Chapter Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
Alistair
What’s for you will always be for you.
I waited patiently while Pam finished up in the bathroom.
By some grace of the goddess, I’d been able to pull some strings and get us a last-minute Valentine’s Day reservation at my favorite Italian restaurant in downtown Denver.
Because it was a fancy place, I’d told Pam about our plans ahead of time so she could pack something nice to wear.
I mean, I thought everything she wore was nice.
She could wear a freaking paper bag and I would be happy to be seen with her, but for her comfort, I wanted her to feel dressed for the occasion.
I slipped off my tie and unbuttoned my collar, deciding to forgo the tie tonight because I couldn’t stand feeling like I was being strangled while I was trying to eat.
My blazer lay next to me on the bed, ready for me to put it on before we left.
Trying to be patient, I checked the time on my watch.
“Almost done in there, babe?” I didn’t want us to miss our reservation, especially one I’d snagged at the last minute.
“Coming,” she said, her voice muffled by the sound of Pearl Jam playing through her phone. I’d offered to hook her phone up to the Bluetooth speaker, but she’d politely declined. Apparently, this was part of her getting-ready ritual.
The bathroom door opened, and Pam stepped out.
The sight of her took my breath away. Her red hair was pulled back in an updo, her bangs and the hair framing her face slipping free in a casually messy way.
A tight black dress highlighted each curve of her body, and the neckline dipped low, giving me a perfect view of her chest. She was wearing a pair of shiny patent leather heels that made her legs look a mile long.
She was stunning. Absolutely stunning.
I darted off the bed and over to her, skating my hand along her waist while the other cupped the column of her neck.
“What?” she asked with a coy smile.
“You know what. How am I supposed to focus on dinner with you sitting across from me at the table like this?”
A soft blush raced up her neck, straight to the apples of her cheeks. “Oh, hush.” Her hands ran up my chest, and she leaned in to take a deep inhale. “Your cologne smells amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I made a mental note to send her a bottle. That way, she could spray it around her house and think of me.
She kissed the side of my face and whispered, “You ready to get out of here, big guy?”
I nodded. “If we don’t leave now, we might not make it out of the bedroom for the rest of the night.”
“Normally, I’d be okay with that, but I’m starving,” Pam said. “And I believe I was promised the best Italian food in Denver.”
“Yes, I wouldn’t want you to miss out.” Reluctantly, I stepped away from her and grabbed my jacket. “Did you feed Remi dinner?” I asked as we made our way down to the garage.
She giggled. “Of course I did, but I appreciate your concern.”
“I should have gotten him a Valentine’s Day gift, too,” I mused.
I’d grown attached to the little guy. Maybe I needed to get a cat of my own—or move closer to Pam and hers.
The thought slipped into my mind so effortlessly.
I suppose it was my subconscious telling me how I really felt, showing me what I really wanted.
“I think you’ve done enough for him, don’t you?” she asked.
“When you care about something, is there really ever enough?”
“I suppose there isn’t.”
I helped her with her coat, grabbed my keys, and we made our way out to the garage.
“Shit,” she said, glancing up at the truck. “Maybe I should bring a pair of tennis shoes.”
Climbing in with her heels was going to be difficult. I had a sports car, but I didn’t trust it on the road this time of the year. Even less so when I was driving Pam around.
“Allow me,” I said, gripping both sides of her waist.
“Alistair, wait!” she squealed, but I was already lifting her into the truck and delicately placing her on the seat. She scowled down at me, obviously more concerned than upset. “You have got to be careful doing that. We aren’t in our twenties anymore. What if you pulled your back out?”
“Babe, I’m a minotaur. It’ll take more than lifting you to make me pull my back out.”
She huffed and gave me an unamused look as I shut the door.
While I drove, Pam stared at the snowy landscape passing us by.
“So, what do you think of Colorado?” I asked. I knew she was just as charmed by it as the rest of us were the first time we visited.
“It’s so beautiful. I love Briar Glenn, but there’s a different type of beauty here that you can only find in the mountains.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
“The snow is a little much for me, though,” she tacked on.
Being from the Northeast, she was no stranger to snow, but snow combined with winding mountain back roads was enough to put people off Colorado.
“Now that you’ve seen the mountains, our next trip will have to be somewhere warm and sunny. Maybe the Bahamas,” I suggested. The thought of her in a bikini on a beautiful sandy beach was almost more than I could handle.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her wrinkle her little button nose.
“What?” I asked. “Not a fan of the beach?”
“The Bahamas is too far in the opposite direction.”
I chuckled. “All right then, how about a trip to Alaska in the summer? Not too hot, not too cold. Seventeen hours of daylight and nature as far as the eye can see.”
“That sounds more like my speed.”
Another one to add to the list.
During the hour-long drive, the landscape changed from mountainous and picturesque to the sprawling metropolis of downtown Denver. Traffic was backed up, I assumed because of Valentine’s Day, but we managed to make it to the restaurant in time for our reservation.
“Now, you stay put,” I told Pam when we pulled up to the valet stand. She huffed but ultimately complied.
I gave the valet my keys and made my way over to her door. She held out her hand, but I was already reaching for her waist, carefully bringing her down to the ground.
“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” she said, threading her arm through mine.
Ridiculously in love, I thought to myself.
“I’ve been called worse.”
The inside of the restaurant was rustic yet modern, similar to its take on Italian cuisine. Candles flickered on the tables, and a live band performed soft jazz, setting the mood.
“This is fancy,” Pam said as we checked our coats. “Almost too fancy.”
“Nothing is too fancy for you. I mean, look at you.” I stepped back, dramatically taking in the sight of her. If anyone belonged at a classy place like this, it was her.
Pam just had this warmth to her, this aura that lit up a room. It drew in everyone around her. It was one of the things I loved about her.
The hostess led us to our table and placed a large leather menu at each place setting. I pulled out Pam’s chair for her, scooting her in.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“It’s my pleasure.”
I sat across from her and poured us both a glass of water. Normally, I’d have a drink with dinner, but with the weather and roads, I wanted to have my wits about me on the drive home. Pam had decided to join me in solidarity.
She picked up her menu, her brows drawing together as she read over the offerings. With the dim lighting, I could barely make out the words. Luckily, I was familiar with the menu.
“Pam,” I whispered, “you might need to let me borrow your glasses.”
She giggled. “As soon as we get home, you’re ordering yourself a pair of readers. Or better yet, you’re making an appointment for an eye exam.”
I groaned. “I’m not ready to accept that yet.”
“I, for one, think you would look so handsome in a pair of glasses.”
“Do you now? It doesn’t ruin my whole rugged lumberjack persona?”
“Is that how you see yourself?” she asked.
I puffed out my chest slightly, trying to make her smile. It worked, of course. “I mean, I’d like to think that’s how I present myself.”
“I think it would make you even more rugged. A seasoned outdoorsman. One who’s a great dad, an amazing chef, and a successful CEO. Some slutty little glasses.”
I almost spit out my water. “Slutty little glasses?” I choked out.
She grinned. “Mm-hmm. They’re sexy.”
“Well, if you think so, then I guess I do need a pair.” I held my menu out and let my eyes adjust to the lighting.
“Everything looks so good,” Pam murmured.
“If you’re feeling spontaneous, you could let me order for you.”
She lowered her menu and peered across the table at me. “I’ve never had someone do that for me before.”
I mean, it was sort of one of those douchey alpha-male things, but I also thought it was a testament to knowing your date’s tastes and what dishes at a restaurant were the best.
“Is there anything you don’t like?” I asked.
“I’m open to everything except for fish.”
“What about lobster?” I asked.
“Oh, I love lobster.”
“Noted.” I set our menus to one side of the table, and our waiter came over to take our order.
“Can we start with the arancini, and I’ll have the rigatoni alla vodka and a cup of butternut squash soup.”
“And for the lady?” the waiter asked.
“She’ll have the lobster ravioli with the roasted carrot salad.”
“Excellent. We’ll have that out for you shortly.”
“Roasted carrot salad,” Pam said. “I’ve got to say, I wouldn’t have picked that for myself.”
“I think you’re going to love it. It’s got smoked ricotta and truffle honey. It’s one of my favorites.”
“Do you come here often?” she asked.
I nodded without elaborating. I didn’t want to tell her that the majority of my business dinners were held here. Work was the last thing I wanted to talk about tonight. “When Chai comes out to visit, we always come here.”
“That’s so sweet.”
I shrugged. “What can I say, she’s a daddy’s girl.”
“Tegan was that way with Don—” She started to say before she quickly clamped her mouth shut.
“Pam,” I sighed, “it’s okay to talk about your marriage.”
As much as I hated the guy, he’d played a big role in her life, and he was the father of her children. There was no way we could avoid talking about him.