Page 27 of Pretty Desperate (Pine Village #6)

JILLIAN

“ W elcome to Prime Steak House,” Veronica says politely as I step inside on Friday.

“Hi, Veronica,” I reply as the door closes behind me.

“I have your table ready,” she informs me, grabbing a stack of menus and leading the way. We head to the same table we’ve used the last couple of times we’ve dined together, but it catches my attention it’s set for four.

“Is this the right one?” I ask, not wanting to take a table from another party.

She nods and gives me a polite smile. “It is. Kameron asked me to prep it for four.”

“Oh. Okay.” I slip into a chair toward the wall, so I’m out of the way for whoever else is joining us. I pull out my phone and check for messages. Surely Kameron would have sent me a quick note to let me know if someone was joining us, right?

But I don’t see a text message, which is strange.

The server approaches and fills my water glass. “Can I get you anything else to drink while you wait for your party?” she asks politely.

“No, this is perfect, thank you.”

She nods and fills up the other three glasses at the table before turning and moving to another table. I glance around once more, wondering who’s joining us for dinner. Fortunately, my question is answered a few minutes later when I spot familiar faces entering the restaurant and are led my way.

“What are you two doing here?” I ask Blair and Gabe, who are smiling widely as they join me.

“Well, I called Kameron to see if I could still get a table tonight before the game, and he mentioned you two were having dinner and invited us to join you,” Gabe says after holding Blair’s seat before taking his own.

“I’m so glad,” I tell him, taking a sip of my water. “What about Wrenlee?”

“My dad and Patience offered to keep her earlier than planned so we could have dinner before the football game,” Blair informs me as the server returns to take their drink orders. They both decide to drink water, and the server promises to be back in a moment with fresh bread.

“Actually, I think it was more Aggie’s insistence that they called,” Gabe adds once the server has stepped away.

Blair chuckles. “True. She loves spending time with Wren,” his wife confirms. Aggie is her younger sister, the product of her dad’s second marriage to a much younger woman.

For many years they were estranged, until Blair came back to help run her father’s medical practice.

That one decision changed her life. She reconciled with her dad and young stepmom and also fell in love with Gabe.

“She’s a great aunt,” I add.

“I see I’m late to the party.”

I glance up and see Kameron approaching the table, a warm smile on his face and holding a basket. He places it in the middle of the table and takes the last available chair. “Sorry I’m late, but I don’t come empty-handed.”

“Oh, yum,” Blair sings, diving right into the fresh, warm bread and butter.

I do the same when she has her slice on a small plate, followed by Gabe and Kameron. “I hear it should be a good game tonight,” Kameron says.

Gabe nods. “It is always a good game when we battle Westwood.”

“I remember that rivalry from when I was in school,” Kameron adds.

“We always looked forward to kicking Westwood’s ass,” Gabe confirms with a big grin, making Blair chuckle.

“Hey, boss, can I get you something to drink?” the server asks Kameron when she arrives at the table.

“No, I’m good with water, but thanks, Stacia.

” To us, he asks, “Did you guys get a chance to look at the menu or hear the specials? I have a roasted red pepper chicken with creamy Tuscan sauce served with asparagus and mashed potatoes or a honey-glazed bacon-wrapped pork chop with roasted potatoes and carrots.”

My mouth waters, as it seems to always do anytime Kameron talks about food.

“Ohhh, the roasted chicken for me, please,” Blair requests.

Kameron looks to me, waiting for me to make my choice. “What do you recommend?”

His eyes soften and hold a hint of a smile as he gazes back at me. “The pork chop. It won’t be quite as mouthwatering as when I make it, but Marlin will still do the recipe justice,” he quips with a teasing grin and a wink.

“I’m telling him you said that,” Veronica states as she happens to be walking near our table to overhear the comment.

“You would,” Kameron jokes back as he turns to Gabe.

“I’ll have the pork chop special too,” Gabe confirms.

“And I’ll have the chicken but tell Marlin to put part of mine on Jillian’s plate so she can try it,” Kameron says to Stacia, who makes a note on her pad and nods.

“I’ll get these put right in for you,” she announces, scurrying off toward the kitchen.

“Awww, that’s so sweet,” Blair says, smiling over her water glass as she sips.

My foot starts to tap on the floor as my cheeks burn.

Kameron shrugs and takes his own drink of water. “I wanted her to try it, and this way she can without having to reach across the table.”

“You two are the cutest,” Blair adds, making my face flame even warmer. “You’re, like, the best boyfriend.”

“Hey!” Gabe proclaims, giving his wife a look.

“Oh, knock it off, Gabriel. You easily transitioned from amazing boyfriend to perfect husband.”

“Yeah, Gabriel, don’t be jealous because I’m the best,” Kameron teases his friend.

“Did you hear her? I’m the perfect husband,” Gabe proclaims, patting his flat stomach before reaching over and taking his wife’s hand, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

“I heard her use your full first name,” he replies with a smug smile.

“She can call me Gabriel all she wants. That usually means I’m gonna get lucky.” Gabe wiggles his eyebrows and shoots his wife a wolfish grin.

“Oh my God, stop it,” Blair sings through her laughter.

“Gotta keep working on baby number two.”

A longing I wasn’t expecting hits hard.

My heart starts to beat a sad little number in my chest as I think about the children I always wanted but will likely never have. Funny how life works, isn’t it? One minute you think you have everything, and the next you’re having to reevaluate goals and give up on the things you wanted most.

But I refuse to wallow in the sadness. I may not have a baby—or the family I thought I’d have by age thirty-seven—but I have a great life.

A bakery I love and amazing friends. I even have Kameron, despite the circumstances surrounding our relationship.

Fake or otherwise. I’m content, even if I feel like a piece of myself is still missing.

I take a quick drink of water to give my hands something to do, swallowing the cold liquid over the lump in my throat.

I feel Kameron’s eyes on me, and though I know I should just paste a bright smile on my lips, that’s not what happens.

I turn my uneasy gaze his way and am rewarded with a small smile.

One that tells me he’s with me, understanding the pain.

I’m sure that’s not true, but whatever. I still appreciate the support.

Kameron reaches over and takes my hand, lowering it beneath the table and resting them jointly on his knee. It feels…right.

We make more small talk until our food is delivered, and the moment our plates arrive, the aroma is sinful.

“Holy moly, I can’t wait to dive into this,” Blair murmurs when her plate is set in front of her.

“Me either,” I whisper, taking in the oversized entrée. Thanks to them adding some of Kameron’s meal to mine, I look like I’m eating for two. Or three. Heck, this plate could feed the golf team at the high school.

I don’t know which to try first, they both look so delicious, but I opt to slice into my pork chop. I could cut it with a butter knife, it’s so tender and juicy, and the moment it hits my tongue, I groan in appreciation.

“Good?” Kameron asks, watching me intently.

“Unbelievable. I think I’m going to stop cooking and just eat here every night,” I tell him, joking.

He shrugs and slices into his chicken, and I can tell by watching it’s just as tender. “I’d do that for you,” he replies with a wink.

Deciding to try the chicken next, I cut a piece off the small helping added to my plate and say, “But you’re only open five days a week. I suppose I could eat cereal the other two.”

He pins me with a look full of intensity.

It makes my clit throb as desire sweeps through my veins.

“First off, Jilly, I would cook for you every night, whether my restaurant is open or not, and second, cereal isn’t an appropriate dinner substitute.

” He takes a sharp bite of his chicken all while holding my gaze.

“What do you have against cereal?” I find myself asking, refusing to crack a smile.

“Nothing, if it’s seven in the morning.”

I shrug. “I actually don’t mind a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch for dinner,” I state with a shrug. “It’s my go-to.”

His mouth gapes open as he watches me. “You’re serious?”

I nod, taking a drink of water to keep myself busy so I don’t burst into a fit of laughter, but the problem is drinking liquid isn’t helping. I almost choke on water, which isn’t funny or attractive.

He places his fork on his plate, continuing to stare at me. “You’re fucking with me right now, aren’t you.”

It’s not a question.

“Maybe,” I sing with a smirk.

He narrows his eyes, and I can’t help but let the giggles I’ve been holding fly. “Just for that, I’m not sharing any more of my chicken with you,” he grumbles.

I can’t help but laugh more. “It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten cereal for dinner, Kameron. Now, cupcakes on the other hand, I’ve had plenty of cupcake dinners in the last couple of years. That’s why my ass is twice the size as it used to be.”

He narrows his eyes at me, as if he didn’t like what I said. “Your ass is perfect.”

The heat in his statement causes my cheeks to flush and dampness to flood my panties.

“I used to eat breakfast a lot for dinner myself,” Blair chimes in, breaking the thick sexual tension suddenly accompanying us to dinner.