“My treat,” Jude says, like he can hear the mental list of groceries I could buy for the price of two of these concoctions.
“No thanks,” I say primly. “Unlike Taco, I don’t require treats.”
“Please. It’s the least I can do after being… what did you call me the other day? The world’s most apologetic life ruiner?”
“That title could be revoked, you know. We still have weeks to go before the wedding, and every moment you spend with me is a moment you could change your mind.”
“Have you ever considered that I might change yours?”
I look over at him. In a slight departure from his usual straight-from-the-office appearance, he’s got a dense five o’clock shadow, and his collar is unbuttoned and tie-free. His rolled shirtsleeves reveal apair of distressingly toned forearms that I havenobusiness staring at. But there are veins and muscles and—is that what I think it is?
A dark tattoo peeks out from the underside of his left arm and draws my gaze like water going down a gutter. It’s the last thing I would expect from Mr. Lawyer McContracts, and my brain can’t stop itself from remembering the way Calvin barely tried to hide his disappointment when I came home with tattoos of my own.It’s just not what I’m into, babe.
But maybe Jude is.The thought flies through my mind before I can stop it, and I force my eyes away from his skin. I think I do need that drink after all.
“Impossible,” I finally respond. “I’m extremely stubborn and fully committed to your emotional makeover.”
“Haven’t you ever heard that saying about embracing change, since it’s all we can ever count on?”
“Oh, I’ve already filled my Abrupt Life Changes bingo card. This year, I’m signing up for the Peace and Predictability package.”
“I didn’t realize the life of a wedding planner was so tumultuous.”
I look back up at him, ignoring the way my blood fizzes under his unwavering gaze. “Well, it’s not. Choosing the quiet life of a cottage-dwelling event planner calmed the tumult, but now you’re threatening to throw me back out to sea.”
For the first time since I sat down, he takes a sip of his drink, his searchlight eyes scanning my face over the rim of his glass. He lowers it and says, “You look like a pretty strong swimmer to me.”
My heart lurches to a stop before resuming its job.
“I’m surprised you have any confidence in me after your visit to my cottage,” I admit, curling the corner of the menu in front of me. “I was definitely treading water that night.”
He lifts a shoulder and takes another sip of his drink. “We all need to drown our sorrows once in a while. And anyway, I take full responsibility for driving you to make that particular life choice.”
“Oh, you don’t get to take all the credit, trust me.”
His dark eyebrows rise in faint surprise. “Who on earth is making you more miserable than me? I’ll need to try harder.”
My smile is halfhearted at best when I think of Calvin embarkingon family life with Brooke. But instead of the usual pang of longing, I’m hit with a flare of unexpected anger: at Calvin for asking me to plan his wedding, and at myself for agreeing to it, no matter what opportunities it opened up for saving Larkwood. But there’s no way I’m getting into all that with Jude, who probably wouldn’t understand unrequited love if the dictionary definition got up and did a pole dance for him. I sit up a little straighter. “Unfortunately for you, that’s a secret I won’t be divulging.”
He turns more fully toward me, and I’m trapped like a fly in his dark, honey-colored gaze. “I could take a guess.”
My eyes run away from his, landing on the tattoo peeking out from beneath his rolled shirt sleeve. I can only see half of it, but the distinctive forked tail feathers are instantly recognizable.A swallow. It’s simple, all black linework. I force myself to look away. “It’s cute that you think you know me so well.”
“I’m picking up on little things.” His gaze flicks to my nervous hands, curling my menu. “I bet I could order your new favorite drink.”
“Does that mean you missed my aversion to unrequested food and beverages?”
“Stop pretending you didn’t love that sandwich.”
“?‘Didn’t?’ You make it sound like that sandwich exists in the past tense and won’t continue to feed me and my future grandchildren for generations to come.”
“Then you admit it’s the gift that keeps on giving and won’t argue if I order something for you here.” I only realize how close we’ve gotten when he sits up straighter and flags the busy bartender. It’s like she’s been waiting for his subtle hand raise all night.
“Everything good here, handsome?”
I can’t tell if she’s committing a little too hard to the speakeasy bit or simply hitting on Jude, but either way, I am not bothered, because this isnota date.
“Could I get a Corpse Reviver for my date?” he asks. “Also, do you know when the band is coming on?”
