Page 56 of Hate On
You too.I’m at the restaurant. Hope to see you soon.
She didn’t mentionMoira or that her friend had something she wanted to talk about with both of them, figuring it would be easier if Moira just explained herself. Especially since Julianna had no idea what it was Moira wanted to talk about.
The service was quick and the appetizers, including Julianna’s bisque and a basket of warm, crusty bread were served while they were still chatting, mostly about friends and things that had happened in school and friends who’d had married since graduation.
“What about you?” Julianna asked. “Anybody special on the horizon for you?”
Moira rolled her eyes. “I’m having a hard time finding anybody who isn’t a douche, darling.”
Julianna smiled in sympathy. She’d been there, done that.
Roman had changed things for her. Thoughts of him brought up her worries about the lack of contact, but she shoved them back down when she’d finally found a text. He’d be late, but had most likely just been involved in a busier than expected day and had waited to get back with her once things settled down.
Sure, a little past seven was typically well past the time when things settled down, but she knew a little about running a company and sometimes things went a little sideways.
“You’re distracted,” Moira said softly. “Thinking about Roman?”
“Trying not to worry,” she admitted.
“Let’s go ahead and order,” Moira suggested. “If he doesn’t show up soon, the two of you can talk about my proposal and you can get back to me. I don’t know if your head is going to be completely on straight until you hook up with him and assure yourself that everything is okay anyway.”
Julianna agreed and searched the menu for something that sounded appealing.
She chose the steak tartar, barely noticing how Moira wrinkled her nose at her selection.
As Moira ordered, Julianna skimmed the crowd and eyed the entrance, hoping to see a familiar dark head appear.
But no such luck.
“Has your mother said anything to you since you two ran into each other earlier?” Moira asked, cutting into the flaky white fish on her plate after their entrees had arrived.
Julianna shook her head. “I haven’t heard from her. I’m sure I’ll get the third degree the next time I’m home, though.”
A smile bowed Moira’s lips upward. “And did you take the necklace off before you went back to the office so your father wouldn’t see it?”
“He wasn’t in the corporate offices today. He was visiting the flagship store and making a trip to the lab.” Julianna touched the necklace and made a face at her friend. “But no, I didn’t take it off. I wouldn’t have, either. Sooner or later, I’ll have to tell him about us. I wanted to talk to Roman first.”
“The two of you can’t hide it forever. Even the way you look when you say his name makes it obvious there’s something going on,” Moira said gently.
“Really?” Julianna found herself smiling a little.
“Yes.” Moira rolled her eyes. “You get a smile just like the one you have on your face now. It’s like a billboard announcing…I’m in love! You ought to be modeling for some of the engagement ring spots your family does.”
“Whatever.” But the smile on her face widened.
She glanced up then, her senses going on red alert in that very moment.
A tall, dark-haired man was heading in her direction.
“Ah…no.That’sthe smile of a woman in love. The other smile was just a hint.” Moira sat across from her, head cocked and a grin on her face.
“Oh, shut up.” She rose to greet Roman.
He was stiff as she pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth, rising on tiptoe to do it.
“Everything okay?” she asked, lowering herself back to stand in front of him.
“What is this?” Voice stilted, he looked from her to Moira then back.