‘I’m not deaf. Just hungry.’
‘I’m sure your food won’t take too long,’ I promised him. ‘You’ve come in at a good time. The lunch rush is over.’
‘Don’t hurry on our behalf,’ Taylor said, passing the menu back to me. ‘The food will take as long as it takes, Ray. You’re the one who wanted to eat out.’
‘We were already in town,’ he replied. ‘I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Who knows when I’ll have a decent meal again.’
Taylor tilted her head towards me. ‘He doesn’t like my cooking. It’s not as good as my mother’s, apparently.’
‘Not even close,’ Ray said morosely. ‘I’m probably going to starve to death.’
‘Considering the amount of food we just bought thatyouchose, I highly doubt that.’ She looked at me again. ‘Have you eaten yet, Jack?’
‘Sorry?’
‘Food. Have you partaken in your own midday meal yet?’
‘No, not yet.’ I checked my watch. ‘I usually grab something about now from the kitchen and eat it in my office.’
‘Why don’t you join us?’ she suggested.
‘Really?’
‘Sure. Save me having to listen to this one complain the whole time.’
‘This one has a name,’ Ray said.
‘See what I mean?’
I hovered. ‘I guess I could. If you’re sure?’
‘I’m having serious déjà vu,’ Taylor said. ‘It’s like last night all over again. Remember when you asked if you could get in the water about five hundred times and I kept saying yes but you still kept asking? Fun times.’
I stared at her.
‘Snarky little thing, isn’t she?’ Ray commented.
She glared at him. ‘I’m just saying, I wouldn’t have invited him if I didn’t want him to join us.’
‘In that case,’ I told her. ‘I’ll just let Fiona know and then I’ll be right back.’
She shrugged. ‘Fine. Only if you want to.’
‘I do want to.’
‘Fine.’
‘Fine.’
‘Good.’
‘It is good.’
Ray sighed. ‘This is going to be a long lunch, isn’t it.’
9
TAYLOR
