“Tell you what, when they deliver our drinks, I’ll come by your table so I can meet him,” he says before catching my eye and smiling.
I smile back in thanks, feeling bad that he has to go out of his way like that.
“Wonderful. They have us out on the terrace,” she says, pointing in the direction of where we’re headed.
He nods and I offer a small wave before following after Jolie. The moment we’re out of earshot, she looks at me with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.
“Do you have any idea who that is?!”
“Uhhh…your neighbor, I guess?”
“Our neighbor?!” She sounds exasperated with me. “Sure, yes, but he’s also the man who founded Giddings Biosciences. The tech company!”
Okay sure, I’ve heard of it. There’s a branch in Austin.
Still, I don’t see why it’s such a big deal.
She grips my arm with her free hand. “Maddie, you might as well have just been sitting by Bill Gates or Michael Dell. You realize that, don’t you?”
I shrug, not really all that impressed. “He seemed really normal.”
She rolls her eyes and curses under her breath. “Only you would say Nate Giddings is normal.”
The guys are sitting at our table when we arrive, glancing over the menu. James takes Ford from Jolie so he can buckle him into a highchair, and she wastes no time filling him in on the development.
“You will never guess who Maddie was just talking to at the bar.”
Before he can guess, she spills the beans.
“Nate Giddings!”
James rears back in shock. “Nate Giddings the tech mogul?”
Jolie’s practically brimming over with excitement. “Yes! He’s going to come by to give Maddie the drink he bought for her and introduce himself.”
She sits down and fluffs her hair before straightening her dress. She urges me to do the same. I don’t.
I glance up at Aiden to see him looking back toward the bar.
“I thought Maddie was dating Brent?” James points out.
“Not anymore!” Jolie hisses.
“What does it matter who Maddie is dating?” Aiden points out.
“Because Nate Giddings was just flirting with her!”
A second later, the terrace door opens and Nate steps out with our drinks in hand. I watch him head over, appreciating his good looks and not so much caring that he’s apparently a famous rich person. I take the time to glance over his outfit. Not at all what a tech mogul ought to be wearing, I think: a black button-down rolled up to his elbows and dark jeans. He looks relaxed and down to earth. Maybe they have him confused with someone else?
James sees Nate and scoots back from the table to stand at attention like he’s watching the queen of England approach. Jolie does the same, so then I feel awkward, as if I have to stand too. Aiden is the only one still sitting by the time Nate reaches our table.
Nate comes to me first, holding out a glass of sangria.
“Thanks for bringing my drink out,” I say with a smile. “You really didn’t have to.”
He shrugs and responds quietly, so that I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who hears. “Couldn’t pass up the chance.”
He offers me a small wink before James rounds the table and extends his hand to him. “Nate, so good to meet you. I’m James Robertson.”
Nate turns to find James’ hand thrust right at his chest.
I feel secondhand embarrassment for him. He and Jolie really need to cool it.
“Nice to meet you,” Nate says politely, right before Jolie presses slightly in front of James so she can talk to Nate.
“James and I really admire what you’ve done with your property. It’s the biggest lot on Meadow Drive, isn’t it? Rumor has it you bought up three adjacent houses to combine them into one private residence.”
Nate blushes—BLUSHES!—before confirming that he did slowly acquire the properties around his main residence.
“I find it’s better for privacy.”
Jolie nods in understanding. “Of course. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live in the public eye like you do.”
There’s a slight pause in conversation, and I utilize it to throw Nate a lifeline.
“Well, I’m sure Nate needs to get back to his family now,” I say.
He laughs and nods. “Yeah, they’re probably wondering where I went. I was only supposed to grab a quick drink at the bar, and then I got distracted.”
His words allude to him sitting down beside me and striking up a conversation. I distracted him.
Now I’m the one blushing as he asks if I’ll walk him back to his table.
I say yes, of course. After how nice he’s been, it’s the least I can do.
I waste no time in apologizing for my family’s behavior as we walk away together.
“I know they can be a little much.”
“It’s all right,” he assures me as we head toward the terrace doors. “They seem really nice, though I didn’t get the chance to meet the guy sitting down. Is he a relative of yours too?”