Triplets Make Five

He tucked my arm around his and escorted me into the restaurant. And when I entered the front doors, I gasped. The dimly-lit restaurant was lined with booths and tables that had flickering candles on top of them. They were draped in black silken tablecloths that spilled all the way to the floor. It was one of those kinds of restaurants where there was only one menu, and the only thing you got to choose was your main course.

Everything else was just informative as to what you would be getting for the evening.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Preston. His black pants were tailored to his long, toned legs and his black suit jacket fit his body perfectly. The black button-down shirt he had underneath was clinging to the broad muscles of his chest and the black tie that finished off the entire outfit was thin. It accented how long he was. How broad his wingspan was and how long his legs were. I felt the back of my neck heating up as his eyes flickered up to mine, catching me staring just as I darted my eyes down to my menu.

“Anything pique your interest?” Preston asked.

“I’ve never had duck before,” I said.

“I wasn’t talking about the menu.”

I panned my gaze up to his and found him grinning at me. He plucked my menu from between my fingertips, then held his hand out for mine. He was waiting for me to accept his proposal…whatever it was he was proposing. He was giving me the option of taking his hand, but what would that open up? What was behind the door if I decided to reach for the knob?

I found my hand gravitating towards his as I settled my hand within his.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did,” I said. “And the answer is ‘yes’.”

“What color are your eyes?” Preston asked.

“When you figure it out, let me know,” I said.

“So they do change colors.”

“They do. Depending on what I wear, but sometimes with my moods.”

“So your eyes really are the windows to your soul,” he said.

“Somewhat. It’s only when I get angry.”

“And what color do they turn when you’re upset?”

“Hazel,” I said.

“Well, I must be doing something right. I’ve only seen blue and green so far,” he said.

“What color are they right now?”

“Right now? They’re the color of desire.”

I snickered and pulled my hand from his as I shook my head.

“You’re relentless,” I said.

“And yet, here you are.?

?

“I’m here because I lost your bet.”

“You’re here because you agreed to the bet in the first place,” he said. “You could have turned it down.”

“Would you have fired me if I did?”

The playfulness fell from his eyes and he leaned back in his chair. I watched his face settle itself into the professional manner I’d seen throughout the entire week.

Oh shit.