"They're lovely," Rachel interrupted as she took the flowers. Limp and sad-looking as they were, they truly were lovely to Rachel. They represented hope, and she accepted them gladly, offering a shy smile as she lifted them to her face and sniffed the delicate bouquet of--"Salami?"
"They were kept in the deli fridge," he muttered, looking embarrassed.
Rachel bit her lip to keep from laughing, then smiled at him widely. "How have you been?"
"Miserable," he answered simply. "You?"
"The same." They shared a smile and both relaxed.
"Well, it looks like my job here is done," Thomas announced and got to his feet before explaining to Rachel, "It was fun, but I'm just the delivery boy, Dudette. Aunt Marguerite asked me to play Cupid and I like you, so I agreed."
"Cupid, huh?" Etienne asked with amusement.
"Yeah, you can laugh," Thomas said good-naturedly. "Enjoy it while you can. But don't mess up with Dudette this time. Once every hundred years is my limit on the Cupid gig."
Moving to Rachel's side, he bent to hug her and murmured, "Welcome to the family."
Rachel wanted to ask what that meant, but Thomas walked away too quickly for her to get the chance. She watched him disappear into the crowd, then turned to glance at Etienne as he took the seat his cousin had just vacated.
"I missed you," he announced the moment her gaze met his.
Rachel's eyebrows flew up at this claim. The thought "You could have fooled me" flew through her mind, and Etienne smiled wryly.
"I heard that," he said with amusement.
"I thought you couldn't read my mind," Rachel said suspiciously.
"I can't," he assured her. "Well, except when we're intimate. Your mind opens to me."
"Then how did you--?"
"You actually projected that thought to me."
"Did I really?" she asked.
"Yes. It was most likely accidental, but with practice you'll be able to do it at will."
"Really? Can you teach me how?"
He was silent for a minute, then said, "I have a better idea. I'll project a thought to you and you try to read it."
"Okay," she agreed, then tilted her head. "How do I do that?"
"Just open your mind to me and I'll do the rest," he told her, then went silent, his eyes narrowed with concentration. A bare moment passed before Rachel heard his thoughts as clearly as if he were speaking in her ear.
I miss you. I ache for you. Something is missing from life when you aren't there. I want you back in my life, my home, and my bed. I want to wake up each evening beside you. I love you, Rachel.
Rachel stared at him, hardly able to believe she had heard correctly. "Then why haven't you called? If Thomas hadn't brought me here tonight--"
"I would have found another place and way to approach you," he assured her solemnly. "I just wanted to get my deadline out of the way so I could concentrate solely on you."
Rachel thought that sounded rather lame. He'd wanted to get his work out of the way first? She came after work, after his video game? Well, that was flattering.
"You must be really pissed," he said wryly. "You're sending your thoughts out clear as a bell."
When she didn't smile or react in any way that might let him off the hook, he sighed and said, "Perhaps we should go somewhere quieter."
Rachel nodded solemnly, downed the last of her drink, and stood. They were both silent as they exited Night Club and made their way to his car. She didn't demur when he opened the passenger door for her to get in and didn't ask where they were headed. Neither was she terribly surprised when they pulled up in front of his house. It was where most of their relationship had taken place. It seemed the most logical place to resolve it.