Chapter 28 #2
"However, please don't do any major construction. That way I'll have a place to stay when I come for visits, at least until it sells. Okay?"
"I can do that."
We load back up into the Rover and head to lunch.
Joshua is going to meet us after all. I text Greg to let him know where we're going, but he declines as his meetings are running late.
We pull up to the restaurant and I see Joshua pacing outside, he looks nervous.
I hear a gasp from the back seat and turn to Ana.
"What's the matter, Ana?" Duncan asks.
"Nothing. I thought it was just going to be us for lunch."
"No, I invited my boss, Joshua. Remember me talking about him? He was my lieutenant and then captain in the Army."
"Yes, I just...maybe I should get a taxi home?"
"No, come have lunch with us. Then we can go back to Duncan's and try on our new dresses. You can help me figure out my makeup and hair for tomorrow night." She's not running back to him if I can help it.
Duncan jumps out and opens our doors for us. As he opens Ana's door, I see Joshua stiffen. Okay, now I'm curious as to what's going on. Ana is dragging her feet as she walks behind us.
"Come on, slow poke," I tease her. She smiles at me and then I notice her make an internal decision. She has something weighing heavily on her, more than the situation with Jonathon. She straightens her shoulders, brushes her hands down the front of her outfit, and walks with her head high.
"Okay." She smiles at Duncan, and then looks at Joshua again.
"Hello, ma'am, I'm Joshua Donovan." He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. I see her smile shyly at him.
"Joshua, my sister, Ana Davidson."
Joshua puts her hand on his arm to lead her into the restaurant.
We slide into a booth with Ana and me in the center and the guys on the ends. I've always wanted to come to this restaurant.
"I'm excited to be here. I have to admit Hell's Kitchen is one of my few guilty pleasures I watch while I run."
"Hell's Kitchen?" Duncan asks me curiously.
"Yes, a Gordon Ramsay show where he yells at cooks. I love it. I've wanted to come to one of his restaurants for a while now."
"We can go to his other restaurant for dinner tomorrow before the gala." He smiles as he takes my hand.
I feel like a fangirl, but I love cooking shows. I don't cook like Ana does, but I can and I'm learning more from the cooking shows.
Lunch goes on without any hitches until the very end when Lawrence makes an appearance. Ana bristles and Duncan looks ready to kill.
"Well, hello to you all again." He acts like the cat that swallowed the canary. What's going on?
"Hello, Lawrence, are you following me?" I ask because I'm beginning to worry he is. I also wonder if he knows what happened at my apartment in DC.
"Well, darling, no, but if you want me to, I'll comply." He smiles smugly at me.
"Do I need to tell you again that she's mine and you're not to be around her?" Duncan growls at him as he stands to look down at Lawrence. Lawrence cringes and steps back. Go, Big Guy.
"Listen, caveman, this is a public restaurant. I just stopped by to say hello to Mrs. Davidson." I see Ana struggle next to me. This guy knows Jonathon and he could cause problems for Ana the way she's acting.
"I was just getting ready to head home to Jonathon. Would you like me to pass him a message?" She pushes me out to rise. Joshua stands too and looks like he's going to stop her. She looks at him and then to Lawrence and back to us.
"I'll give you a lift, I was heading there for a meeting with him." She winces and looks panicked at me.
"Ana, would you prefer Duncan and I give you a ride home?"
"Um, no, I'll ride with Lawrence. Thank you for the enjoyable day and the early Christmas gifts, Maya," she says as she lifts her purse.
"No problem, sweetie." I lean over and kiss her. Duncan kisses her cheek and Joshua kisses her knuckles and smiles at her.
Shortly after Ana leaves, Joshua runs off, leaving Duncan and me alone.
"Okay, baby, ready to go mark off more surfaces from my list," he says, and I laugh at him.
We head back to the flat and are greeted by the concierge with my purchases. There are several garment bags and smaller bags with the gifts in them. I bought James’s Christmas gifts and something each for Derek and Greg.
"Baby, did you leave anything at the store?" He laughs.
"Yes! Can I borrow the spare bedroom to hang these? You can't go in there, though." I want to surprise him.
I don't generally dress formally unless it's for work. I'm very nervous. Ana set me up to have my hair and makeup done.
"Of course, use the room across from ours." My insides tighten at him calling his place ours.
This is a life I want but know I can never have. I need to change the subject and focus on him.
"Honey, I bought you a pocket kerchief that matches my dress. Is that okay?" He walks over to me with the long garment bags in one hand and several other bags in the other.
"Baby, I like you picking out stuff for me." He leans down to kiss me. "Now go change into some jeans and something warm, I'm taking you out."
"I thought we had surfaces to try out?" I quip back.
"Baby, I'm going to have you on some more surfaces later.
First, I want to take you out to do something fun, just you and me.
I'll hang these in the room if you want to head in there after you change to open the bags.
I'll stay out." His smile is devious as he looks me up and down.
I know he's thinking of the surfaces yet to try.