Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Gaines
The restaurant is packed. Servers are shuffling about, balancing large trays with expensive entrees as guests try to gain their attention with a wave. One guy whistles in his effort to get service. It fails miserably.
One of the people working the checkout counter that doubles as a greeting station sets a bag of food on it right in front of me.
“You, Dr. Morgan, eat for free.”
The people gathered behind, waiting to be seated or anxious to pick up their dinner, ooh and ahh. I can’t tell if that’s in awe or anger.
I’m tempted to pull out my wallet, but a dollar saved is never bad, so I smile in appreciation. “Tell Tony I said thank you.”
“You can tell him yourself,” a blonde woman dressed in a black dress suggests. “He’s speaking with someone, but he’ll be over to say hi shortly.”
I look past her to see how far out Tony is. I’ve been standing in this spot before and watched the manager slowly snake his way past every table in the massive dining room, stopping often to speak to his patrons.
My gaze catches on the red hair of the woman at the table Tony is next to. I know her.
She knows me, too, because she’s up and out of her chair as soon as she spots me. “Dr. Morgan!”
Her dinner companion follows her lead and slides to his feet, too. He’s more cautious with his movements, as he should be. I advised him to take it slow after his procedure.
Since he called me earlier this week to essentially ask my permission for this date, I can’t be pissed at him. He’s taking his recovery seriously, as he should.
Daxton told me he wanted to make up the lost dinner to Penny. It seems that tonight is the night for that.
Tony spins to face me, his expression morphing into a grin. He raises a hand in the air. “Over here, Doc!”
I glance at the bag containing my dinner. I’m not about to tempt fate, so I pick it up and carry it with me as I set out to greet the trio waiting for me.
Tony’s hand is outstretched before I’m within ten feet of him. I’ve got my hand in his for a quick shake as soon as I’m close enough.
Daxton lifts his right hand for a shake, too. Good on him for remembering to rest his left arm until he gets the all clear. The device implanted in his chest needs time to heal, so no lifting or straining with his left arm if he wants the healing process to go smoothly.
“Dr. Morgan!” Penny’s greeting is much less subdued.
She goes in for a full-on hug. I do it gingerly, keeping my hand with the bag far enough out of reach that my dinner won’t be crushed.
Stepping back from our embrace, she laughs. “The gang’s all here.”
“Not all of us,” Daxton remarks with a chuckle. “Eloise isn’t here.”
“Or Philip.” Penny clucks her tongue. “Although he’ll never be anywhere Els is again since she dumped him.”
What now?
Fortunately, it seems Penny hasn’t shared the news with Daxton because he asks the question I want to ask. “She dumped him? Why?”
“He was an asshole,” Penny says with a shake of her head. “Let’s just say she’s much better off without him. In fact, if all goes as planned, she’ll find a new man tonight.”
My head snaps to the side to stare at her.
What the fuck is she talking about?
Again, Daxton’s curiosity comes to my rescue. “What do you mean? Is she on a blind date?”
Daxton follows his question with a hearty bark of laughter, which I suspect is related to the fact that he met Penny on a blind date.
I suppose it’s an inside joke of sorts because she’s laughing right along with him.
Tony glances at me and shrugs. “Do you want dessert to go with the meal, Dr. Morgan?”
I want more details about where the hell Eloise is, so I shake my head. “No, thanks, I’m good.”
Penny finally answers Daxton’s question. “I was at her apartment last night and found this gorgeous mask on a chair in her bedroom. It’s one of those masks you’d wear to a masquerade ball and…”
“Oh, I’m needed in the kitchen,” Tony interrupts as a woman wearing a white chef’s coat stalks toward him. “If anyone needs anything at all, let me know.”
He leaves, and I look to Daxton because I need this kid to press his girlfriend for more details. From what she’s already shared, Eloise hung onto the mask she wore to Club Skyn. I need to know why the fuck Penny is bringing it up.
“You were saying something about a mask?” Daxton prompts. “Is she going to a masquerade ball tonight? Are those a real thing? I thought they only existed in fairytales.”
I stand silently, essentially listening to this couple’s entire conversation while they ignore me.
“Her mask had beautiful red and green stones on it.” Penny’s hand taps the skirt of her red dress.
“This color. It was gorgeous. She mentioned that she wore the mask before to a fun party, so since Philip is yesterday’s news, she’s going to stop by that same venue and see if there’s another party tonight. ”
Jesus.
Eloise is headed back to Club Skyn.
My phone chimes, luring both Penny and Daxton’s gazes toward me.
I don’t bother checking it before I blurt out an excuse to leave, “I’m needed elsewhere. It was good to see you both.”
“It was good to see you,” they say in unison before they giggle.
They’re cute, but at the moment, I feel like a guided missile headed straight for its petite, brunette target, so I need to get the hell out of here.
“I’ll tell Els you said hi!” Penny calls after me as I race through the crowded restaurant toward the exit.
As soon as I’m on the sidewalk, I shove my food into the hands of a man who often hangs around looking for a kind soul to offer him a few dollars.
“Seriously, man?” His face brightens. “I can eat tonight?”
“Enjoy it!” I yell after him as I race down the sidewalk.
“I will!” he calls after me. “I hope you have a good night, Dr. Morgan!”
I will if I reach Eloise in time. I have no idea what the fuck I’ll do if I see her at that club, but I do know one thing. I don’t want another man’s hands anywhere near her.