Page 78 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“All the more reason to rip it off you when we get back home tonight.”
He eyes my boobs once more, which look impressively ample in the strapless, sweetheart neckline of this dress.
I trace my finger along his impossibly square jawline. “Can’t wait. Now let’s go before we’re late.”
* * *
Forty minutes later we’re at my dad’s restaurant Seb’on in the upscale Cherry Hill neighborhood of Denver.
“This restaurant is incredible,” Theo says as we walk into the dimly lit space outfitted with sleek modern décor.
“My dad put a ton of work into it.” I shed my faux fur coat—another item I borrowed from Ingrid’s closet—and hand it to the hostess. Theo hands his top coat to her as well and together we walk into the main part of the restaurant and spot my family milling around the space, chatting and laughing.
“You’re here!” Austin rushes over to hug us both.
“Happy anniversary, cuz.” I hand him a gold gift bag.
“You didn’t have to get us a gift,” Austin says. He hands the bag to Declan, who joins us. They’re both wearing charcoal gray suits and look so dapper.
“It’s a bottle of your guys’ favorite champagne that you haven’t been able to track down for months,” I say.
“What?!” Austin and Declan say at the same time.
I chuckle at the pure joy on their faces. “Theo helped me find it.” I turn to look at him and go weak at the adorably bashful look on his face.
He shoves his hands in his suit pockets. “One of my old teammates is from France. He helped me get it. It was nothing, really. If you guys want, he said he can get you a case of it. Just let me know.”
Declan yanks him into a hug so hard that Theo makes an “oof!” sound. The second he releases him, Austin does the same.
“Definitely put us down for a case. This was our honeymoon champagne. We’ve been craving it nonstop since we went to France for our honeymoon,” Declan says.
“We’ll love you forever for this, Theo.” Austin claps his chest. “So this is a gift from the two of you then?”
Theo doesn’t pick up on the lilt in my cousin’s voice or the curiosity in his expression as he looks between us.
“Yup,” Theo proudly says without missing a beat.
“Huh.” Austin aims a knowing smile at me, as if to non-verbally say, “Interesting…”
I try to keep my face as neutral as possible, but it’s no use. Austin is not only my cousin but one of my closest friends. He’s always been able to tell just by my expression when something is up.
While Theo and Declan talk, Austin raises an eyebrow at me.
“So you two…?” he whispers.
I scrunch my lips and nod once. He unleashes the cheesiest grin.
“Don’t. I don’t want to get into it in front of our whole family,” I tell him in a low voice.
He holds up a hand. “Understood. But the second we get a moment to ourselves, you’re telling me everything.”
I exhale. “I always do.”
Declan points toward the glossy black onyx bar at the far end of the restaurant. “Bar is over there. Be sure to try the signature cocktail, it’s delicious.”
“There’s a mocktail option for you, Theo,” Austin says.
Theo smiles. “You didn’t have to do that.”
