I tightened my ponytail. “Why, is it too sexy?”
“It’s the perfect amount of sexy . . .” David bit his lip. “As long as I’m with you at all times.”
I laughed as I slipped into my coat. “Then my diabolical plan to keep you close is working.”
We opted to walk from the apartment to the restaurant where we were meeting Mack.
As we headed out into the night, David moved to the outside of the sidewalk. “Jerry advised me to lose Arnaud,” he said. “He thinks he’s full of shit and a liability.”
So I wasn’t the only one. I glanced at the sidewalk. “What’d you say?”
“I said no. I can’t fire a man at the top of his field based on an allegation. Arnaud has given me no reason to doubt him, and he says all his interactions with her were professional.” David stared forward. “Anyway, it did remind me that you said you didn’t like him a while back.”
I linked my elbow with his. “Right.”
“Well?” he prompted. “I’m asking what made you say that.”
“I really don’t want to get in the middle.” Did I? Even if I hadn’t met Arnaud, I’d be inclined to believe Clare. Maybe shewasbitter over the way David had fired her, but both things could be true. I’d been hit on by a professor in college, and plenty of my friends had been propositioned by superiors. “He’s your friend. It’s not my business.”
“He’s my associate first,” David said. “And the people in my life affect you.”
That was true. I really didn’t like the idea of hanging around Arnaud in any kind of setting. Hiding my feelings to keep the peace was one of the mistakes I’d made with Bill, so I stopped walking and turned to David. “Well, since you asked, I’ll be honest. Arnaud makes meveryuncomfortable. When he looks at me, it’s like he’s undressing me with his eyes.”
David froze, staring at me. “Unfortunately, I’d bet a lot of men look at you that way,” he said. “Didn’tI?”
“Yes, but that was different. It never crossed my mind that you’d like taking advantage of me,” I said. “But Arnaud? I wouldn’t want to be alone with him.”
David rubbed at the lines between his eyebrows, clearly trying to process something that didn’t make sense to him. “Arnaud’s intense, and . . . sometimes people don’t get his humor because he’s not from here. That’s why I handle client relations.”
I shrugged and resumed walking. “Again, I don’t really want to get in the middle, David. But I don’t think it’s fair to write off those around you who are saying something isn’t right.”
After a moment, he blew out a sigh. “All right. I hear you. I’ll look into it further.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t want to bring down the mood, so I tucked my hair behind my ear and smiled up at him. “Have I mentioned today that I love my new earrings? And that later, I intend to show you how much?”
That got me a grin. “Can’t wait.”
David stopped me as we approached the restaurant. “I’m going to wait at the bar and give you and Mack a chance to talk first. And if you change your mind about us meeting, come find me when you finish.”
“Thank you, honey.” I lifted my chin, and he kissed me quickly.
Mack took the news well. He’d suspected something had gone awry with Bill after our last conversation, where I’d broken down in tears in Mack’s arms. I explained that in addition to my despair over Davena, I’d spent the months after her funeral trying to convince myself I wasn’t in love with another man.
“I can tell you’re much lighter, Olivia,” Mack said and took my hand over the table for two he’d gotten near a window. “Much, much lighter. The difference is appalling, actually. You’re glowing.”
“I’m happy, Mack. And in love.Reallove.” I blushed. “I’d like to think maybe even the kind you shared with Davena.”
He looked taken aback. “This is a side of you I’ve never seen. I should like to meet the man who’s brought this out in you.”
“Actually . . . he’s here,” I said, pushing some of my hair behind my ear. “He wants to meet you, but we weren’t sure how you’d react.”
“He’s here now?” Mack asked.
I glanced toward the front of the restaurant. “At the bar.”
Mack stood immediately and signaled for a waiter. “Bring him over, dear. I’ll get us a table with a place for him.”
“You’re sure?” I asked, getting up, too. When he nodded, I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for being supportive.”
