“Order whatever you want, Mom,” Duncan said. “This is on me tonight.”
“Excellent,” Marc said. “This two-pound lobster sounds good.”
“It’s the most expensive thing on the menu.” Lovey elbowed him.
“Exactly.”
Duncan just laughed. “You won’t order lobster. I know you want beef.”
Marc grinned. “How about this caviar as an appetizer? Siberian sturgeon, only ninety-five bucks.”
“I am not eating caviar.” Lovey shuddered. “Uck.”
“You might like it,” Amber said. “It’s actually really good.”
Uh-oh. She caught the looks both Duncan and Lovey gave her.
“You want the caviar, sweetheart?” Duncan murmured. “Go ahead and order it.”
“No, no.” Crap, she shouldn’t have said that. Now they all thought she was pretentious, sitting there in her cheap dress and jewelry, talking about Siberian sturgeon caviar. Her insides cramped up and her face burned. She bit her lip and bent her head toward the menu.
They took their time considering options. Their drinks arrived. Duncan wanted to order a bottle of wine, and their waiter sent the sommelier over.
“Hi,” the young woman said. “I’m Frankie, the wine girl.”
They all grinned at her. “The wine girl?” Lovey said.
“We like to keep things casual.” Frankie smiled. “Wine should be fun. Are you thinking of red or white tonight?”
“No idea,” Duncan said.
Amber smiled.
They eventually settled on a bottle of Pinot Noir that Amber gulped at seeing was nearly two hundred dollars.
This was nothing like her other dates with Duncan—burgers and Thai. It had been a long time since she’d been to a restaurant like this; even so, she couldn’t say it was outside her comfort zone. There’d been a time in her life when this kind of experience was the norm, but that was in the far distant past.
Duncan’s parents were down to earth and funny. Amber was amused by how excited they seemed about Lovey and Marc being together. Mrs. Armstrong especially was beaming at the two of them.
She was also clearly curious about Amber and Duncan, friendly but with an assessing wariness about her. This no doubt was due to Melissa and the other women Lovey had alluded to who’d also taken advantage of him. Welp, Amber couldn’t blame them for reserving judgment. She had zilch money, so they might think she was dating Duncan for his wealth, but if they knew the truth about her background they’d understand that was definitely not the case.
They talked a little hockey, since Duncan’s parents had questions about how the season was going, but not as much as Amber would have thought. When mention arose of the game the next night, they were disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to join them. And actually, so was she. She hadn’t even tried to change her shift at the Sin Bin because she’d been hesitant to meet Duncan’s parents, but now that she had and they seemed so nice, she regretted her crazy fears. Ah well.
It was a pleasant evening. After a long, leisurely meal, a second bottle of wine, and fabulous desserts, they walked with Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong back to The Drake and had a drink at the bar there. Then they all hugged good night, and Lovey and Marc and Amber and Duncan walked out front to get taxis.
“I’m coming to your place tonight,” Lovey told Duncan. “Marc doesn’t sleep great in my bed and you guys have a game tomorrow.”
“Okay.” He glanced at Amber.
“I should go home,” she said, letting him off the hook of inviting her to spend the night in front of his sister.
“I’ll take you home in a taxi,” Duncan said.
“No, I’ll get it.”
“No.” His jaw set. “I’ll take you home.”
He could stay the night at her place. Easton had overnight guests all the time. Well, lately it was just Jamie. But like Marc, he probably wouldn’t sleep well in her double bed.
She gave in. “Okay.” They said good night to Marc and Lovey, who climbed into a waiting taxi, and they took the next one the doorman called.
“Your parents are really nice.” She shifted to face him in the backseat of the taxi.
“Yeah. I’m lucky.”
He was. So lucky. A sort of wistful longing rose up inside her. Damn. It would be nice to have that kind of family again. She thought back to her childhood and happier days, until that world had all come to a screeching halt of betrayal and hurt.
“You’re so quiet tonight.” Duncan reached for her hand. “Everything okay?”
“Um. Yeah. Of course. I guess I’m just tired. And all that wine made me sleepy.”
He nodded.
She thought he’d ask the taxi to wait outside the apartment building, but he didn’t. Inside the apartment, he pulled her into his arms and said, “Thanks for coming tonight.” And he kissed her. Scorching hot and achingly sweet. She kissed him back. Heat built, as it always did when he touched her, and she wanted more.
Seeming to understand, he pulled back with a crooked smile. “Best not get all hot and bothered. You could’ve come to my place tonight, you know.”