Bethany snorted. “Like you don’t enjoy it.”
“Didn’t say that, baby,” Jace said, amusement thick in his voice. But his expression and his eyes said it all. They’d grown positively smoldering as he looked at Bethany.
“So you’re okay with that?” she whispered to Ash so the others wouldn’t overhear.
Ash laced his fingers with hers underneath the table but then dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in close so their chairs bumped and she was nearly in his lap.
Evidently he hadn’t lied when he said he’d want to touch her, be close to her, and he didn’t give a damn who saw it.
“Oh yeah, I’m okay with it,” he murmured back. “If I get what Gabe and Jace get when their women go out and get drunk? Then yeah, definitely. I’ll even go buy you the dress and the shoes for the occasion.”
She laughed softly. “This warrants a new dress and shoes?”
“Definitely.”
“I don’t drink much, as I told you, but for this maybe I’ll have to make an exception.”
His eyes gleamed as he stared back at her. “Make an exception. I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”
They chatted about casual topics. Gabe and Mia’s honeymoon dominated most of the conversation as Mia recounted their trip to Paris. After their meals were served and they’d eaten, the dessert menus were passed around and Josie excused herself to go to the restroom.
Mia and Bethany got up to accompany her and the three women headed toward the ladies’ room.
Josie finished first and waited outside. She heard a door open and turned to see if it was them, but her mouth fell open when she saw Michael walk out of the men’s room that was just across from the ladies’ room.
He looked like hell!
Their gazes met and held a brief moment before his flickered and he looked hastily away.
“Michael?” she whispered. “What on earth happened to you?”
She could swear fear flickered in his eyes. He couldn’t leave quick enough and Josie was too stunned to do more than stare after him as he hurried away.
There wasn’t a spot on his face that hadn’t been bruised. And it was ugly. Lip split, swollen eye.
“Josie?”
Josie whirled to see Mia and Bethany standing there, looks of concern on their faces.
“Do you know that man?” Mia asked. “Is everything all right?”
“I knew him, yes,” Josie murmured. “And everything is fine. Let’s go back for dessert. I’m sure it’s there by now.”
The entire way back to the table, Josie’s mind was a whirlwind of what the hell. She hadn’t imagined Michael’s face or the fact that he’d damn near broken his neck getting away from her. And she hadn’t imagined the fear in his eyes. Why would he be afraid of her?
Ash’s gaze was sharp when she sat down. He didn’t miss a thing and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her and then over to Bethany and Mia as if he thought they’d done something to upset her.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “You’re pale. Did something happen?”
“Not here,” she said under her breath.
Without another word, Ash stood and reached for her hand. She followed openmouthed behind him as he dragged her out onto the patio to stand in front of the fountain. He pulled her to him, cupped a hand to her cheek and stared intently into her eyes.