Secret Designs(18)

"Surely Ari deserves something better than that, Dylan," Trey chided.

"Oh, but that place is perfect," Ari said, giving Dylan a quick glance and blushing. "We only want something light and quick."

"I know a more perfect place. Somewhere you'd really enjoy, Ari. You wouldn't mind if I join you guys, would you?" Trey asked with a glint in his eye.

Dylan frowned at this friend. What the hell is he up to?

"Would you mind, Ari?" Trey asked again with a charming smile.

"No, but it's up to Dylan," Ari said cautiously.

"Oh, that's very kind of you to leave the decision to him," Trey commented curiously.

"Well, my purse is back in the office and he offered to pay so I think it's just fair he decides where to go," Ari responded.

"Don't worry, Dylan won't mind," Trey said smoothly, putting a hand on Ari's back and leading her past the place they originally planned to go to. "You don't mind, do you, Dyl? I'm sure Ari would prefer the place I have in mind," Trey said, winking at him.

"And which place is that, Trey?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral although he felt like throttling his pal.

"I thought we'd go to Eiko's," Trey replied with a hint of challenge in his voice.

"Eiko's?" Ari asked in surprise. "We're only after a light lunch. That place is mega-expensive."

"They have plenty of light things on the menu," Trey said with an engaging smile.

Dylan frowned. Either Trey was trying to impress Ari or he was playing the ISAG—the 'Is She A Gold Digger?' scheme Dylan, Trey and Adam had concocted a few years ago. Judging from Trey's expression, it must be the latter.

He mentally shook his head in displeasure. Trey didn't have any business putting Ari through it without asking him first. In fact, the ISAG was originally only created for Trey. Wasn't Trey the one who wanted his potential girlfriends tested for signs of being a gold digger after Trey was jilted at the altar by a then-fiancée to whom he had been ultra-generous when she asked for a new car, and even money for her family's holidays?

Okay, granted that the ISAG became a must-be-applied-at-all-cost scheme for all three of them because of his actions. But Trey must know by now he preferred the freedom and simplicity of casual liaisons after his unpleasant experience. When he jeopardised hundreds of thousands of dollars of his, Trey's and Adam's money because of his feelings for a woman, he had readily agreed with Trey and Adam to check out any woman the three of them got serious with, whether they liked it or not.

So he couldn't believe that his buddy was even thinking of putting Ari through the ISAG. It wasn't warranted. First, this was just a friendly, innocent lunch between friends. Second, Ari wasn't even that kind of person. He may not have known her long but he could tell. Trey shouldn't be too quick to judge.

Ari glanced back at him in concern as he lagged behind.

"Coming, Dyl?" Trey asked, turning to give him a sly grin.

Dylan took that opportunity to slide in between Trey and Ari, giving his friend a little warning nudge on the side. He wished he could inform him in no uncertain terms that there was no need for the ISAG with Ari.





*******



"Ari, what would you like?" Dylan asked.

Ari was still staring at the menu, looking dismayed. "You know, just one of their sushi rolls would be fine."

Dylan had a feeling she was scanning for the cheapest item on the list. But even the least expensive dish at Eiko's was quite pricey compared to what they could have ordered at the restaurant he had suggested earlier.

He wished she would relax and not worry about the cost. He could bloody well afford it.

He reached for her hand under the table. It was cold. "We could order different dishes and share. How about that?" he asked softly.

"Okay," she replied warily.

Trey rattled off a couple of items he'd like to order. They were among the most expensive on the list, guaranteed to impress any woman—well, someone easily awed by money, anyway. But it had the opposite effect on Ari. She looked worried.

"You're joking, aren't you, Trey?" she asked.

Trey raised his eyebrows. "No."

"Well..." Ari started, then closed her mouth.

"Well, what?" Dylan asked.

Ari puffed out a sigh. "Well, Trey seems to think I would prefer it here. It's sweet of him to think so, but it's not really fair to you," she explained to Dylan.

"Oh, is that what you're worried about, Ari?" Trey asked and leaned closer to her. "Don't worry. I meant to foot the full bill from the start. I did suggest we go here, after all."

"Don't be ridiculous, Trey. I'm happy to get this," Dylan said, bristling. The last thing he wanted was for Ari to think of him as cheap. Or worse, that he didn't consider her worthy of a place like this. He could really wring Trey's neck right now.