Page 11 of 40 and Flirting (with Disaster)
Iris looked to him. “You’ve been here before.”
He shrugged. “Investors expect the best.” He dared a wink. “And I love good food.”
He swore a blush darkened her cheeks, though the dim lighting of the restaurant made it difficult to tell for certain. She turned her attention back to her menu, and he made a discreet adjustment below the rim of the table, hoping for a bit more breathing room in his slacks.
Once they had placed their orders—Iris ordered the filet mignon, which he’d also recommended as excellent—conversation around the table turned toward the afternoon of pampering, Carter and JD’s drive over, the latest updates to Claire’s new bakery, the one taking shape brick by brick inside JD’s soon-to-be-opened resort. Jamie could feel the tension slowly draining from Iris’s body as she relaxed, joined in, and hopefully became used to his body in close proximity to hers.
“Jamie”—Erin’s grin had an impish tilt to it—“how was Baby doing this morning?”
Iris froze next to him. Jamie barely resisted the urge to place his hand on her neck, let his touch warm her, reassure her.
“She’s hanging in there,” he told Erin. “Still looking to foal in the next week.”
Iris blew out a breath. The act was subtle; he doubted anyone else was aware of her reactions, but he was so fine-tuned to her every movement that he couldn’t miss them if he’d tried.
“A horse?” she asked. “You have a horse named Baby?”
“I do.” He grinned. “Want me to whip out the photos on my phone?”
She laughed. “Tell me about her. She’s having a baby? Is she your only horse?”
Erin jumped in. “Jamie owns a farm between Gatlinburg and Black Wolf’s Bluff. Flying Horse Ranch? How many horses do you have now?”
He shrugged. “A couple dozen. The number fluctuates between births and the sales we make.” He added, for Iris’s benefit, “I breed American Quarter Horses.”
Something seemed to click into place for her. “And you own the Carousel, right?”
His mouth quirked in a grin. “Right.”
Her laugh did strange things to his heart. “‘Flying Horse Ranch.’ That makes so much sense.” She paused as their server arrived with everyone’s drinks. “So, how did you get into horse breeding?”
“I moved to the area a good thirty years ago now.” Had it really been so long? Time flew when you were getting old, he guessed. “I bought the land because I like my space, and because I wanted horses for pleasure. I never expected to breed them, but I caught the bug with my very first quarter horse and”—he shrugged, a tingle shooting through him as his shoulder contacted Iris’s—“the rest is history.”
“Was Baby your first?” Iris asked.
He chuckled. “No, that was a bay named Cerberus. Ironic since he was the gentlest gelding I’ve ever owned. I fell in love with the breed then, slowly built my herd, expanded the farm…” He glanced around, realizing he might be monopolizing the conversation, but the others talked around them, leaving him and Iris in their own little world.
What had he been saying? Oh.
“Baby’s official name is Daddy’s Girl.” He grinned. “She was born ten years ago on the farm, and the minute I laid eyes on her”—his gaze met Iris’s, and a sense of déjà vu came over him—“I fell in love.”
His voice had gone husky; he couldn’t help it. The words hung in the air between them, full of suggestion, until the arrival of the server with their food interrupted them.
The conversation flowed around the table as the group ate, and Jamie took a back seat, wanting to learn more about Iris now that he finally had the chance. He’d caught glimpses at a couple of social functions, civic events where the city council of Black Wolf’s Bluff were present, and through the conversations with Erin about her friends, but it wasn’t the same as watching Iris actually interact with others, getting to interact with him herself. Those few moments last December had sparked his interest, but tonight opened up a whole different view of the woman beside him, one he both admired and wanted even more than he had before.
Good food and good company had the evening passing far sooner than he wanted it to. As the checks were collected, talk turned to where each couple was headed for the night. JD and Lily needed to drive back to Black Wolf’s Bluff in preparation for an early morning meeting Lily couldn’t miss. Carter and Erin had a sitter for Thad, and had rented a suite to enjoy some time on their own. Claire, Scarlett, and Iris were all staying in town, at a hotel just down the street, which was also where Jamie had reserved a room. He no longer enjoyed traveling through the night if he didn’t have to; better to rest in a nice warm bed and travel the next day, in his opinion. Tonight that decision was a good one for a whole other reason.
“Let me escort you ladies to the hotel.”
Erin’s wink was discreetly hidden from her friends, and he silently thanked her for suggesting the location for his overnight stay. Hugs were shared all around, and then he found himself walking up the sidewalk with Iris at his side, Scarlett and Claire slightly ahead of them in what he was fairly certain was a strategic plan to give him some alone time with their friend.
Iris shivered at his side. “Cold?” The evening had cooled off significantly after the day’s summer heat.
She shot him a wry smile. “Tonight is cooler than I expected.”
Without comment he slid his blazer from his shoulders and wrapped it casually around hers. Iris protested even as she snuggled into the collar’s warmth.
“No worries,” he assured her. “I’m sure if I get too chilly, you’ll keep me warm.”
