Working It(17)
“Yes.” Nolan was surprised his voice didn’t crack from the weight of sudden emotion he was forced to suppress.
“Will you forgive me for earlier? For yelling?”
“Yes.”
Zack stepped near, so tantalizingly close Nolan could have swayed and been once more chest to chest with him. “Will you come out to supper with me?”
Nolan blinked. “What?”
“While this smells amazing, I promise you I can do better.” A smile tugged at Zack’s lips. “I know it’s only five, but we can get an early meal. Then, if I haven’t scared you off, I’d like to show you something.”
Shit. This was too much for him. The wave of emotions was more than he could take. When he had to simply think of Zack as his hardheaded boss, it was easier to deal with the man. But this? It didn’t compute. “My sister will be home soon.” A lie, but one he needed to preserve his sanity.
“Another time, then. I don’t think she’ll want to see the man who upset her brother.”
Tina would probably tackle-hug Zack if she suspected he was starting to get to Nolan in a way no other man had before. “Good idea.”
Neither of them moved. Nolan’s gaze dipped to Zack’s mouth, and the memories of their brief kiss came racing back. He’d still been so overwhelmed from the anxiety that he hadn’t fully appreciated the gravity of what they’d shared. He’d kissed the dragon and he’d survived.
Not only that, he’d enjoyed it.
“I should go.” Zack’s voice barely reached above a whisper.
“You don’t have to.” Nolan felt the blush cover his cheeks. “I think supper might be good.”
Zack’s eyes flashed. “Your sister? Won’t she expect you to be here?”
“Currently she’s pissed at me. I was exaggerating a bit before. I don’t expect to see her for hours.”
Zack nodded. “Do you mind driving, or would you rather take transit?”
“I don’t own a car.”
“Taxi it is.” Zack shoved his hand into his pockets. “Let’s go, then.”
Zack knew it would have made no sense, but he should have insisted they take the bus instead. He hadn’t expected that being in such close proximity to Nolan would impact him the way it did. This was the second time Nolan had sat in a car with him, but the first time side by side. They’d come miles away from that Friday night at Frantic when he’d fallen apart, overwhelmed by his anxiety. With only the notable exception of earlier today, Nolan had been able to deal with his challenges amazingly well.
Zack didn’t want to stare, but he found it hard to keep his eyes from the handsome man beside him. Given how nervous Nolan was in cars, Zack didn’t want to give him any further reason to be upset.
“Are you okay?” Nolan turned in his seat to face him.
“Yes. Why?”
“You’re acting weird, and I don’t like it.”
“Sorry to offend you, Mr. Carmichael.”
“I’m not offended.” He shifted back, but Zack knew he was still watching him. It was uncanny how he was able to do that.
“I really am fine. I was thinking.”
“About what?”
“You.” It was Zack’s turn to stare at his companion. Nolan squirmed in his seat, as he looked out the window. “I was thinking about how far you’ve come in such a short time with the company. With no experience as an assistant, you righted my office. I never did thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome.” Nolan sniffed and rubbed his hand along the top of his left thigh.
The red light was long, as was the line of cars in front of them. They should have walked, been outside in the cool evening air. It wouldn’t have lent to conversation, not as intimate at any rate. That might have been safer. Zack drummed his fingers on the seat between them. “I never did ask what you trained? Technology? HR sessions?”
Nolan shifted forward once more, his eyes shining a bit brighter than they ought to in the night. “I worked with insurance brokers. Trained them on soft skills mostly. How to talk to clients, how to get to agreements in negotiations with difficult personalities. Conflict management, sensitivity training, that sort of thing.”
“So you were training people how to deal with assholes. Like me.”
“Pretty much.”
The light turned green and traffic began to move. “Do you miss it?”
“The assholes? No, I have you.”
Zack glared at him. “Training?”
“Yeah. I do. Every day, actually.”
He could have pressed further, but he didn’t want to hurt Nolan any more than he already had. “The restaurant is just up ahead.”
The Pear Tree was packed, groups of people hovering around the hostess area. Zack had a standing reservation, and thankfully didn’t have to wait. He recognized the hostess who was working that night, and she smiled as he came in with Nolan a few paces behind him.
“Hello, Mr. Anderson. We’re glad you were able to make it tonight. Just the two of you this evening?”
“Yes, May. Thank you.”
“This way, please.”
A guitar duo played softly on a small stage in the corner of the restaurant, the light melody underscoring the relaxed atmosphere. May led them to his normal spot, a small table in the corner opposite the musicians. It was far enough away from the kitchen that there wasn’t an endless parade of people passing by, but close enough to the bar for him to get quick refills.
“Here you go, gentlemen. Carlo will be by shortly to take your orders.”
Nolan hadn’t said anything since their arrival, an unusually long silence for him. Zack waited until May finished filling their water glasses and sauntered away before he turned to his date.
No. No, not date.
His friend. His valued employee.
“The menu is standard fare. Since Compass is paying the bill, I’d suggest getting the braised short ribs as an appetizer and the Kobe burger with chorizo sausage. Excellent.”
Nolan was looking around, a frown marring his face. “Why are we here?”
“I thought we’d established that back at your place. This was a chance for me to apologize for being a jerk.” It didn’t matter that the opportunity to spend time with him outside the office was more appealing than it should be. “If you’d rather go someplace else, I’m fine with that.”
“You had a reservation?”
“I have a standing reservation here. Well, three nights a week. It’s close to home for me, the food is good, and I like the company, even if I don’t talk to anyone.”
Nolan cocked his head to the side, his lips parted as though he might ask something. Of course that was the moment the waiter arrived to relay the daily specials. Zack did his best to hide his annoyance. It wasn’t Carlo’s fault that he’d interrupted a chance for Nolan to get to know Zack, to ask him questions that had nothing to do with appointments or proposals.
It was an opportunity for them to connect as people. Two men, a bit lonely, a bit broken, who’d had some success in life but still yearned for something more.
“Do you want the usual, Mr. Anderson?”
“Please. And I’ll have water to drink.”
“Make that two. And I’ll have the Ultimate burger. Well-done. Thanks.” Nolan pulled his loosened tie free from around his neck and stuffed it into his pocket.
Fuck.
Nolan looked around the restaurant, his eyes wide. “This doesn’t really seem like the sort of place I’d expect you to come. Especially to eat alone.”
“Why’s that?” The Pear Tree was a mix of modern and traditional. Wood, metal, and good music playing every night. And while it was busy most nights, the noise never rose to uncomfortable levels.
“It’s almost . . . casual. Relaxed.” Nolan thumbed the sweating water glass in front of him. “Not words I’d associate with you.”
It shouldn’t have upset him, hearing what Nolan thought of him. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard from others before. Still, annoyance rose up to tighten his chest. “No. I guess not.”
Nolan cringed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend—”
“No.” Zack closed his eyes and took a few calming breaths. “You’re right. I guess the truth of the matter is I like coming here sometimes instead of eating at home because I get to absorb some of that relaxation. I’ve gotten better at dealing with my anger issues over the years, but there’s always room for improvement.”
The waiter came back with their waters, forcing Zack to bite back words he probably shouldn’t say. He liked the restaurant, but he’d be lying if he said he liked coming to the Pear Tree alone all the time. He hated seeing the pity in the eyes of the staff every time he confirmed it would be “just one” for dinner. Again. He hated that he couldn’t seem to get past this emotional block that prevented him from developing any sort of meaningful relationship.
Instead of an ill-timed confession, he drank.
Nolan followed suit, and the silence that fell over them was underscored by the buzz of chatter from the other patrons. Zack didn’t want to start the conversation again, didn’t have a clue what to say that didn’t involve work or peppering Nolan with questions about his accident. They might have shared a heated, ill-advised kiss, but that didn’t give him the right to delve into Nolan’s obviously painful past.