was help me into my chair.
The others who had risen to their feet sat down.
Dessert wasn’t the easy-filled chatter of before.
Conversations felt stilted. When it was time to pay the check, the men had a brief debate over who would pay.
In the end, it was handled by Brax, their apparent informal leader.
I tried to pay for my family, and was told “no” more than once. Brax declared we were their guests.
On the ride home, the vehicle was quiet. The most I heard was soft murmuring between Gunnar and Granddad in the front. Keir and I were in the middle row again. He leaned over to me.
“We need to talk when we get home,” he said, softer than a whisper.
“Keir, I’m tired. Can this wait until tomorrow? I want to get into my comfy clothes and stretch out on my bed.”
He was quiet for almost a minute before he answered. “Alright, we’ll wait, but I’m not forgetting about it. Tomorrow, we’ll go somewhere we can talk freely.”
Seeing no other option, I said, “Yes, we’ll talk tomorrow.”