When we reached the table, a man rose to his feet. “Griffin, nice to see you.”
“You as well. This is my girlfriend, Phoebe. She was kind enough to join us.”
“Nice to meet you, Phoebe,” Jude said, shaking my hand. “This is my wife, Emma.”
“Hi, Mrs. Carson.”
“Oh, please, just call me Emma. And call this grump here Jude.”
“My darling,” Jude said, “Griffin is a potential business partner.”
“So, that means I should act like you’re super important and I’m afraid of you?”
Jude looked stunned. “Not afraid, no.” He glanced at Griffin, who was clearly biting back laughter.
I had a hunch that he didn’t expect this sort of dynamic either. It was unfair, but I’d imagined a slightly snobbish and uptight couple.
Jude looked straight at me. “You know, I have to say, I was very surprised when Griffin told me that he was in a long-term relationship. I didn’t hear anything of the sort when I asked around about him.”
I laughed nervously, putting my hands on my lap. Griffin covered them with his under the table.
I startled and smiled at him, hoping I looked doe-eyed with appreciation and not that his touch was a surprise.
“That’s because Phoebe doesn’t like to attend many events. They make her nervous.”
He was very good at this. I nodded, looking from him to Jude and Emma. “I really am, so excuse me if I seem a bit like a fish out of water.” And then I decided to be myself, just as Griffin said. “If I’m honest, fancy restaurants make me a bit uneasy. It’s not my scene, so to speak.”
Emma put a hand on her chest. “Darling, we are two peas in a pod, then. Honestly, it’s not ours either. We don’t come from money, you know. For the first twenty years of our marriage, we really struggled financially. For me, coming to places like this is almost a waste.”
Jude looked at her with affection. “You do enjoy the food.”
“True,” she said, “just not the price tag.”
I felt as if a weight had lifted off my shoulders. At least I didn’t have to pretend that I knew my way around a fancy restaurant. I could focus all my faking efforts on pretending that I had the hots for Griffin instead.
Somehow, I knew that wasn’t going to be too hard.
I tilted my head, looking in his direction. “And Griffin’s very kind to me. He knows that I’m a homebody, so he doesn’t pressure me into joining him.”
“I don’t know how the two of you managed to keep this under wraps,” Jude said. “People I’ve spoken to are convinced that Griffin isverysingle. They’ve told me a lot of stories.”
“Jude,” Griffin said, covering my hand again and squeezing it lightly. “Please don’t believe everything you hear. Most of the stuff is made up or exaggerated.”
Jude nodded. “You know, I’m starting to think you’re right.”
A waiter came and recited the special of the day while handing out the menus. Jude ordered a bottle of white wine and another of red right off the bat.
Once the waiter left, the focus shifted away from me, as everyone was trying to decide what to order.
“I’ll take the sea bass and glazed honey with steamed vegetables,” I said.
“Anyone want an appetizer?” Jude asked.
“Yes, please. The beef tartar sounds delicious,” Emma said. “And so does the fried squid. Want to order both and share?”
I smiled to myself. She sounded a bit like a foodie.
Griffin turned to look at me. “What do you think about sharing a starter too? I’m starving.”
