Chapter 8
PHOEBE
Griffin checked his phone. “It’s getting late. Are you ready to go?”
Holy shit, time had slipped away from me. “Yep, I just want to put on some accessories.”
I hurried to the dining room table where I’d laid out my jewelry. I was wearing a simple set of earrings and a matching pendant in the shape of a leaf. I went back to the mirror and started putting on the right earring.
“I always forget that these are so damn difficult to clasp,” I muttered.
In an instant, Griffin was right behind me. “I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
The second his fingers brushed my earlobe, I wondered if it was such a good idea.
My body kept reacting in the most bizarre way around him.
His cologne was delicious. I sucked in a breath, holding it while he fastened one earring and then the other.
His knuckles brushed my cheek, and I felt warm all over.
What am I doing? Nah, this has to just be the typical reaction to a hot-as-sin man. If anything, it was proof that certain parts of me were still alive.
“While you’re at it, could you please also clasp my pendant? That’s always a hassle because the chain isn’t very long.”
“Sure,” Griffin said.
Was my mind playing tricks again, or was his voice a bit rougher?
He stepped behind me and then pushed my hair to one side.
“Your hair is gorgeous,” he said.
And just like that, I had an impulse I’d never had before in my life. I wanted to turn around and kiss him for no reason at all. I managed to stay put and just smile in the mirror.
“Thanks. I like it too.”
Afterward, I put on my heels and grabbed a clutch from the small table where I’d deposited my makeup. “Okay, I’m ready for the evening.”
He nodded, looking me up and down. “You truly look magnificent.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “I bought this dress at a super-clearance price. I wanted to wear it on the night I thought my ex would have proposed.”
Griffin walked to me and tilted my chin up.
“I promise you one thing tonight. You are going to have fun. Much more than you would have with that moron you were with. I’m sure he was a dead bore.
I, on the other hand, am fantastic company.
Anyway, once the dinner with Jude and his wife is over, I’ll think of something else. ”
“What do you mean?”
“To keep you entertained for the rest of the evening.”
I licked my lips. “Game on, Griffin.”
We walked side by side out of the house and I locked the door behind us.
Griffin was driving a Range Rover. I climbed into the passenger seat, arranging my dress because it had a slit on the left thigh that went almost all the way up.
It was fine when I was walking, but I had to be careful when I was sitting.
Griffin got in just as I finished arranging my dress.
I kept touching the leather seat and the inside of the door. It was plush and luxurious. “I feel like I’m flying first class. I imagine they have fancy seats like this. My car is old as dirt.”
Griffin didn’t say anything, but his eyebrows were almost up to his hairline.
I winced. “I promise I’ll have a better filter around Jude and his wife. Do you know her name?”
“No, I don’t. Listen, you don’t have to pretend or anything. You’re damn amazing just the way you are.”
My heart soared in my chest. I realized that I hadn’t been paid compliments in a long while, and that was fucked up.
“Just be yourself. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“How can you be so sure?” I teased.
He looked straight at me before focusing on the road again. “I like you.”
I blushed—there was no denying it. At least he couldn’t see because he was driving.
Nope, he chanced a glance in my direction and zeroed in on my cheeks. He totally knew I was blushing.
There was no way for me to hide. Then again, why should I?
We spoke a bit about San Diego and our favorite spots in the city as he drove to the restaurant.
We arrived twenty minutes later. Even before I stepped inside, I realized it was the fanciest place I’d ever been—even more so than The Loft.
For one, they had a valet. He took the car fob and then drove Griffin’s car off to a parking spot.
The staff inside were dressed so elegantly that I almost felt out of place.
No, I corrected myself. Most of the things I owned would have been out of place, but not this dress.
“Our reservation is under Griffin Sterling,” he told the hostess.
“Ah, yes. Mr. and Mrs. Carson are already here.”
“Damn it,” Griffin muttered.
“Are we late?” I asked.
“No, the guy just insists on coming early.”
As we followed the hostess, Griffin put a hand at the small of my back. I instantly straightened up, and then he tucked me into his body.
Oh, right. We were supposed to be pretending to be crazy about each other. Being touchy-feely was part of the deal. Why didn’t we discuss that before? Then again, what was there to discuss? It wasn’t something you could choreograph. It had to be natural.
I leaned into him as if I couldn’t get enough. I felt him suck in a breath when the side of my boob brushed his chest.
When we reached the table, a man rose to his feet. “Griffin, nice to see you.”
“You as well. This is my girlfriend, Phoebe. She was kind enough to join us.”
“Nice to meet you, Phoebe,” Jude said, shaking my hand. “This is my wife, Emma.”
“Hi, Mrs. Carson.”
“Oh, please, just call me Emma. And call this grump here Jude.”
“My darling,” Jude said, “Griffin is a potential business partner.”
“So, that means I should act like you’re super important and I’m afraid of you?”
Jude looked stunned. “Not afraid, no.” He glanced at Griffin, who was clearly biting back laughter.
I had a hunch that he didn’t expect this sort of dynamic either. It was unfair, but I’d imagined a slightly snobbish and uptight couple.
Jude looked straight at me. “You know, I have to say, I was very surprised when Griffin told me that he was in a long-term relationship. I didn’t hear anything of the sort when I asked around about him.”
I laughed nervously, putting my hands on my lap. Griffin covered them with his under the table.
I startled and smiled at him, hoping I looked doe-eyed with appreciation and not that his touch was a surprise.
“That’s because Phoebe doesn’t like to attend many events. They make her nervous.”
He was very good at this. I nodded, looking from him to Jude and Emma. “I really am, so excuse me if I seem a bit like a fish out of water.” And then I decided to be myself, just as Griffin said. “If I’m honest, fancy restaurants make me a bit uneasy. It’s not my scene, so to speak.”
Emma put a hand on her chest. “Darling, we are two peas in a pod, then. Honestly, it’s not ours either. We don’t come from money, you know. For the first twenty years of our marriage, we really struggled financially. For me, coming to places like this is almost a waste.”
Jude looked at her with affection. “You do enjoy the food.”
“True,” she said, “just not the price tag.”
I felt as if a weight had lifted off my shoulders. At least I didn’t have to pretend that I knew my way around a fancy restaurant. I could focus all my faking efforts on pretending that I had the hots for Griffin instead.
Somehow, I knew that wasn’t going to be too hard.
I tilted my head, looking in his direction. “And Griffin’s very kind to me. He knows that I’m a homebody, so he doesn’t pressure me into joining him.”
“I don’t know how the two of you managed to keep this under wraps,” Jude said. “People I’ve spoken to are convinced that Griffin is very single. They’ve told me a lot of stories.”
“Jude,” Griffin said, covering my hand again and squeezing it lightly. “Please don’t believe everything you hear. Most of the stuff is made up or exaggerated.”
Jude nodded. “You know, I’m starting to think you’re right.”
A waiter came and recited the special of the day while handing out the menus. Jude ordered a bottle of white wine and another of red right off the bat.
Once the waiter left, the focus shifted away from me, as everyone was trying to decide what to order.
“I’ll take the sea bass and glazed honey with steamed vegetables,” I said.
“Anyone want an appetizer?” Jude asked.
“Yes, please. The beef tartar sounds delicious,” Emma said. “And so does the fried squid. Want to order both and share?”
I smiled to myself. She sounded a bit like a foodie.
Griffin turned to look at me. “What do you think about sharing a starter too? I’m starving.”
“Sure. You pick one.”
“If you’re having fish as the main course, why don’t we order the smoked trout for an appetizer?” he suggested.
It was oddly thoughtful of him to pair it to my main course instead of his. Then again, I had an inkling that Griffin was simply a thoughtful person.
I nodded. “All right.”
The waiter returned as soon as we set the menus on the table. The service was impeccable. After we ordered, another waiter came with slices of bread and various spreads.
“That’s on the house,” he said before leaving.
I reached for the bread right away, putting a green spread on it. I was pretty hungry too. I just hadn’t realized it.
“So, tell me,” Jude said, “where did you two meet?”
I froze in the act of biting into my slice. Crap! Why didn’t we think about coming up with a detailed story for that? It was one of the first things people wanted to know about a new couple.