I clenched my hand on Pace’s thigh.
Hard.
Pace caught my hand up in his and gave it a squeeze.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” I asked worriedly.
Pace’s face tipped down and his eyes met mine. They were sparkling with humor.
“Honey,” he rumbled. “Nothing against you or anything, but you have puny hands. My legs are muscular. You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”
My lips twitched.
“Are you gonna finish that salad?” he asked as he turned his eyes to glance down at my half-eaten bowl of salad.
I pushed it toward him. “No, but I drenched it in ranch. Unlike you.”
He grinned. “That’s okay. I can still eat it.”
And he did.
I alternated watching him eat and watching Jackson glare holes at us, then his wife.
And by the time Pace realized that his food wasn’t going to make it in time, I was fighting a losing battle.
I was nervous.
Not only did Pace make butterflies swarm in my belly, but Jackson’s stare was making me uneasy.
“Shit,” Pace said as he looked at his watch. “If I don’t leave now, I’m going to be late.”
I pushed him to get out of the booth. “Go. I drove myself here. I also have a wallet.”
He opened his mouth to disagree with me, but I shook my head. “No. I have more than enough money to cover dinner for once. Go. Hurry. Then call me to tell me how it went.”
He looked torn, but he did get out of the booth.
However, before he was too far out, he turned, grabbed me around the neck, and then hauled me in close for a hug.
My arms went around him almost uncertainly.
Not because I didn’t want to hug him, but because I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him and never let go.
“Be good,” he growled. “Let me know when you get home, okay?”
I would have even without him asking me to call.
I was addicted to the man. Why would I waste an opportunity to talk to him by not telling him that I was home?
That’s right, I wouldn’t.
“Yes, sir,” I teased.
He gave me one final squeeze, and then took a huge gulp of his sweet tea.
With one final roll in his hand, he quickly pecked me on the nose and took off before I could process that he’d just kissed me.
Pace Vineyard had kissed me.
Sure, it hadn’t been the kind of kiss that I’d wanted, but that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t take anything that I could get. Especially when it came to anything Pace Vineyard related.
I felt like a hole was being burned in my side seconds later, so I chanced a glance over at Jackson. He was staring at me hard, and I began to feel a little nervous.
Thankfully, the food arrived not long after, and I had an excuse.
“Can you bring me some to-go boxes?” I requested. “My, errrm, man had to leave. He had a work function. I’m just going to take this food home.”
She smiled apologetically. “Yes, I’ll bring you some boxes. I’m sorry again that it was late.”
I shrugged. “It’s not your fault.”
The waitress’s eyes widened. “With that we agree. I swear he deliberately knocked that out of my hands.”
That was because he had.
“I think he did, too,” I whispered conspiratorially. “He used to be my man’s boss. Let’s just say that I don’t like him very much.”
The waitress shook her head, chanced a glance over her shoulder, and blanched.
“I’ll be right back with those boxes,” she whispered.
That was when I saw that Jackson had once again gotten up and made his way over to the table.
I stiffened.
“He left you all by yourself?” Jackson smiled.
It was an oily smile, and unpleasant.
“He had to go to a work function,” I said. “You knocked our food down and he didn’t have time to wait.”
My ‘thanks for that’ went unsaid.
His smile made me want to punch him in the mouth.
“That’s too bad,” he said. “I…”
“Hey, sis,” Ford said, startling us both. “Sorry I’m late. Are you ready to go?”
I looked up to see Ford decked out in head to toe black. He was wearing a black t-shirt that said ‘KPD SWAT’ on it, and black tactical pants that were tucked into black tactical boots.
He looked all official and shit.
“Yes,” I paused. “But I’m waiting for the check and the to-go boxes.”
Ford glanced at Jackson and dismissed him as if he was unimpressed.
My lips twitched when I saw Jackson stiffen in affront.
“I don’t have much time,” he said. “I was busy when Pace called to tell me he had to leave you all alone.” Ford glanced at Jackson again. “Can I help you?”
Jackson took that as the dismissal that it was and moved off. When he got to his table, he held his hand out for his wife, and she reluctantly took the proffered hand.
I moved my eyes back to my brother to see his sparkling with mirth.