Page 33 of Warrior's Cross

“Happy New Year,” Julian murmured to him.

“Not quite,” Cameron responded, pulling the corkscrew out of his pocket. “About an hour yet.” He worked the tool into the cork. “But if you order all the courses, you’ll be here at midnight.”

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Julian told him in a low voice, his eyes not leaving Cameron’s.

It was a long moment later when Cameron realized he was just standing there with his hands on the wine bottle, looking back at Julian.

He shook himself slightly as his cheeks flushed, and he pulled the cork.

“Good thing your back is to a wall,” he murmured. No one could see the silly look on his face except Julian.

Julian raised an eyebrow and glanced around before looking back up at Cameron. “You like my back against a wall?” he asked in a suggestive manner.

Cameron’s cheeks darkened more, and he offered a flustered murmur as flashes of Christmas evening came back to him. More wine had certainly made Cameron more adventuresome than usual, and Julian had taken full advantage.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes, thank you, I’d like some more’,” Julian drawled with a barely restrained smirk.

Picking up the wine-glass, Cameron bit his lip and then smiled ruefully as he poured. “You’re quite a bit like this wine,” he finally said as he sat the half-filled glass down in front of Julian.

“What, not drunk yet?” Julian asked as he fiddled with his notebook.

Cameron shook his head as he pocketed the corkscrew and deliberately met Julian’s eyes. “Intoxicating,” he explained breathlessly. After two heartbeats, he escaped, heading for the service area to get the water pitcher and a bread basket.

His cheeks were still burning when he got there. After placing the basket and pitcher on a small, cloth-draped tray, Cameron took a few deep breaths to settle his heart rate before he headed back out the door.

Lord knew what Julian would say next or how he’d react to it. Julian was right; he could easily bother Cameron at work just by being there.

He stopped in front of the table and waited for Julian to look up.

Julian finished writing and set his pen down, looking up deliberately and meeting Cameron’s eyes.

“Are you ready to order?” Cameron asked as he set the basket on the table.

“How long are you here?” Julian asked him, so softly that only Cameron could hear.

Cameron shrugged. “Restaurant’s open until everyone leaves. I came in at ten this morning for prep, and usually I stick around and help out. But you’re my only table now.”

“So,” Julian posed thoughtfully, “if I were to have my food boxed up and paid my check, you would be free to go?”

Cameron looked at him in surprise and tried to keep calm. “Ah, yeah, I guess I would,” he said, starting to smile. “But you haven’t ordered yet, except for the wine.”

Julian’s smile was slow and crooked, giving his normally serious face a mischievous light. “Check, please,” he requested.

Both Cameron’s eyebrows rose, and then he nodded. “Yes, sir,” he replied before leaving the table to do just what Julian proposed.

Cameron arrived back at the table in fifteen minutes with his coat over one arm and a large, heavy paper sack with handles in his hand.

There was no sign of a check. “Ready to go?” he asked.

Julian stood gracefully, buttoning his jacket as he did so. He took up his coat and scarf and draped them over his arm. “Ready,” he murmured with a smile.

Cameron led the way to the foyer, where he set down the bag long enough to pull on his coat and scarf before they rode down the elevator and walked out onto the cold street. There were only flurries tonight, but snow still covered the sidewalks, and Cameron’s breath came out frosty white. He turned his chin to look at Julian, wondering what would come next.

“Busy weekend,” Julian said to him vaguely. Cameron was uncertain whether it was a question or a statement.

Nodding slowly, Cameron watched the other man as they walked.

After a quiet minute, he said, “I thought about you.”