James was always ready on time; he only had work to contend with and after sleeping all day, he’d got up, showered, dressed, and was ready to go when she’d got home. It was she who had rushed in the door after spending all morning in classes and all afternoon at work and then had to rush to get ready. It hadn’t helped that her boss at the present temp job she was working had stopped her on the way out to ask a question. Holly had spent fifteen minutes explaining something she’d already explained to him earlier that day before she could get away. It had put her behind the gun before she’d even walked in the door. They would have had to leave right then to get here on time, but she’d needed to change.
Sighing, she undid her seat belt as James turned off the engine, then slid out of the car when he did and walked around to meet him in front of the vehicle. When he held his hand out, she automatically slid hers into it, and they crossed the parking lot hand in hand. It was the first affectionate gesture she’d felt comfortable with in the two weeks since she’d been home.
Things had been weird since her return, Holly acknowledged, but knew it was all her fault. She was the one who kept reading his thoughts. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t, but had broken that promise repeatedly. She just couldn’t help it, and it was making her crazy.
“There they are.”
Holly tore herself from her thoughts and peered around the restaurant, smiling when she spotted Bill standing up to wave at them. James started forward at once, pulling her along with him and they made their way quickly to the table.
“Oh, baby! Someone’s turned into hot sauce,” Bill said on a surprised laugh as he took Holly into his arms for a bear hug and bussed both her cheeks. He stepped back then, but kept his hold on her arms to look her over, adding, “What the hell have you done to yourself? I mean I can see you’ve lost weight, but it’s like you’ve taken a sexy drug or something.”
Holly blushed furiously at the compliment. It was the weirdest damned thing. Ever since getting home, -people were acting like she’d turned into Angelina Jolie while she was gone. Not just the men, but the women. It was like the nanos were some sort of chick magnet that attracted members of both sexes. It was bizarre, and discomfiting for Holly, who wasn’t at all comfortable in social situations to begin with. Although, she’d never felt anxious around Justin, Gia, Dante, and Tomasso, she recalled.
“You do look good,” Elaine agreed, nudging her husband out of the way to hug Holly as well. She then looked her over as she released her and shook her head. “What is it? Some amazing and weird New York diet?”
Holly shook her head on a strained laugh and quickly slid into the booth to hide behind the table as she said, “Just lots of fresh air I guess.”
“Yeah, right, fresh air. In New York?” Bill snorted as they all settled in the booth, he and Elaine taking the opposite bench seat and James sliding in beside her. “That would be the pollution diet then?”
“If that’s what pollution does for you, I’m in,” Elaine said with a grin.
Holly smiled faintly and picked up the menu lying on the table in front of her, hoping they’d change the subject.
“You must be happy to see her, James my boy,” Bill said and then teased, “I bet the house hasn’t stopped rocking for the last two weeks.”
James gave a weak laugh and muttered, “You know it.”
Holly bit her lip and glanced sideways at her husband behind the protection of the menu. She was just in time to see him open and raise his own in front of his face. The action blocked him from Bill and Elaine’s view, but she could see it and his expression was pinched. Sighing, she turned her attention back to her menu. The house hadn’t rocked at all the last two weeks. They hadn’t even had sex on Sunday night as they usually did . . . and that was her fault too.
Holly closed her eyes briefly as she recalled the first time James had tried to make advances in that area. It was the night she’d got home. Bill and Elaine hadn’t been able to join them on such short notice and they’d gone to dinner alone. It was when they got home that James had tried to start something. Holly had been surprised when he’d suddenly started to kiss her in the hallway inside the front door. It wasn’t Sunday after all, but she’d gone along with it.