“You idiot! I knew I should’ve sent someone else to take care of the Tremaine problem.”
Dizzie gasped, as did several of the onlookers. That appeared to be what snapped Mrs. Solveig out of her rant.
Slightly subdued, she allowed her husband to usher her away from Dizzie’s table. But not without one more withering glare at Portia. She extended it to Aleks when she saw he hadn’t moved.
Portia stepped up behind him and put her hand on his arm. “Thank you,” she whispered over his shoulder. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”
Probably.Not wanting to worry her, he just shrugged. “No.”
“Come by tonight?” Her words were barely a whisper.
His breath caught. Had she really just asked that? He nodded.
She squeezed his forearm. “You can go,” she said. “I’ve got this.”
He was reluctant to leave her. Honestly, what he really wanted was to join her for dinner with the St. Johns.
She stepped away and he felt the loss immediately. He pivoted slightly, tracking her movements in his periphery.
She drew the maître d’ to the side and whispered in his ear. His expression cleared and some of the tension dropped from his shoulders.
He grasped her hands in his, vigorously shaking them as he smiled and responded. She smiled in return.
The maître d’ dropped her hands, then clapped to get the attention of servers and patrons alike. “Ladies and gentlemen. If you would, please return to your seats. Your meals will be out shortly. And I’m pleased to inform you that Ms. Tremaine will be covering all your dinners this evening. Please accept our apologies for the disturbance and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Very nicely done, Portia.She’d come late to the fight, but she was smoothing it over the best way she could. Which made sense. This was her city and the goodwill would go a long way to building her reputation beyond the Ice Queen.
Aleks rubbed the crease of his brow. If only Mrs. Solveig understood that.
“Mr. Lind.” He turned toward Dizzie when she said his name. “On behalf of myself and my sister, thank you for stepping in.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he insisted.
“Yes, you did,” she said with a gentle smile. “Would you like to join us? We can easily add another place.” She smiled at the waiters who were replacing the soiled tablecloth and place settings.
His heart leapt. She was offering him everything he’d ever wanted. His gaze flickered to Portia, who watched the interplay closely.
“Thank you so much for the offer. Unfortunately, I’m needed elsewhere.” With a sigh, he looked in the direction of the Solveigs’ table. He couldn’t see them at all from his current position.
“Duty calls?” Dizzie asked. Her gaze flicked from Aleks to Portia and back again.
“Something like that.”
He wanted to let her know that Portia was in a delicate space, but that wasn’t his place. Not tonight and maybe not ever.
“Enjoy your dinner,” he said.
“Thank you.” Speculation lingered in her gaze.
St. John nodded.
With a last glance at Portia, he turned away to face the music.
Chapter42
“Well, that was exciting,”Dizzie said when the crowds around the table had dispersed.
Portia waited for her to comment on Portia’s abrupt exit, but the other woman seemed more focused on Mrs. Solveig and her very public outburst.
