Come Hot (Club Silken #2) - Jerrie Alexander Page 0,7

chuckle, he laughs hard. The sound rolls up from deep in his chest. It sounds natural and makes a person join in even though I have no idea what’s funny.

“So are you.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that out loud.” Mortified, I turn my head and stare out the window. “Can we go now? I’m starving.”

“You need to stop apologizing. Do you think we can declare a détente for the rest of tonight?” He extends his hand across the console so I can see it from the corner of my eye.

“I think that would be nice.” I face him and take his hand.

His strong fingers squeeze mine. “So do I.”

He starts the car and drives out of the parking lot and onto the expressway. There’s no legitimate reason for me to be mad at Nick. He’s totally in the dark, and I’m happy about that. We don’t talk again until he stops at the valet stand in front of the restaurant. He gives his keys to the attendant and then comes around to open my door.

I take his hand and stand, looking up at him.

Nick moves closer until there are only inches between us. He grins and asks, “Friends?”

I nod, without meeting his gaze. I have to be careful to not get caught in the spell his eyes can cast. Yet when we start inside his hand rests on my lower back, and I wonder how his touch would feel on my naked body.

3

Nick

I walk inside Chez Joey beside Kayla, remembering how her scent swirled around me inside the car and left me wanting to put my face in her neck and breathe. I don’t know what fragrance she wears but I intend to find out. Fuck, I may start bathing in it.

My hand is still resting on Kayla’s back as I guide us through the crowded restaurant. She hasn’t reacted one way or the other to my touch so I don’t remove it until I pull out a chair and get her seated. “Thanks.” I barely hear her words, she’s spoken so softly.

“What happened to you two?” Morgan stares at me before sliding her gaze to Kayla. “I was about to call you.”

Without batting an eye, Kayla answers. “We stopped for a minute. Did you think we weren’t going to join you?”

“Blame me.” I wink at Morgan just to confuse her.

“I always do.” Morgan smiles and nods in agreement. I open my menu and Kayla does the same.

The waiter is standing off to the side and Zack motions for him to come closer. “Let’s give these two a few minutes to go over the menu.” The guy nods and walks away. Zack pours two glasses of wine and passes them to Kayla and me.

After our dinners are ordered, Zack and I sit back and listen while Kayla, Chels, and Morgan reminisce about their adventures since the beginning of their friendship. I’m not sure if anyone notices Kayla not jumping in on the discussion about men, but I do. Even though she’s laughing and joking, I feel as if she’s standing one step back from the group. Something is troubling her. For some odd reason, I want to know more about her.

She catches me staring at her and tilts her head slightly. A small smile from her and I’m getting hard sitting in the middle of a crowd.

Our dinner arrives, and before we dig in, I toast the soon to be wed Mr. and Mrs. Zackary Pierce. The rest of our meal is quiet, they must be as hungry as I am. When the server starts to clear our plates away, I excuse myself, walk up to the front, and give the maître d' my credit card. He’ll return it on our way out.

Yes, I’m thinking “our” because I’m going to ask Kayla to join me at my club for a drink after we leave. I have to see if we connect like we did that one night.

I pass on the next glass of wine and so does Zack. We’re driving and both need to keep our wits about us. It’s almost eleven when he asks for the check and discovers it’s been paid. We walk outside, and are waiting for the valet to bring our vehicles when Zack claps me on my shoulder.

“Thanks for dinner, brother.”

“You’re welcome.” I lower my voice. “I’m pretending it’s your wake.”

He laughs, causing the ladies to turn and wait to see if we’ll share. We don’t.

Zack’s SUV is brought up first. I’d better speak