Page 96 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

I pulled out Thea’s chair, then did the same for Charlie. Once they were seated, I took the seat with my back to the wall.

When the hostess went to unfold napkins, I held up a hand to stop her. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy your meal, sir.” She gave me a slight bow, then backed away.

Thea searched the table. “Menus?”

“It’s chef’s choice, but I’ve never been disappointed.” I opened my mouth to ask what was going on with Charlie but our waiter appeared and launched into his greeting.

Had it always taken this long to hear the gauntlet of wine selections? I wanted him to disappear so I could talk to Thea, but he kept droning on and on. Finally, after he finished detailing the reds, I was able to order a bottle of wine.

“Charlie, what do you want to drink?” I asked.

She didn’t answer, so Thea ordered for her. “She’ll have a chocolate milk.”

The waiter looked at her like she’d just blurted a string of expletives. “We don’t have chocolate milk.”

“Then find some,” I snapped, shooting him a glare that meant he was dismissed.

Thea closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Charlie kicked the leg of the table.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

Thea shook her head. “It’s just been a long day and we’re hungry.”

There was more behind their attitudes, but I didn’t press. “I’m sorry I was running late and couldn’t meet you at home.”

I’d had a client meeting go long at the firm and then a junior associate stopped into my office for some advice on a contract he was drafting. By the time I’d shut everything down, I’d been forced to send a car to pick them up instead of doing it myself. Normally, the long hours didn’t bother me. It was a thrill to always be in demand and the go-to guy. But tonight, all I’d wanted to do was leave and have people figure shit out on their own.

“It’s fine.” Thea waved it off and took a drink of her sparkling water.

“Did you have fun shopping today?” My mother and sisters loved shopping about as much as they loved talking about what they’d bought. I figured it was a safe topic until I got a nasty look from my daughter and Thea rolled her eyes.

Shit. This was not how I’d envisioned dinner going. The waiter brought our wine and a glass of chocolate milk for Charlie, setting them down without a word. Silverware clinked on plates and voices murmured around us, but my corner of the restaurant was silent.

I was guessing that Charlie’s mood was because of the dress. She kept tugging at the collar.

Thea was clearly off because of Charlie’s attitude, but there was something more too. It wasn’t just an angry-mom mood. Her shoulders were hunched, and worry lines marred her forehead. She seemed sullen and withdrawn.

Was it because I’d slipped this morning? I love you had never come as naturally as when I’d blurted it to Thea. But when she’d flinched so hard the bed had rocked, I’d hastily added, “in my bed.” At first, I’d been pissed off by the rebuff.

Rejection wasn’t something I handled well, which was ironic considering I’d tried to propose to Emmeline twice. Yet neither of my failed attempts to marry her had ended our relationship. Really, they hadn’t done anything. We’d just carried on like nothing had changed because a deep-seated part of me had actually been relieved.

Thea’s reaction to an I love you had hurt.

But as I’d showered and taken a minute to step back, I’d realized it wasn’t because she didn’t have those same feelings.

She was scared.

To make this work—to say the I love yous—meant a lot of changes were coming.

Except whether she was ready or not, change was coming. She could try to avoid it for the rest of the week, but I wasn’t letting her go.

On Saturday, while we were at my parents’ estate, I was asking her to move. I was telling her how much I loved her and how much I wanted her and Charlie in my everyday life. Then I’d give her the ring I’d picked out this morning at Harry Winston.

We sat quietly until the waiter delivered our first course.