He shifts a little closer. “Well, I was thinking you should let me take you out. You know, like a date.”
And there it is…
“Oh, buddy, you’re so blind.” Keith laughs, stepping into the kitchen. Clearly, he heard my awkward moment.
Cole walks back in from outside and sets the dish on the counter. He looks at me, then Keith. I’m sure he’s wondering why the air in the room is so charged.
“So, what do you say? Friday, six o’clock?” Derek pushes on, not caring about our audience or the fact that it’s against house rules. Keith leans against the fridge and grins back and forth between me and Cole, loving every minute of the show.
“What’s going on?” Mark whispers as he joins Keith.
“Savi just got asked out on a date.”
I glare at both of them.
“Oh!” Mark’s face suddenly brightens. “Oh. Okay, continue.” He waves his hand like this is a live performance.
“There you are, Savi,” June says, coming to my side. “Come say hello to Dr. Roberts. You did, after all, invite him.”
“Sure,” I say, trying to smile. “Excuse me.” I want to throw my arms around June and thank her for getting me out of there when she did. She winks at me, and I guess she must have overheard too. I mouth ‘thank you’ and head for the doctor.
Cole keeps his word over dinner and doesn’t bring up work. He helps keep the topic light, even though I catch him and Mark exchanging looks. Dr. Roberts and Abigail are hitting it off nicely. June seems thrilled to see her older sister gushing over a man. Not that Abigail gushes, but she certainly is glowing.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” Dr. Roberts says, waving his hand around the room. “It’s stunning. You certainly have an eye for decorating.”
“Thank you.” I smile. “Christmas is my favorite time of the year.”
“I love that you love Christmas and it’s your favorite time of the year.” Keith laughs and picks up a cookie. “So good.”
“Is that cheesecake?” Mark asks, bloody well knowing it is. He leans to the side and takes it off the table behind him.
“I swear, you sit there just so you can be close to the desserts,” I say.
“I do.” Mark laughs and plops a huge piece of cheesecake on his plate.
The conversation picks up again, and we soon retire into the living room for drinks. Cole is speaking with Dr. Roberts and it looks serious, so I don’t go over.
“You never answered my question,” Derek says from behind me.
Shit.I turn and attempt to smile. “I’m actually seeing someone, but I’m flattered you asked me.”
“Sure.” He slips his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have asked if I knew.”
“It’s okay.”
“Can I have everyone’s attention? I have some information to share with all of you,” Cole calls out over the chatter. “Please gather around. I would like to get this over with.”
As we move toward Cole, Keith tugs on my arm so I sit next to him and June.
“Are we late?” Daniel asks, coming into the living room with Sue.
“No, you’re right on time.” Cole nods as they take a seat.
I notice he doesn’t give them his normal warm greeting. Sue seems a little off, but I pretend not to notice as we all gather, waiting for Cole to start.
“All right,” he says, as he put his hands on his hips. “At approximately seventeen hundred yesterday, Frank, along with Agent Bridges, left to transport York to Washington. Thirty minutes into the flight, York got hold of Agent Bridges’s gun, killing Bridges, and during the altercation, a stray bullet hit the pilot, wounding him.” He pauses as everyone starts whispering, then continues. “In the ensuing struggle, Frank shot York and killed him. I won’t share all the details, but the pilot was able to fly on to Washington. He’s okay, just going to have to use one wing for a while.” He seems to realize he almost made a joke and looks stricken.
“Poor Agent Bridges. Did he have a family?” Abigail asks quietly.