Topaz propped one hand on her hip. “I told you I can hold my own. You should try me,” she playfully boasted without taking note of the taunt’s double meaning.
Alex smiled, trailing his index finger along his temple. If you only knew how much I want to, he silently responded.
“Rice, party of two. Rice, party of two.”
“That’s us,” he announced, pointing toward the ceiling where the voice had originated. “How about a game after we eat?” he suggested.
Topaz smiled brightly and nodded like an eager child. Then, stepping close to Alex, she rested her hands on his shoulders. “I hope we can still be friends after I whip your ass.”
Alex moved off the table, rising to his full height as he looked down into her lovely, smiling face. “I like your confidence.”
Topaz shrugged, letting her hands fall away from his shoulders. “It’s confidence backed up by truth,” she said.
“Ah ... so you really think you can whip me.”
“I know so.”
“Oh, you know so ...”
The couple continued their banter as they went to claim their table.
“Okay, folks, that’s the mixed platter with shrimp puffs, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, a Red Oak from the tap, and a banana daiquiri for the lady.”
“That’s right,” Alex confirmed, leaning back to look over his menu.
The tall, thin young man gave a curt nod. “Be just a moment, folks,” he announced before rushing off.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk out of here after I’m done eating all this food,” Topaz remarked, scanning the pages of the thick, glossy menu.
Alex chuckled. “We only ordered appetizers so far,” he mentioned.
“Mmm ... but I’m a big eater and this place is known for heaping on the food.”
The two studied their menus in silence for a while. Topaz began to frown and slowly raised her head when she heard what sounded like her name.
“Paz? Topaz Emerson?”
Turning, Topaz expelled a yelp of surprise at the sight of Wesley Dobbs approaching the table. She stood and rushed into his embrace.
“How long have you been in town?” she asked, pressing a kiss to the man’s bearded cheek.
“Couple of days,” Wesley explained, his deep-set brown eyes filled with adoration. “I was gonna stop by the shop. You still in the same place?”
Topaz nodded. “Mmm-hmm. You still drivin’ that Escort?”
“You know it.”
Topaz laughed and tugged on Wesley’s sleeve. “Come on, I want you to meet my date,” she whispered, pulling him the few feet to her table. “Alex Rice, this is Wesley Dobbs. We went to Clark together.”
Alex was in the midst of shaking hands with Wesley when the innocent moment was brought to a sudden halt.
“Wesley! Wesley Dobbs! Wes-ley!”
Everyone turned to see a lovely, dark-eyed woman bounding across the dining room.
“Damn,” Wesley muttered. “Daphne—”
“Who the hell is this bitch!” Daphne Johnson spat, folding her arms across her chest. “Answer me, Wesley!”
“Damn it, will you shut the hell up!” Wesley whispered in a furious tone, feeling dozens of pairs of eyes riveted in their direction.
“I ain’t shuttin’ nothin’ till you tell me who this bitch is and why she all hugged up under you.”
Wesley grimaced and moved his arm from Topaz’s waist. “Daphne Johnson, this is Topaz Emerson. We went to college together, Daph.”
Daphne raised her hands. “So what’s up? Y’all tryin’ to hook up or somethin’?” she interrogated, clearly threatened by the stunning woman who stood so close to her boyfriend.
Wesley took Daphne’s hand in his. “It ain’t even like that, baby.”
“Then what’s it like, Wesley?” Daphne retorted, wrenching her hand from his to smooth it along the wide expanse of her hip.
“Daph—”
“Aw, shut the hell up. I’m tired of your bull, Wes. I always got to find some bitch up in your face. You like bitches like this?” she accused, her eyes surveying Topaz’s svelte form. “That what you like?” she repeated, her voice shaky with emotion.
“Nah, baby, you know it ain’t like that,” Wesley practically whined as he followed Daphne’s departing figure.
