“Are you ready to order?” A waiter appeared at their table.
Portia snapped her mouth shut. That was enough sharing for one night.
Chapter43
Portia waved awaya dessert menu and sipped her after-dinner coffee. She lingered to be polite, when all she wanted to do was race home and wait for Aleks. Their stolen moments in the women’s room hadn’t been nearly enough. Plus, she wanted to make sure that the Solveigs hadn’t punished him too badly. Mrs. Solveig had looked pissed when he’d caught her arm.
Across the table, Killian and Dizzie argued over which dessert to order. Portia sighed. The sooner they decided, the sooner she could leave.
Killian ended the discussion by ordering two.
Dizzie playfully nudged him with her shoulder. “You didn’t have to do that.” She smiled up at him. Even from her vantage point, Portia saw the cartoon hearts in her eyes.
“Of course, I did.” Killian leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. Then he sat up. “Portia’s paying for it.”
Portia laughed like she was supposed to.
Dizzie slapped Killian’s hand. “No. She is not paying for our dinner. We invited her, so we pay.”
Killian frowned and cradled his hand. “But the maître d’ said she was paying for everyone’s dinners. We’re everyone.”
“Ohmygod. We are not ‘everyone.’” She formed air quotes around the last word. “We’re not even remotely close.”
Portia couldn’t help but stare at Dizzie’s nails. She would never be able to forget what the other woman was capable of doing with those nails.
“I’m so sorry, Portia. I apparently can’t take him anywhere.”
“It’s okay.” Portia gave her a soft smile. “Tommy was the same way. There’s a reason they were friends.”
Startled silence fell over the table. Portia wasn’t sure who was more surprised at her unsolicited mention of Tommy, her or her dinner companions. But Aleks was right. She couldn’t be afraid to talk about him. He’d been an important part of her life. Killian’s life too. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—pretend that he hadn’t lived. That he hadn’t loved and been loved in return.
Killian offered her a sad smile. When Dizzie started to say something—probably another apology—Portia caught her eye and shook her head. She hadn’t brought Tommy up to make Dizzie feel bad.
“So, how are things going at the company, Portia?” Killian asked. “Have you managed to sort out the other problem you uncovered?” He tapped his wrist, mimicking an injection.
“Killian!” Dizzie gasped.
“It’s fine, Dizzie,” Portia said. “We closed down the lab yesterday. Now I need to figure out what to do with the people who know the recipe.”
At Killian’s look of curiosity, she continued. “There are two scientists and a couple of um, civilian entrepreneurs who know how to make it. I can’t let them go with that knowledge, but I don’t want to keep them locked up indefinitely.”
“In those cells?” Dizzie shuddered. “Zero stars, do not recommend.”
Portia laughed without humor. “Exactly. My father’s answer would be to eliminate them or use them. Since neither are viable options, I need another way.”
When they started to question her, she shrugged. “No, I don’t know exactly what, but I have an idea.”
Changing the subject slightly, she gave them a quick rundown of what happened when she visited the lab. “Once all the meetings were set up, I asked Melanie about the numbers. Now, among all the other issues, I have nearly a dozen meetings with scientists to discuss their projects.”
“No rest for the wicked,” Killian said with a smile.
She smiled in return. “But that wasn’t all.”
“What else did they want?” Dizzie asked. “Money?”
Portia laughed. “That’s probably what at least half the meetings will be about. No, the craziest thing is that she said there were two requests for coffee meetings and three requests for dates.” Portia still found that last bit shocking, as well as hilarious and the tiniest bit flattering.
“Dates?” Dizzie giggled. “Those are some brave scientists.”
