We turn to see Kaine coming towards us. He’s wearing an Armani suit and it’s hard to look away.
That is, until I notice who’s coming up behind him.
It’s Xavier, looking no less commanding, in just black shirt and slacks. He certainly grew out of his lanky frame, I can’t help thinking. His biceps threaten to bulge right out of his shirt sleeves and I have to force myself to look away before anyone notices I’m staring.
“Hello, Isabella. My bride here tells me that you are going to make us the envy of the downtown area.” He looks directly at me, and I feel warmed by his crooked smile. I wonder how Xavier came to work for him.
“Oh, not at all! I’m still in the ideas stage and Jade has been kind enough to look over them.”
“Mind if we have a look?” He reaches for the portfolio before I can even respond. I guess he’s not used to having people refuse. I steal a glance at Xavier, but he’s looking at the plans. I can’t tell if he’s actually engrossed in them, or just avoiding me.
We didn’t leave things on a good note at the furniture store with me walking after refusing to answer any more of his questions. It’s been a long week of radio silence from the both of us, and I guess I should be glad.
There’s a buzz on my phone, and I pull it from my bag, welcoming the chance to focus my attention on something other than Xavier. I glance at it, then look up to see Jade watching me.
“It’s just my partner. He’s outside and wanted to know if I needed a ride back to the office.”
“Oh! Tell him to come in and have a drink with us,” she offers.
“Oh, um, no, I’m sure you have a lot to do, you’ve already spent so much time with me.”
“Oh, please. She’s relishing having conversation with people who won’t expect her to change their diapers after,” Harriet says and waves the waiter down, asking him to bring another chair.
“Okay, sure, I’ll ask,” I cave, and quickly tap a few words into my phone.
It’s only seconds before I hear my name called out.
It’s Cameron, a bunch of flowers in one hand, his phone in the other. He leans in and brushes a kiss on my cheek before turning to Jade and Harriet, giving them a wide smile. With a flourish, he pulls two roses out of the bunch and hands one each to the two women and then holds the bouquet out to me, with a wink. I laugh and take it from him, making a show of burying my face in it and fluttering my eyelashes.
Kaine reaches out his hand and Cameron takes it, giving it a solid shake. I know Cameron has a small spot of hero worship for Kaine and his business acumen, and it shows in the giant grin on his face.
“Cameron, you remember Xavier from the other gala?” I say, a split second before I notice the stormy look on Xavier’s face.
“Of course, you’re one helluva bidder, did wonders for getting our firm’s name out there!” Cameron says, holding his hand out. It takes a second too long for Xavier to take it, who looks down at the offered hand like he’d rather not touch it, and there’s instant tension in the air. I tug gently on the sleeve of Cameron’s jacket, pulling him back into a chair, giving him a reassuring nod as a look of confusion crosses his face.
“Cameron, what’s your poison?” Jade asks.
“Oh, just an espresso for me, please. Need something to knock some life into my brain at this time of the afternoon most days.”
“Xavier, what about you?” she asks and is met with stony silence.
What the hell is wrong with him?
“Three double espressos,” Kaine says, waving the waiter off, before throwing a look at Xavier.
“So, Kaine, what do you think of Isabella’s plans for the youth center?”
“Well, from what I see, I think Jade’s right, you are really going to brighten up that old warehouse. You’ve got a real eye, Isabella. I think you’re going to make that place open right up, and yet still give it a warm, cozy feel for the kids.”
I blush from the compliment. I’m never quite used to telling people what they should do with their homes, their offices.
“She’s a star all right, I like to think I discovered her,” Cameron boasts, giving me a wink.
“Pffft, please,” I hear Xavier mumble under his breath, and hope I’m the only one.
“Well, it’s just a rough proposal, things will change once all the interior repairs have been done and we can really know what we’re working with. Even then, plans can change.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Xavier scoffs, this time, not so quietly.
“Sorry? I’m not quite sure what you mean.” Cameron asks Xavier directly, and I hold my breath. He’s sweet and charming, but there are no doormat tendencies to Cameron. He’s as tenacious under that smile as anyone I know.
But he doesn’t faze Xavier, who just shrugs. “I just mean plans, apparently, can change. Dramatically. It almost seems like a waste of time making them. Isn’t that right, Isabella?” He says my name like it’s cyanide, and he needs to spit it out before it poisons every last cell in his body.
“Hey!” Cameron says, his hand coming up to touch my shoulder. “I’m not really sure I appreciate your tone, buddy.”
Xavier pushes himself out of his chair, ignoring the clang as it topples onto the floor. His biceps bulge and I follow the line of his arms down to scrunched up fists. For a moment, it looks like he’s going to face off with Cameron, then he exhales and pivots, storming out of the restaurant.
“What the hell was that?” Harriet asks, and the look on Kaine’s face tells me he knows more than he’s letting up. He gets up to follow but I give him a weak smile and shake my head.
“No, I think it should be me.”
It almost looks like he doesn’t want to give in, but Jade touches his arm and he relents.
“Go. But go fast. He won’t hang around for long.”
I pick up my purse and squeeze a confused looking Cameron on the arm before I run after Xavier. He’s hailing a cab as I step outside and I run up to him.
“What the fuck was that, Xavier?”
“Go away, Isabella.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong!”