7
HALLIDAY
I speed up,eager to get to the breakfast meeting with Sterling to talk about last night’s date with Juliette.
She was early. I spotted her across the restaurant moments after Sterling asked me to tell him about my family. I never got to go over date preparation with him before she arrived. But I’m sure he coped fine.
Juliette seemed happy when I made the introductions. Her eyes lit up, and I didn’t miss the way they roamed over Sterling’s muscular frame in his suit after he kissed her hello on her cheeks and complimented her.
Sterling Beaufort is charming.
A gentleman.
A silver fox.
Of course she found him attractive. I just hope there was a deeper connection once they had dinner and got to know one another.
I thank the doorman of the hotel, The Songbird, as I walk inside and head to their ground floor restaurant. Sterling stands as I approach. He’s wearing a deep blue suit today and silver tie that matches the flecks in his stubble.
His eyes drop over my workout tights and vest and unexpected heat fires low in my belly as I approach.
“Good morning.” He kisses my cheeks, one hand wrapping around my upper arm as he holds me close.
“So? How was it?”
His hand lingers on my arm for a moment before he lets go. Energy zings around my system. It’s Juliette. It must be. I could feel her attraction to him last night. I didn’t get much of a read off Sterling. But I’m sure his attraction came later once he talked with her.
I knew he’d be quick to match the moment I met him. I could sense it. This is what the universe wants.
“Been working out?” Sterling eyes my rosy cheeks, and I wave a hand in the air, wanting to get straight to the point as he pulls my chair out for me.
“I went to a sunrise yoga class I found online. They do it in the park. Quite uplifting. Maybe you can come next time?”
His eyes dance with amusement. “Maybe.”
“So?” I eye him across the table as he takes a seat opposite me, unable to hold back my beaming smile. “Last night?”
“Last night, you looked beautiful. Were you going somewhere special after I saw you?”
I laugh, recognizing his compliments as deflections. If he’s feeling coy about talking about his date last night, perhaps it ended in more than just a goodbye.
“I went for drinks with Sinclair and Zoey.”
“Ah.” He leans back in his seat, his eyes roaming over my make-up free face and messy bun. His eyes soften but before he can say anything, the server comes to take our order, pouring us both a coffee.
“So last night? How was it?” I ask once again, lifting my cup to take a sip.
“A disaster.”
I almost spit out my coffee.
“What? Why?”
Sterling sighs. “The restaurant screwed up and her entrée had gluten in. She felt sick even before the main course arrived. I dropped her home less than an hour after you left.”
My mouth drops open. “Oh god. Poor Juliette.”
“She’s okay. I called her this morning and checked.”
