Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) - J.H. Croix Page 0,54

her seatbelt and slid to the middle, immediately buckling up again. Because Cammi was a buckle up kind of girl.

“Close enough?” she asked.

“Yep. It feels good to have you beside me.”

The moment I said that, I realized the potential implications. The crazy thing was, instead of freaking out, I experienced the mental and emotional equivalent of a shrug. Although it was hard to miss Cammi tensing slightly beside me. Seeing as we were about to meet our friends in a matter of minutes, I knew now wasn’t the time to ask what she might be worrying about. Instead, I slid my hand on her thigh because I couldn’t help myself.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cammi

For the second time in a matter of weeks, I was at an actual social occasion with Elias, and he was behaving as if we were a real thing. I knew I needed to maybe ask him what it was that we were doing. Because it was awfully hard not to fall for him. He was the most ridiculously tempting man I’d ever been with. He was the kind of man women ruined panties over on the regular.

I tried to ignore Susie’s way too satisfied look. Tess even nudged her in the side at one point. Tess was a more protective friend. To clarify, Susie was crazy protective but more interfering.

“I think you’re smart to just stick with the menu they have,” Daphne was saying from my side. “Get settled and figure out the flow of everything and then call me. I’ll help you brainstorm.”

I looked toward her. “Daphne, you’re a real chef. I don’t have money to pay you for that right now. I’m not sure how fancy I want to be either.”

Daphne regarded me quietly, her eyes softening. “Cammi, we’re friends and you can bounce ideas off of me. I occasionally make more high-end things, but there’s nothing I respect more than really well done simple food. I love Misty Mountain Café, although your coffee is better,” she added quickly, “but their menu is pretty basic. I think it’d be great for you to bring the food up to the level of your coffee.”

“Yes!” Susie chimed in from across the table as she lifted up her glass of water.

“If you make food as good as your coffee, I’ll be there every morning. I won’t feel guilty either because I won’t be skipping your coffee,” Diego explained.

I experienced a flash of pride. I had yet to succeed on the food front, but I was feeling hopeful. No matter what, I loved having such loyal customers.

Conversation moved along, and I savored the feel of Elias’s arm resting across my shoulders. Occasionally, his thumb traced an idle caress along my collarbone and it felt like a lick of fire over my skin. When I said women ruined panties over him, I wasn’t exaggerating, not even a little. Mine were already ruined for the night.

Flynn had signaled for the check when I felt Elias tense. The man was all muscle, so it was pretty hard to miss when his arm went tight over my shoulders. I glanced up toward him. Following his gaze, I noticed a woman approaching the table. I watched as Diego cast a quick look at Elias, his eyes hardening when he looked toward the woman.

Even from across the room, I could tell she was beautiful. She had glossy, straight blond hair. She was one of those women who tended to make me feel a little frumpy. I was always in a rush and usually pulled my hair back and swiped lip gloss on before running out, and that was when I was trying. This woman was perfectly put together, outfitted in a pair of jeans and a blouse that must’ve been ironed. She even wore smart-looking heels, which clicked on the floor.

She stopped beside our table, looking right at Elias before her eyes flicked to Flynn and Diego. “Hello,” she said simply.

Elias barely moved. His arm was practically a board on my shoulders at this point. His voice was tight and controlled when he spoke. “Hello, Sandra.”

Diego and Flynn stayed silent.

“I was hoping I could talk to you,” she added.

“Nothing to say,” Elias said.

“Elias, please—” she pressed.

Flynn cut in. “What would you need to say after five years?”

Those of us who didn’t know what was going on were quiet but definitely alert.

“Flynn, if you don’t mind, this is really none of your business,” the woman added.

Diego spoke next. Diego who was always kind, big hearted, and easy-going was