Huge Deal - Lauren Layne Page 0,29

happens, it’s for someone who feels them back. Because this unrequited-love thing is absolute garbage.”

11

Thursday, April 11

“Our first double date!” Claudia said, wrapping both her arms around Kennedy’s and squeezing. “This will be so fun. Though I have to say, I totally thought it would be with Ian and Lara or Matt and Sabrina. Still, I guess Jack and Kate make a cute couple, right?”

Kennedy grunted as the taxi crawled through traffic toward the West Village Italian restaurant where they were having dinner with his brother and his assistant. Two people he never imagined being in the same orbit, much less together as a couple.

A couple he’d have to sit across the table from for the next two hours or so.

“This is us,” Claudia said, glancing out the window and leaning forward to get the cabbie’s attention. “Right side, please, at the light.”

A moment later, Kennedy opened the front door of the restaurant for her, then followed her in to a wall of noise, trying not to wince. He hated places that were packed to the gills even at six thirty on a Thursday. There was a reason he avoided the night scene in the city. He liked to be able to hear himself speak without shouting. He liked to be able to hear himself think.

“There they are!” Claudia said, lifting her hand and waving.

Kennedy followed her to the table, wondering for the hundredth time how the hell he’d gotten himself into this. Why, when Claudia had insisted that the four of them get together, he hadn’t come up with an excuse. Any excuse.

Kennedy had opted for a normal suit, since it made up about 80 percent of his wardrobe, though he regretted it when he saw Jack, who managed to look both polished and relaxed in a light-gray sweater and dark-gray slacks. Of course he did. That was Jack’s thing, managing to look both perfectly at ease and perfectly in control, no matter where he was or what he was wearing.

Kate was wearing a dress. Not as fancy as the one she’d worn to his birthday party, but this one was also pink, with a gray belt around her small waist that perfectly coordinated with Jack’s attire.

Great. They were matching outfits now.

Claudia hugged Jack, then did the same with Kate. “You’re so little,” Claudia said, bending down to the smaller woman. “I could just scoop you up and put you in my purse!”

“Do it. I think I could be quite happy in Chanel,” Kate replied with a smile.

Claudia laughed and moved to sit down. Kennedy pulled out the chair for her, nodding a greeting at his brother. He glanced at Kate, but she was ignoring him, instead complimenting Claudia on the restaurant choice.

“I’ve definitely got my eye on the mushroom ravioli with truffle cream sauce,” Kate was saying.

“Oh gosh, I would be, too, if I did carbs,” Claudia said.

“I love carbs,” Kate said with a contented sigh. “I could never give them up.”

“The other night I watched her put a potato on top of a piece of bread,” Jack said, smiling down at Kate, who gave him a mock glare beneath the hair that had fallen across her forehead.

Kennedy picked up the menu to keep from asking if the sexy Jessica Rabbit hair was annoying her yet. Where were the headbands she used to wear? The ones that signaled practical Kate not date Jack Dawson Kate.

“They were very good potatoes and good bread. It was a time-saving measure,” Kate said, shrugging.

“Oooh, cauliflower risotto,” Claudia said, her attention on the menu. “When I was with Dior, the girls ate that constantly. You’d be surprised how much it tastes like real rice.”

“Call me crazy, but if I wanted rice, I’d eat rice,” Jack said. “And if I wanted cauliflower . . . I’d die.”

“You don’t like cauliflower?” Kate asked, turning toward him.

“He doesn’t like vegetables,” Kennedy said without looking up from the wine list.

“I didn’t like vegetables when I was twelve,” Jack clarified. “Mom hasn’t caught me sneaking broccoli into the potted plants in at least a year and a half now.”

The women laughed, and Kennedy rolled his eyes. He was thankful when the server came by to take orders for some much-needed alcohol.

They started with a round of cocktails, and when the server left, Claudia put her menu aside and leaned forward with a smile. “I’m so glad we did this. I’ve been telling Kennedy forever that we need some couple friends.”

“They’re not a couple,” Kennedy said automatically. “It’s only