She put her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Then wished fervently that what they had would never change.
* * *
Éternité was packed by the time Vanessa and Justin arrived. It was an interesting melding of French and Japanese sensibilities. The transparent hangings with hand-embroidered designs swirling like flags from the high ceiling reflected the meeting of east and west. Justin had never been to the restaurant, but he assumed it would be excellent—after all, it was Mark’s.
The tuxedoed maître d’ led them to a private party room on the second level. Justin’s mouth watered at the scent of seared meat and seafood and butter and sauces. He hadn’t realized he was quite that hungry. He turned to Vanessa. “Are you feeling okay? No nausea or anything?”
“I’m fine.”
He squeezed her gently, and they went in to meet their dinner companions.
Her brothers, Iain and Mark, were both dark with what everyone called the classic Pryce profile—clean and aristocratic, with a high forehead and a patrician angle to the bridge of the nose. Nobody looking at them would have ever questioned the family connection. Justin noted Iain’s slightly narrowed eyes. His friend was probably feeling conflicted right now. He was quite protective of his siblings, since Dane, the oldest Pryce brother, was somewhat of a jerk. Justin considered Iain the “good cop” of the two, while Mark was just laid back.
As predicted, they’d also brought their fiancées. Next to Iain was a brunette with a shy smile who must be Jane Connolly. How surprising. Justin had always thought his friend would end up with a flashy model named after a fruit. Mark had come with Hilary Rosenberg, whom Justin was familiar with already. He and her boss were related by marriage.
Hilary and Jane rose and hugged Vanessa, then Hilary introduced Jane and Justin, while the Pryce men greeted their sister.
“Where are your folks?” Justin asked.
“They’re both running late,” Mark said. “Just called a few minutes ago. Separately, of course. We better talk before they show.”
Justin quirked an eyebrow. Surely Salazar and Ceinlys could be civilized for something like this, even if it came during their divorce. After all, they’d been civilized while they were married, and their relationship had been nothing more than a wedded farce.
Iain turned to Vanessa. “Tell me how this came about.”
“How it came about? We eloped. What’s there to say?”
Mark snorted. “You’re not the eloping type.” He opened the menu and perused it. A superfluous gesture. Mark probably knew every item by heart. “Don’t get the special,” he said.
“Why not?” Justin asked, eyeing the tuna.
“Specials generally mean ‘old but not yet bad’ stuff we’re trying to unload. The lobsters are good today,” Mark said.
And most likely the most expensive item. The menu didn’t have prices on it, but Justin could play this. “Then we’ll have lobsters.”
“An excellent choice!” Jane said. “André is a genius with lobsters.”
“Didn’t you say that about him and lamb last time?” Iain asked.
She looked up at him adoringly. “He’s a genius with anything related to food.”
Justin watched the lovebirds in front of him chatting and smiling. There was something about them that made his chest ache. Maybe it was the total intimacy and easy way the couples interacted. Justin didn’t know how long they’d been
together, but it couldn’t have been more than a few months.
He wished he and Vanessa had the same kind of easy rapport, but things had been tense between them for the past few months. Right now she was staring at the menu without really reading anything. “What’s wrong?” he whispered. “Don’t you see anything you like?”
“No. I’m sure everything’s great.”
A sheen of sweat glistened along her hairline. “Too warm in here?” Justin asked, but she shook her head.
“So, tell us how he proposed,” Hilary said. “I think it’s awesome that you couldn’t wait to get married. So romantic.”
“We can elope if you want,” Mark said, and she slapped his arm with a laugh.
“I proposed on my plane. With that ring right there.”
Vanessa tilted her hand so everyone could see it.