Annie tried to tug away from him, but his iron grasp held her tight. He glanced down at her hand, ignoring her quiet groans of protest. “You really need a manicure.” He murmured the casual insult like a lover’s words in her ear and released her.
She forced a smile, gently untangling her fingers to take a sip of her water. “Well, it’s hard to keep up with the little things when you’re like me, always on the run.”
“Indeed.” His dark eyes pierced her as sharply as his words, although the rest of his face and body language oozed nothing but adoration. She wasn’t the only one that excelled in deception. “I’ll send Julia up to the suite tonight. She works in the hotel salon.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll make a point of going to see her instead. The less time I spend in that suite, the better.”
Nate smiled wide. “You’ll have to sleep in that bed eventually, Annie.”
“Not while you’re in it,” she snapped.
Their server interrupted at that exact moment, introducing herself as Renee and ending their argument. She had a basket of warm, crusty bread and herb butter. “Good evening, Mr. Reed. Mrs. Reed,” she said with a grin. Everyone seemed exceedingly pleased about their boss’s big news. It was quite the little family here at the Sapphire.
Renee continued on about the fresh catch of the day, but Annie didn’t pay very much attention. She was focused entirely on Nate. He was still glaring at her under his blond lashes, despite appearing to look down at the menu with interest. In the past, his glance could send shivers of anticipation up her spine. At the moment, it made her skin crawl. He was surveying her the way she would another player at the poker table. Reading weaknesses. Judging their reactions.
She didn’t like it one bit.
“Champagne, I think. We’re celebrating tonight.”
The single word snapped Annie out of her thoughts. Champagne? She watched Renee disappear around the corner. “You know I don’t drink.”
Nate took a deep breath, fighting to maintain the look of adoration on his face. “Smile, sweetheart. You do tonight. We have to celebrate our reconciliation. Normal people would order champagne.”
“I didn’t drink champagne when we married. Why would I do it now?”
“Because you want a divorce.” He spoke softly, leaning in. “Don’t you?”
“More than anything.” Annie smiled.
Renee returned with a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes. She filled the glasses, leaving the bottle chilling in a bucket beside the table.
Nate raised his glass, holding it out until Annie reluctantly did the same. “To our marriage,” he said, clinking the crystal against hers.
“And its timely dissolution,” Annie mumbled, quickly bringing the glass to her lips. The golden, bubbly liquid filled her mouth, the flavor surprisingly pleasant and sweet on her tongue. It splashed into her empty stomach, creating a warming sensation that started spreading throughout her body. “Mmm...” She sighed, taking another sip.
Nate watched her suspiciously with his full flute held in midair as she drained half her glass and set it down. “Do you like it?”
“I do.” Annie smiled again, the expression coming much easier than it had before. She had been wound so tightly today, but in an instant she was starting to feel languid, like a house cat stretched out in a sunbeam.
Renee returned just then, ready to take their orders. Annie was suddenly ravenously hungry, ordering more than she would normally. Nate actually smirked through a sip of champagne as she ordered the bacon-wrapped filet and shrimp with the garlic mashed potatoes. He didn’t even know she intended to have dessert, as well. The crème brûlée at Carolina’s was not to be missed.
Renee finished writing and took their menus before she offered to refill her empty glass. Annie accepted gratefully. “What kind of champagne is this? It tastes better than I expected it to.”
“French. And expensive.” Nate frowned, as though he were pinching pennies. More likely he was irritated that his power play hadn’t turned out as he’d hoped.
“Good.” She nearly giggled as she sipped the golden bubbles. The champagne had immediately gone to Annie’s head. She’d told Nate once that she didn’t drink because she didn’t like losing control. That was true, but not entirely. The other reason was that she was a lightweight. Add in that she hadn’t eaten since her layover in Dallas, and you had a recipe for disaster.