Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,55
must have noticed. Then again, you’ve probably been too glum to notice much of anything. All of a sudden…bright skies, and you’re laughing.” He looks incredulous. “This isn’t a coincidence. Who is she? Out with it!”
“I hired a new assistant. I’m not as buried in work,” I lie. At this stage, Miss Shaw is doing about twenty percent of what Janet used to do. I have no doubt it will get better given time. She’s a quick learner. I haven’t been pushing her.
“Holy fuck!” Tri takes a step back. “You’re almost smiling. This is…weird. Stop!”
“I’m not smiling. I have gas.” I hold back a laugh at that statement. It’s the first thing that came to mind. I wipe my face.
“Gas?” He raises his brows. “Okay…whatever.” He chuckles.
I decide to change the subject. “My chef has his off day on a Saturday. We can order in some lunch.”
“Your chef is off on a Saturday,” he mumbles. “You are spoiled.”
“I’m busy,” I say. “There’s a difference.” I open a drawer and pull out a stack of takeout menus. I hand them to Trident.
“I could murder a pizza.” He sifts through the batch, pulling out a menu for our local Italian restaurant. “I’ll have a large Carnivore,” he says.
That was easy. I take the menu from him and look through it. It makes me think of Miss Shaw and her enthusiasm for everything to do with food. Make that, her enthusiasm for everything. It’s refreshing. She loved ‘The Fat Duck’. I can’t recall what the Italian name for the restaurant was. She’s a romantic at heart. That worries me. That’s why I have to approach this with caution. I don’t know how she will take my proposal. My stomach gets this tight feeling. I’m nervous! Holy fuck! I don’t get nervous. This is new to me. I’m also excited. I have a feeling she’s going to be a challenge. She’s ultimately seriously attracted to me, so I don’t think it will take too much to convince her. I need that blasted NDA. My lawyer said it would be ready later this afternoon. I need to get Trident fed and out of my hair before he gets here.
“It can’t be that hard to choose something,” Tri says, pulling me out of my musings. I realize that I’ve been staring at the menu for a while. “I’ll have the gnocchi with Napolitano sauce and some garlic bread. How’s about some tiramisu for dessert?” Shit! I order the same thing Miss Shaw did the other night. It sounded good then, and it’s what I feel like now.
“I have a sweet tooth.” Trident gives me a double thumbs-up.
“Okay, then.” I call the restaurant and place our order. I’m told that it will be between forty-five minutes to an hour before it will arrive.
“Can I make you a drink?” I head towards the wet bar.
“I think I’ll have a beer.”
I turn and bypass the wine fridge. There’s one for white and one for red, and then a bar fridge for beers. I take out two and hand one to Tri.
“To me whipping your ass.” Tri grins, holding up the bottle.
I scowl at him. “Hardly. It was touch and go there for a few holes because I’m rusty. I still nearly took you.”
“I won. That’s all! No excuses.”
“Whatever.” I choke out a laugh.
“This laughing thing is still weird to me. I mean, you used to sometimes laugh. Was it this much?” He looks at me skeptically.
“Yes. You’ve just forgotten all about it since I’ve been a grouch for a couple of months.” We take a seat on the patio outside since there isn’t a cloud in the sky and not a breath of wind. The sun is warm.
“I like seeing you…happy…and I’m glad you’re finally getting over her.”
Her.
Gabby.
I’m not getting over her. I’m about to start living a pathetic lie, but it is what it has to be. I need to keep things very straight in my head. I like Miss Shaw very much, but I would never have looked at her twice if she didn’t remind me of Gabby. It’s not because there’s anything wrong with her. It’s not because she’s unattractive, she’s just not my type. Although, now she is. More than just my type. Miss Shaw is my obsession. My lie and my obsession. The whole thing is unhealthy as fuck!
“I’m trying,” I finally mutter.
“You’re more than trying. You’re doing it, bro.” He nods his head with vast amounts of enthusiasm. “I’m so happy for you.”