“You made it before the food came out, Gabriel. Are you slacking at work?” Joshua asked.
“Just because I have a responsible job and don’t fuck around being creative all day . . . Whatever that means.” I took an empty seat opposite Joshua who was sitting next to Autumn.
She smiled and I smiled back. Did she know how much I wanted to kiss her right then?
“I don’t draw chalk pictures on Trafalgar square, Gabriel.” Joshua turned to Autumn and rolled his eyes. “Did you forget I’m the CEO of the international marketing agency that I founded?”
“You never let us forget.” It was a cheap shot, but if I hadn’t thought he was trying to impress Autumn with his money and power, I wouldn’t have said it. Joshua didn’t brag. It wasn’t him.
“Wow. Mr. Sunshine has arrived. Mike Green infected your mood again?” he asked. “You need to sack him as a client. I keep telling you.”
“Let’s not talk about my work. Not when we’ve got food to eat,” I said, turning as Dexter approached the table carrying a board full of chateaubriand.
“This is why we come here so often,” Tristan said.
“Don’t forget the wine,” Dexter said.
“It’s the reason I’m marrying him,” Hollie said, bringing in pots of vegetables. Friday night was a guaranteed feast in this house.
“Can we help?” I asked.
Dexter chuckled and a wave of laughter followed him as if everyone was having a joke at my expense. “Everyone pitched in before you arrived, Gabriel.”
“We know it’s why you’re late. You just want to get out of chores,” Tristan said. “I bet he doesn’t lift a finger at home, does he, Autumn?”
All eyes turned to my housemate. Bethany’s nanny. My lover.
“Of course he does,” she said. “He can’t do things if he’s not physically there, though.”
“And that’s my theory proved,” Tristan said. “He avoids places if there are chores to do.”
I wasn’t about to argue over something so petty. I glanced over at Autumn, who seemed to be avoiding looking at anything in particular. God, she looked beautiful—warm and relaxed. I just wanted the world to melt away until only the two of us remained. It was so much easier that way. She was wearing a necklace I hadn’t seen before. Perhaps it was one of Hollie’s designs. It rested delicately on her collarbone. I longed to trace it with my tongue.
Later.
“What’s he like as a boss?” Joshua asked. “Bad tempered and so serious?”
“Oh, he’s not so bad,” she replied, scooping broccoli from the dish. “And Bethany makes up for anything negative.”
I laughed. “Thank God for Bethany.”
“She’s the best.”
“She still go to bed with Bear Bear?” Joshua asked.
“Sure does,” Autumn replied. “Wouldn’t be without him.”
“Grotty little thing,” I added.
“He’s not grotty, Gabriel,” Autumn said. “He’s just well-loved.” She said it in that same even-tempered, patient way she had with Bethany. But it worked. She was always utterly convincing.
Finally, Dexter and Hollie sat, and Beck filled my wine glass with a red that was bound to be good. Dexter had an incredible collection.
“So, Autumn, how are you finding the men in London?” Stella asked.
My throat constricted and the wine I’d just swallowed stuck in my gullet. I tried to choke as quietly as I could.
“You don’t like that Barolo?” Dexter asked. “I can get you something else.”
I managed to swallow. “It’s good. Just . . . fruitier than I was expecting.”
Dexter frowned but didn’t say anything.
“I haven’t started husband shopping quite yet,” Autumn replied with a grin.
“I know a few single guys,” Stella said. “What’s your type?”
Oh, this was going to be interesting.
“I don’t have one really,” she replied.
“Not blond, six one, owns an ad agency?” Joshua asked and Autumn laughed.
I gritted my teeth and pretended I didn’t want to grab him across the table and tell him to leave her alone.
“That’s not true,” Hollie interrupted with a sigh. “She likes losers.”
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch.
“No one would be good enough as far as my sister’s concerned,” Autumn replied.
“Well, your sister loves me,” Joshua said.
“So you think,” Autumn said, gifting him one of her big, bright grins.
“Do I have to ask Hollie’s permission to take you out to dinner?” Joshua asked.
I stared into my wine glass and tried to fix my expression in case anyone saw the rage inside me. Joshua could not take her out to dinner. I hadn’t even done that. There was no way I would allow it. I didn’t want her coming back, giddy from an evening with him. And what if he tried to kiss her?
“Joshua!” Dexter warned as he stood. “Drop it. And, Gabriel, can you help me with something?”
I snapped my head around. There was no way I wanted to leave the table while Joshua was on the prowl. He might come across as a nice guy, but I knew his history with women. And if Hollie knew what I did, there was no way she’d allow it.