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The table was silent while he went around with the salt and pepper grinder for those who wanted the seasonings. Then the waiter smiled brightly. “Is there anything else I can get you? The main course will be here shortly.”
“No, thank you,” Mr. Gravois said in a curt, dismissive tone.
Wade’s appetite had disappeared, but he ate as much as he could swallow. His throat was dry after the prenuptial surprise “talk,” so he drained his water glass.
A passing waiter instantly refilled it, and he nodded his thanks. “More Coke, Sir?”
Wade shook his head, “No, thank you. I’ll stick with water from here on out.”
As they finished their salads, his future father-in-law suddenly asked, “Can I trust you with these notarized documents, Mr. Kennedy?”
“Daddy,”Lydia chided.“His name is Wade.”
“First names will come in time,” he replied, holding up a hand for another glass of the whiskey he appeared to be quite fond of. “Besides, what sort of a name isWade.Did your mother birth you in a river?” He chortled at his own joke, but the rest of the table was silent.
Mrs. Gravois blinked uncomfortably, giving her husband quick glances, but not saying a word when their dinner plates arrived.
After everyone had received their entrée course, Wade said in a quiet, firm voice. “If your daughter trusts me, then I think you have your answer.”
Gravois brushed the comment aside. “This is why I take all matters into my own hands. It’s better if the man of the house has firm control over his household and the family business, whether it’s financial or social.”
“I think trust and respect are also excellent virtues,” Wade couldn’t stop himself from saying. He’d had about enough of this one-sided intimidation.
Lydia’s father stared at him coldly and began cutting up his steak.
Wade gripped his water goblet just as he spotted two women themaître d’seating two women directly across the room.
One was a slim blonde wearing a sexy lace dress from the 1920s era.
Trying not to stare, he took a bite of his own food, but felt eyes on him.
Glancing up again, he locked eyes with Marina, the woman wearing the sexy lace dress. He gave a start and sat up stiffly. He hadn’t recognized her at first because she was the last person he expected to see tonight, but she was absolutely breathtaking.
Marina was here with her friend, Jenna from The Coffee Loft? AtThe Toulouse Garden? This could not be happening. Not tonight during the Gravois ‘family dinner’.
When Marina picked up the menu to look at it, her eyes were in line with Wade’s face across the top of the black folder. Her eyebrows lifted and she gave a jerk, obviously startled when their faces zeroed in on one another.
Wade couldn’t help giving her a small smile. He took a deep breath, his pounding heart slowing. The aggravation from the prenuptial conversation seemed to melt away. All was still right with the world.
Unfortunately, he was having a hard timeun-lockingeyes with her. He just wanted to stare and smile like a goofball.
At that moment, Lydia pressed her lips together, pinching his arm. “What are you looking at? Why are you smiling?” She leaned forward to find the spot that he was looking at. As soon as she made the match, she cleared her throat, blinking her eyes rapidly. “Do you know that woman?”
“Huh?” Wade tried to play dumb, cutting another piece of his steak. “Who are you referring to?”
Lydia jerked her chin. “That woman. Seated at the table across the room and wearing that ridiculous outfit. She obviously doesn’t know how to dress and picked it up at a second-hand store.”
Wade’s temperature rose a notch. To him, Marina was beautiful and quite original. She always had been, and never minded what other people thought.
“That’s not very kind, Lydia,” he murmured. “Not everybody has a personal account with Brunello Cucinelli.”
“Are you trying to insult me?” She made a strangled sound in her throat. Rage was clearly in her facial expression as well as obvious envy.
“You don’t need to get angry, Lydia. It’s not like I’m walking over there to speak to her or join them.”
“It’s all over your face that you want to.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Now you’re jumping to conclusions.”
