Page 54 of Fighting For You

I sat in the driveway for a long time. The sun was high and the street was quiet. I could still feel her hand on my face.

I pulled out of the driveway and drove home with the photo strip in my wallet and the taste of her on my mouth.

CHAPTER 14

New Menu

NORA

Ian asked me to meet him at Aurelio's.

His birthday had come and gone three weeks earlier. He worked through it, the way he said he would. When I called to wish him a happy birthday, he told me he hadn't forgotten his promise. He was taking me to dinner. He just needed one more paycheck.

I told him it was too expensive. He told me it was his money and he could spend it however he wanted. I told him there were a hundred restaurants between here and the Strip that wouldn't cost him a full day's paycheck. He told me to be there at seven.

So I was there at seven.

I was waiting outside when I heard him.

"Nora!"

I turned. My brother was walking toward me in a button-down shirt tucked into dark slacks, his hair cut short and combed back, shoes I'd never seen before.

"Ian!" I threw my arms around him and held on longer than he probably wanted. When I pulled back, I held him at arm's length. "You look so put together I almost didn't recognize you."

He grinned. "I'm a working man now. Get used to it."

"No." I smoothed the collar of his shirt. "I don't think I'm ever going to get used to it. You're always going to be my baby brother."

"Ugh." He glanced over his shoulder. "Good thing my friends aren't around."

We walked inside. Aurelio's had dark wood paneling, white tablecloths, and low brass lighting that made everything look warm and expensive. A bar ran along the far wall with bottles arranged on shelves that went to the ceiling. The hostess greeted us by the door, and a waitress walked us to a table for two near the window.

Ian pulled out my chair before I could sit down. I looked at him. He shrugged like it was nothing.

"Why did you pick this place?" I asked.

"Because I told you I was going to take you somewhere nice." He opened his menu. "So order whatever you want."

I looked at the menu. The prices were higher than anywhere Ian and I had eaten together. He watched me over his menu, waiting for me to pick something, proud that he was the one paying.

I picked a pasta dish in the mid-range. Ian was offering kindly, and I appreciated it more than he probably knew. But it didn't feel right to spend his money. He earned every dollar at that shop. I didn't need to order the most expensive thing on the page to show him I was grateful.

After we placed our orders, Ian sat back in his chair.

"So how have you been?"

"Good." I set my water glass down. "Actually, I've been wanting to tell you something. I'm seeing someone."

Ian's face broke open. "Hallelujah."

"Oh, stop it, Ian."

"See? I told you. I was the one standing in the way of you finding true love."

"You were not, and don't say it like that."

"So tell me about this guy."