Mr. Easton grunted, pulling out his phone. “Would you like me to add him to the reservation?”
The elevator doors opened but I stood still, unable to comprehend what he’d just asked. He moved out of the elevator, unaware that I wasn’t behind him.
When I didn’t answer, he swiveled his head around, trying to find me. I was still in the elevator staring at him. Our eyes met.The doors began to close, and he thrust his expensive loafers between them, causing them to reopen.
Clearing my throat, I shook my head as I stepped over the threshold.
“He had to leave Saturday morning to go back to work. So no, you don’t need to amend the reservations,” I answered.
He huffed, placing his hand on my lower back, leading me to the underground parking garage.
“What happened back there?” he asked, still steering me toward his sleek black car.
“You caught me off guard. You were being nice,” I answered.
“I can be nice.”
“I wasn’t aware you were capable of the emotion. I was waiting to see if it got cold from hell freezing over.”
The side of his mouth pushed down, like I’d offended him by my admission, which made no sense whatsoever.
“Congratulations.” He led me to the passenger seat of his vehicle, and I must have been in a stupor because it didn’t occur to me what was happening until he opened the door.
“I have my own car,” I stated, moving out of his grasp.
“Yes, I assumed you did, but I refuse to place the good people of Los Angeles County in danger by putting you on the road with your stomach about to crawl out of your throat and eat everyone in its path.”
I chuckled and got into the car. I was tired, my brain not letting me sleep much with the thoughts of Aurora’s project. Oh, and my wedding. What would it hurt to have him drive me? With as uptight as he was, I could only assume he would drive like an old lady.
When we reached the restaurant, I couldn’t hide the smirk on my face.
“What?” he asked before the valet could open my door.
“You drove exactly like I thought you would.”
“And how is that?”
“Like an elderly lady with ten pounds of cocaine in her trunk.”
As I sauntered into the restaurant, searching for my best friend, I heard his laugh behind me.
Chapter 9
Mr. Easton’s large hand engulfed my upper arm, stopping me when I noticed Jules and Cole laughing together as Aurora watched with rapt attention.
“Hold on,” Mr. Easton whispered in my ear, causing goosebumps to crawl up my neck.
“Why?” I whispered back, for some odd reason matching his energy.
“I haven’t seen Cole laugh like that in a long time.”
I opened my mouth to let the snarky comment lounging on my tongue out, but then I glanced at him. His strong face softened when he watched his best friend laugh with my best friend.
“What’s the significance?” I already inferred that Cole didn’t laugh often and even less often with women.
“Cole has raised Aurora since she was a little girl. Their parents died in a car accident.” Mr. Easton cleared his throat, a habit he had when he wanted to say more than what he had.
I wasn’t sure, and it may have been the subdued lighting of the restaurant, but I could’ve sworn he was blushing.