“Sam Adams for me. Topaz?”
“Oh, um, that’s fine. I’ll have the same.”
“And bring us an Onion Blossom,” Simon requested.
“Very well,” the waitress said. “Are you ready to order your entrees?”
Simon’s brows rose. “Topaz?”
“We’ll wait. Thank you,” Topaz decided, smiling up at the young redhead.
“Place isn’t as crowded as I thought it’d be tonight,” Simon was saying as he glanced around the dining room. “With fall coming on, people’ll probably choose to stay in more. I know when it starts to get cold I—”
“Simon, stop. Stop for a minute, all right?”
“What’s wrong?”
Topaz leaned closer to the table. “I’d like to talk about the way you sounded on the phone today.”
Simon shrugged. “What about it?”
“Are you gonna tell me what had you so stressed?”
“I don’t get how you figured I was stressed. We weren’t even on the phone that long.”
“Simon, please.”
Simon smiled and raised his hands in defeat. “You still know me, don’t you?”
“Very well.”
“Hmph.”
“Is it work related?” Topaz asked, tracing the rose pattern embroidered on the hunter-green tablecloth.
“There’re some aggravations,” he admitted, shifting in the deep armchair he occupied. “It’s just the same ol’ same ol’. It did get me to thinkin’ about you, though.”
“I hope you’re about to elaborate.”
Simon reached out to capture one of her hands in his. “I just think you’re too beautiful to let yourself get run down by a hectic business.
Topaz laughed. “My business is not hectic. I love it.”
“But you don’t take time to enjoy it,” Simon argued, as he leaned back in his chair. “You should be chillin’ on a beach somewhere.”
“I took a vacation a couple of years ago.”
Simon shook his head. “You just proved my point. You don’t even realize how sad that sounds,” he whispered, his dark gaze narrowing in its intensity. “Baby, you can stop tryin’ so hard now, you know?”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, you’ve proven that you can be a success runnin’ a man’s business. You should let this mess go now and enjoy yourself.”
Topaz’s smile tightened, her temper heating just as the waitress returned with their drinks and fried onions.
“Are we ready to place those orders now?” the young woman asked.
Topaz pushed her chair away from the table. “I need to visit the ladies’ room,” she decided, standing.
“Baby, you know I meant no harm,” Simon called, realizing how upset she was.
Topaz could not manage a smile. “I think I need to go anyway. I’ll be right back.”
Simon watched her leave. His dark gaze was probing and uneasy.
Topaz felt much better after splashing a bit of cool water over her face. Unfortunately, she dreaded returning to her table. Smoothing one hand across her long, sleek braid, she headed back toward the dining room, thinking of Simon’s words. Shaking her head, she dismissed his “advice.”
Yes, some things still have to jibe, she told herself. Simon Whitley, like her parents and other family members, had never approved of her business. Regardless of her success, they had always deemed it beneath her—beneath them.
“Please give me strength to get through this dinner without slapping Simon senseless,” she prayed.
Just inside the dining room doorway, Topaz scanned the sea of tables in search of Simon’s. Instead, she glimpsed another familiar face and stared. Yes, it was Alex Rice seated at a nearby table with at least five other people. Thankful for an opportunity to delay returning to her own table, she decided to walk over and speak.
Casey Williams noticed his friend and neighbor as she approached. Alex’s mouth curved into a soft smile as his vibrant stare raked Topaz’s body with obvious desire. Josie Sharp, who had been eyeing Alex all evening, noticed the look. Intrigued, she turned to observe the woman who held his attention so thoroughly.
Casey was completing the introductions when Alex stood.
