heated and her butt warmed long before her nose did.
“Porter’s in town. It’s the only restaurant other than the diner, but the steak is excellent.” He paused. “They serve chicken too and a few vegetarian dishes...if that’s what you prefer.”
“I love steak.” She grabbed at that, happy to have found common ground. Maybe you couldn’t build a relationship on steak, but they had to start somewhere.
He glanced at her and smiled. “Good.”
As they entered the restaurant, Christian was greeted with familiar smiles and they were seated at what she was proudly told was the best table, overlooking the river. It was a Tuesday night and there were only a few other customers who, to give them credit, did their best not to stare openly. As a newcomer, she was granted temporary celebrity status in town. All that was missing were the paparazzi. The staff had left this corner of the restaurant empty and it was as private as she could have hoped.
Once seated, they talked about inconsequential things. The menu and town. Christian’s job and whether Raquel wanted to continue on with the tradition of running the floral shop as clan witch.
“I don’t want to push Lois out, but I think we’re going to have trouble working together.”
“She can be difficult,” Christian said diplomatically.
“I noticed that.”
Some of her frustration must have come through in her tone. Christian sighed and reached across the table for her hand. Startled by his action, she stared at their joined hands for a moment before looking up into his concerned gaze. “This is a stressful time for you. Coming to a new clan. Being asked to assume your duties right away on a major project. Taking a husband.” He smiled gently. “I want you to know that I’ll help you in any way I can. To ease the transition. The ceremony is in three weeks, but we don’t have to rush this relationship.”
It felt as if someone closed their hand around her heart and squeezed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you have a lot on your plate and I don’t want to cause you any extra stress if I can avoid it. I’m sure I’ll make mistakes. I only ask that you let me know when I do.”
She swallowed past a lump in her throat. The temptation was there to bring up his conversation with Aiden, but she wouldn’t throw that at him. Not when she’d already decided to move past it.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. “What is it?”
“You kissed my sister.” A blush crept up her cheeks. “And my mother. You kissed them both before me.”
“I didn’t think anything of it,” he said carefully. “It’s how I say goodbye to my own mother.”
“I’m not saying...” She tipped her head as she considered how to put into words the crazy mess of emotions that hit her every time she was in his presence. The mess of emotions she’d been struggling with since she found out this was all about duty to him, anyway. She wanted a clean start. “I didn’t mean for that to come out as an accusation. It’s just that this is all so strange. Everything out of order.”
He’d placed his menu on the table. His fingers toyed with the laminated edge. “And how do you think it should be? We’ll end up at the altar like everyone else.”
She shook her head. “For most people, that’s the ending, for us it’s the beginning.”
“We’ve known each other our whole lives.”
“ She’s in love with an idea and a face ...” The truth hurt but it was always better to face it. “I knew a picture and a pen pal. Do you think you know me?”
He gave her a heated look that should have melted her insides. “Not as well as I’d like, no. But we’re changing that—” He broke off as the waitress approached to take their drink order. When she was gone, he reached across the table and took Raquel’s hand. He had big hands, calloused from the sword. He managed the co-op. Doubtful that his hardened skin and strong grip came from that work.
“Porter’s in town. It’s the only restaurant other than the diner, but the steak is excellent.” He paused. “They serve chicken too and a few vegetarian dishes...if that’s what you prefer.”
“I love steak.” She grabbed at that, happy to have found common ground. Maybe you couldn’t build a relationship on steak, but they had to start somewhere.
He glanced at her and smiled. “Good.”
As they entered the restaurant, Christian was greeted with familiar smiles and they were seated at what she was proudly told was the best table, overlooking the river. It was a Tuesday night and there were only a few other customers who, to give them credit, did their best not to stare openly. As a newcomer, she was granted temporary celebrity status in town. All that was missing were the paparazzi. The staff had left this corner of the restaurant empty and it was as private as she could have hoped.
Once seated, they talked about inconsequential things. The menu and town. Christian’s job and whether Raquel wanted to continue on with the tradition of running the floral shop as clan witch.
“I don’t want to push Lois out, but I think we’re going to have trouble working together.”
“She can be difficult,” Christian said diplomatically.
“I noticed that.”
Some of her frustration must have come through in her tone. Christian sighed and reached across the table for her hand. Startled by his action, she stared at their joined hands for a moment before looking up into his concerned gaze. “This is a stressful time for you. Coming to a new clan. Being asked to assume your duties right away on a major project. Taking a husband.” He smiled gently. “I want you to know that I’ll help you in any way I can. To ease the transition. The ceremony is in three weeks, but we don’t have to rush this relationship.”
It felt as if someone closed their hand around her heart and squeezed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you have a lot on your plate and I don’t want to cause you any extra stress if I can avoid it. I’m sure I’ll make mistakes. I only ask that you let me know when I do.”
She swallowed past a lump in her throat. The temptation was there to bring up his conversation with Aiden, but she wouldn’t throw that at him. Not when she’d already decided to move past it.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. “What is it?”
“You kissed my sister.” A blush crept up her cheeks. “And my mother. You kissed them both before me.”
“I didn’t think anything of it,” he said carefully. “It’s how I say goodbye to my own mother.”
“I’m not saying...” She tipped her head as she considered how to put into words the crazy mess of emotions that hit her every time she was in his presence. The mess of emotions she’d been struggling with since she found out this was all about duty to him, anyway. She wanted a clean start. “I didn’t mean for that to come out as an accusation. It’s just that this is all so strange. Everything out of order.”
He’d placed his menu on the table. His fingers toyed with the laminated edge. “And how do you think it should be? We’ll end up at the altar like everyone else.”
She shook her head. “For most people, that’s the ending, for us it’s the beginning.”
“We’ve known each other our whole lives.”
“ She’s in love with an idea and a face ...” The truth hurt but it was always better to face it. “I knew a picture and a pen pal. Do you think you know me?”
He gave her a heated look that should have melted her insides. “Not as well as I’d like, no. But we’re changing that—” He broke off as the waitress approached to take their drink order. When she was gone, he reached across the table and took Raquel’s hand. He had big hands, calloused from the sword. He managed the co-op. Doubtful that his hardened skin and strong grip came from that work.
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