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“Don’t they have a bloody steak here?” I frantically looked up the French word for steak and then scoured the menu for a sign of it.

“I’d settle for a burger right now and some chips. Hey, French fries, they’d have to have that, right?”

As she searched the door slid open and a waiter stepped in, toting a bottle of wine.

“This is a Penfolds Grange 2020,” the waiter said, presenting the bottle to me. I blinked and then looked at it and nodded, because what else was I supposed to say? I drank beer most of the time. Apparently that was all that was needed because he then uncorked the bottle and poured a small amount of the wine into the glass then looked at me expectantly.

Did he want me to drink it in front of him? I grabbed the glass and tossed it back before looking back at the waiter. A tiny frown made clear that wasn’t the correct response, but he moved around the table, filling my glass, then Jamie’s.

“Now, is everyone ready to order?” he asked.

“Ahh…” I’d found a nice suit, talked to the guy in the shop to make sure it fitted properly, found this restaurant, but apparently this was where it all fell apart. “We’re still?—”

“Trying to work out what is on the menu,” Jamie told him. “We didn’t realise the menu would be in French.” The crease in the waiter’s brows deepened, but she charged on. “Did you have steak or a burger on the menu…?”

“Perhaps a tasting menu would be the best choice,” the waiter suggested smoothly. “It entails a selection of many of our most ordered dishes, perfect for someone… new to dining here.”

You total bogan, that went unspoken. I clenched my jaw and then nodded.

“Sounds great.”

“Perfect.”

The menus were whisked away and the wine bottle left on the table, leaving me to scull a glass as soon as the doors were closed.

“Well, that went well…” I hissed to myself.

“Hey, apparently we’re going to get a taste of all their wonderful dishes,” Jamie said, then eyed the door forlornly. “He didn’t say anything about burgers, though.”

“Should we bail?” I’d walked into the axe throwing place full of confidence, but that was destroyed as soon as Hayden took Jamie in his arms. Watching my mirror image kiss the one girl I wanted had me conflicted. It was like I was kissing her too, and yet that possibility felt as remote as the sun at the same time. And twice as hot. “This was a mistake. I hoped to take you out somewhere nice, impress you, and?—”

“I put on a dress for you.” My eyes met hers across the table. “You know I can count how many guys I’ve done that for on one hand.” She looked at her palm. “Make that one finger. You look freaking hot in that suit.” I stiffened, every muscle moving in a state of readiness, “And this place is beautiful.” She stared at the low-hanging lights, the glossy, black-lacquered walls and the golden frames containing artworks. “As fake dates go, it’s pretty incredible. I’m not sure anyone has ever gone to this kind of effort for me before.”

Because men were fucking idiots, not worthy of her, I swore. I wasn’t either, but I’d try. Bloody hell, I’d try.

“I really appreciate all of it, Hunter, because you really didn’t have to, but…” I hung there, waiting for the end of that sentence. “You promised me answers. Brock… Hayden…” Her hand went to her lips before she snatched it back down again. “Everyone’s acting really weird.” She smiled, but it didn’t really reach her eyes. “Including you. What’s going on, Hunt?”

That shortened version of my name was all it took to destroy the illusion I was frantically trying to create. I wasn’t some 007 guy that hung out places like this. I liked surfing, having a beer, being with my friends and family, and…

Jamie. Always Jamie.

I sucked in a breath, ready to confess everything when the doors opened again. We glanced over to see a fleet of waiters come to remove all the other place settings at the table. Plates were stacked, cutlery dropped into a tub and napkins whisked away until they disappeared back out the door.

“I’m gonna tell you, Jamie,” I told her, starting out strong. “I’ve been wanting to say something for some time.” My hand started to shake a little, so I tried to cover that by raking it through my hair. “It’d be a relief of sorts, to finally get this off my chest.”

She leaned forward, and if we were talking about anything else, I’d have drunk in the sight of her cleavage, but not now. I stared at the curve of her cheek, the shine of her eyes, enhanced by the makeup she’d put on, not obscured. Those cute little tendrils of hair, that’s what I focussed on as I sucked in a breath.

Right as the doors slid open again.

“First course,” the waiter said with a polite smile, somehow ignoring the tense atmosphere in the room. “Fillet of lamb cooked with pepperleaf and saltbush leaves, served with a potato au gratin.”

Massive plates with a tiny piece of lamb were set before us, the potato looking like potato bake cut out in a slender stack. I nodded to the waiter in thanks, half wanting to quiz him about the food to keep him in the room, half wanting to boot him out.

“Enjoy,” the waiter said before turning to go, but I very much doubted I would.

Chapter 24

Jamie