34. Chapter 34
Chapter thirty-four
Remington
Tonight, I’m going on my date with Colton. I took extra care getting ready, applying a little makeup and using rollers on my hair to give it some curl.
I’m wearing a turquoise dress with a scoop neck. I don’t dress up often, and this is one of the few dresses I own. It’s not too short, but it shows off my legs, especially paired with the matching turquoise heels.
Ricochet is lounging on the couch, and I stop in front of him and do a little twirl. “How do I look?”
He grins at me. “You’re fucking stunning.”
He’s my friend, so I’m not sure I believe him. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
“You don’t think it’s too…” I wave my hands around my body. “Clingy?”
“No. It’s the perfect amount of clingy. And it really makes your boobs pop.”
“Yeah?” I glance down, but they don’t look any different. “Are you sure?”
He nods, his grin widening. “One hundred percent.”
There’s a knock on the door. As far as I know, we’re not expecting company. When I swing the door open, Hawk and Doc are standing there with a couple six-packs of beer.
Hawk smiles and wolf-whistles as they breeze past me. Doc hands Ricochet a beer, puts the rest in the fridge, and he and Hawk plop on the couch, making themselves comfortable.
I shake out my hands. “I’m nervous. I can’t even remember the last time I went on a date.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Doc reassures me. “That fish is already hooked. You could wear a burlap sack and he’d still fall all over himself gushing over you.”
Ricochet glances at the two of them. “Tell her how good her boobs look in that dress.”
Caught off guard, his teammates burst out laughing.
“Yeah, I’m not doing that,” Hawk tells him, taking a swig off his beer.
“Me neither,” Doc agrees.
Ricochet’s brow furrows. “Why not? I told her and she wasn’t offended, but she doesn’t believe me.”
“That’s because you’re gay, doofus.” Hawk chastises. “Her boobs don’t matter to you, and she knows it. It’s not the same coming from us. Besides, I don’t want Pony slitting my throat in my sleep.”
“She has breasts?” Doc asks. “I hadn’t even noticed. In fact, we should stop looking at her.”
“Good idea, brother. I’m totally on board with that.” Hawk clinks his bottle against Doc’s. “Weren’t you leaving, RJ? You don’t want to be late.”
I can’t restrain my laugh. “Okay. I’m going. I’m going,” I tell them as I head for the kitchen. “If anyone’s too tired to drive or drinks too much, stay here and have a sleepover.”
I grab the bag I left on the kitchen table so I wouldn’t forget it.
Hawk grins, waggling his eyebrows. “What’s the bag for, RJ?”
I grin back. “Just in case I’m invited to a sleepover. Bye, boys, have fun,” I call over my shoulder, striding through the kitchen to the garage.
As the garage door rolls open, I see Nitro approaching. “You can come through the garage if you want,” I call out the window.
His response is a grunt and a chin lift as he changes direction.
“Good to see you too, Nitro,” I say with a laugh.
When I arrive at the restaurant, I scan the crowd but don’t see Colton. It’s Saturday, and the place is packed. I consider texting him, but don’t want to appear overeager. I’m about to ask the hostess if he’s checked in when I see him strutting toward me. I can’t restrain my big smile.
His eyes take a leisurely stroll over me, from the soft curls in my hair to my peep toe pumps and back again.
“Wow.” He takes both my hands in his, kissing my cheek. “Damn, now that’s a dress. You take my breath away.” The reverence in his voice takes my own breath away. “You look beautiful, Remi.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “Thank you. This place smells incredible.”
“Well, I hope you’re hungry, because the food is great here.”
Since Colton made a reservation and already checked us in, we don’t have to wait long for our table. With his hand resting on the small of my back, we follow the hostess to an intimate booth with a spectacular ocean view.
A moment later, our server arrives.
“Do you like wine?” Colton asks.
“I do.”
He turns back to our server and orders a bottle.
Our waiter delivers our wine, and after it’s poured, he leaves us with menus.
“To our first official date,” Colton toasts.
I tap my glass against his. “Our first date.”
I take a swallow of my wine. “Mmm.” I nod at my glass. “Very good.” I take another sip.
I flip open my menu and peruse the selections. “Everything looks so good.” I crane my neck, checking out a couple of plates being delivered to another table.
“We could each order something and share.”
“You’re not one of those guys who guards his food like the Crown Jewels?” I tease.
“Even if I was, I’d share with you.”
I take a long sip of my wine, trying not to let his comment throw me off balance. “Hey, remember when you thought you weren’t smooth with the ladies?”
He reaches across the table, placing his hand over mine. “It’s only with you, Remi. Everything with you feels easy and comfortable.”
Gah. What is this man trying to do to me?
Releasing my hand, he picks up his glass, smirking over the rim. “Besides, if I’m not mistaken, it was you who wouldn’t share her onion rings.”
I grin at the memory, my eyes darting away. Interrupting the flirtatious moment, my phone begins pinging with multiple texts.
I dig it out of my purse. “I’m so sorry, I thought I turned this thing off.” I can’t help frowning down at it. It’s multiple delivery confirmation notices.
My breath rushes out of me.
The film has started arriving.
“Remi?”
I glance up at him.
“Everything alright?”
“Huh? Um, yeah.” I switch off the phone and drop it in my purse. “I…forgot I have plans with a friend tomorrow.” The lie tastes bitter, but I’m not ready to share my secret. Not even with him.
I force it out of my head. There’s nothing I can do about it tonight, and I refuse to let the Consortium ruin my evening.
After our server takes our order, Colton refills our glasses. “I’ve been meaning to tell you how impressed I am by your work. I even went to your website and ordered a couple prints.”
That information shocks me. “What? You did not.”
“I did.”
“You didn’t have to do that. If you’d told me which ones, I would’ve given them to you.”
He ignores that comment. “Your pictures are amazing.”
I drop my eyes at the compliment, afraid if I don’t, I might tear up. “Thanks.”
“I noticed you have a lot of shots of sea life. We should go diving sometime.”
“Really? I’d love that. Have you ever been to the coral reefs in Fiji?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“It’s so beautiful, Colton. You’d love it. And Fiji’s the perfect place to recharge and disconnect from the world. You should go at least once.”
“Maybe we should go together. You could show me around.” His eyes sparkle with devilish intent.
I’m not sure if he’s being serious, but my stomach flips and my pulse kicks up a notch. I consider it fortunate timing our food arrives before I blurt out that I’ll book the tickets by the time our dessert arrives.
With my first forkful, I moan in culinary bliss. “Oh god, that’s good.”
“If you keep making those sexy sounds, I can’t be held responsible for what happens next.”
I grin around my next forkful.
For the next hour, we share our meals. We talk. We laugh. And we empty the bottle of wine.
I never want this night to end.