Nate and Shay arrived at the restaurant and were immediately escorted to the table. As they approached, Shay noticed Danica sitting across from Martin and laughing at something he said as she laid her hand on top of his.
"You don't think..." Shay asked, looking between the younger woman and the much older man.
"No, I don't. Danica has been one of my father's favorites because her father went to school with him. My guess is that either he ran into her here when he arrived, or he called her from the car and told her to get over here in a hurry." Nate whispered back. "This isn't going to be pleasant. Do you want me to take you home?" Nate stopped her before they reached the table.
Shay swallowed hard, knowing that it would be hell. She knew what catty women were like because she had dealt with enough of them growing up in L.A.
"It'll be fine," she insisted as she gave Nate a tense smile. She didn't want to mention that Danica had almost recognized her several times before, but perhaps it would be a good thing in this instance. It wasn't as if she worked for Nate anymore.
Nate gave her a worried frown before he nodded and walked with her to the table, thanking the hostess as they were seated.
"Danica, this is Nate's latest friend, Shelly," Martin said with a narrowing of his eyes.
Nate opened his mouth to correct his father on Shay's name, but Shay reached out, grabbing his arm to stop him.
"We've met. She's Nate's secretary," Danica said in a stage whisper.
"Nate!" Martin crowed. "I didn't think you had it in you, boy! Although, it will get awkward when it's over. Trust me, I speak from experience," Martin winked at Shay.
The waiter saved anyone from having to answer as he took their drink order.
The next half hour was taken up with light chatter and ordering food. No one was paying Shay any attention, which was fine with her. It was better to be ignored than be a target.
Nate kept brushing her arm or leg, letting her know that he was close, and Shay was enjoying the freedom of touching him back. She hoped that they would return to his apartment and pick up where they left off when they were through with dinner.
"Nate and I are going to the New York premiere of Sullivan Richard's new movie. I secured the tickets over a month ago. It's the event of the season." Danica looked over at Nate and smiled.
Nate tensed, and Shay would bet her last dollar he had forgotten all about it.
"These events are very hard to get into, Shelly, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that since you take care of Nate's schedule for him." Danica looked Shay over as she sipped her wine.
"Oh, I do. I take care of many things for Nate," Shay nodded all innocence. Just because she didn't like to deal with catty didn't mean she didn't know how.
Nate cleared his throat next to her as he took a sip of his wine.
"We'll make a night of it, shall we?" Danica asked Nate.
"I don't think-" Nate began, but the arrival of a very famous person at the door caught everyone's attention, and he stopped talking.
Paloma Clark had entered in a swirl of gold fabric. She always did know how to make an entrance. The beautiful fabric of the dress was the perfect foil for her olive skin tone and golden hair.
Everyone watched as the hostess rushed over to greet her.
There was a lot of shaking of heads and hand gesturing, making everyone stare more.
"Does anyone speak Spanish?" the hostess desperately asked a few people closest to her.
Shay met Paloma's eye with a raised eyebrow. What was she up to? Her English was perfect.
Paloma returned her raised eyebrow with one of her own as if to say, are you going to leave me hanging.
Shay took a deep breath and stood, walking toward the beautiful woman. When she reached her, they kissed cheeks.
"What are you up to?" Shay hissed in Spanish.
"Your brother is running late, and if I'm going to sit alone at a table, I will make sure everyone knows I'm not ashamed of it!" Paloma let her golden eyes scan the room.
"What if no one here had spoken Spanish?" Shay asked as she stepped away from the woman.
She gave a very Latin shrug. "Things always have a way of working out." Her eyes darted over to Shay's table. "Is that the delicious-looking Nathan Wright that you're with?" Paloma took her time admiring him.
"He's mine, Paloma," Shay said, her eyes growing wide at the shock of her own words. Where had they come from? Did she really consider him hers?
"A surprise for you, I think?" Paloma gave a husky laugh which made everyone who had looked away look at her once more.
"What's is she saying?" The hostess asked.
Shay had forgotten about the hostess as they carried on in Spanish, and Shay started to tell her about Sawyer being late when he chose that moment to enter the restaurant.
As soon as Sawyer saw them both, he grinned. First, he kissed Paloma then he kissed his sister's cheek. "What are you doing here, are you joining us?" he asked.
"No, she is with the yummy Nathan Wright," Paloma said in perfect English, and all three turned to look at the table where Nathan, Martin, and Danica were watching the scene unfold.
"Is she now? I thought you quit working for him," Sawyer asked with a tilt of his head.
"I did," Shay nodded. "Look, can you make my life difficult later? I really should get back to the table."
"Yes, she is worried that the other woman will steal her man," Paloma nodded. "She already warned me off."
"She did?" Sawyer asked, looking at his sister oddly.
"Just act like I'm not here, please!" Shay hissed. "Now, you need to explain to the poor hostess, who is only trying to do her job, why you speak perfect English, Paloma." Shay turned and walked back toward the table.
"Everything all right?" Nate whispered in her ear after she sat. It gave Shay goosebumps.
"Yes, her date was running late, that was all." Shay gave a tense smile before she took a sip of her wine. It was all she could do not to turn around to see where her brother had been seated. He probably had had his phone out and was snapping photos.
"You three looked as if you knew each other," Danica asked with narrowed eyes.
"Did we?" Shay vaguely asked as she took another sip of wine.
The rest of dinner was more of the same, as Martin and Danica excluded Shay from the conversation whenever possible. Nate tried to draw her in, but Shay wasn't eager to participate, and Nate eventually picked up on that fact.
An hour later, Martin offered to escort Danica home, which would leave Nate with the bill. Danica looked as if she was going to object for a moment, but after some consideration, she nodded and left with Martin.
"Are you sure there's not something there?" Shay asked as she watched Martin place his hand in the small of her back. "I mean, I get that she prefers you. Who wouldn't, but might she go for your father if she can't have you?" Shay asked as the waiter delivered the check.
Nate frowned as he considered it. "She might, although he swears he'll never marry again."
A strained silence descended on them.
"What now, Nate?" Shay felt that the moment for them that evening had passed.
"I'll take you home." Nate sighed. "After everything that has happened tonight, I feel like the evening has been tarnished, and I don't want us to begin with that hanging over our heads."
Shay nodded. "I'm disappointed, though."
"Not as much as I am. Now I get to go home to my lonely apartment with an image you dressed only in my suit jacket," Nate whispered in her ear.
It made Shay feel sexy.
"I don't think I'll be able to get out of going to your brother's premier with Danica," Nate began as he opened the restaurant door, and they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Shay looked up at him, letting her body brush his, and he cupped her face.
"Does she make you stutter?" Shay whispered.
"Not once," Nate assured her before his lips gently met hers.
"Hi!" Sawyer's voice said from behind them.
Nate slowly ended the kiss and looked over at him and Paloma.
Shay noted that Paloma looked amused and ruffled as if she had been rushed out of the restaurant.
"Nate, this is my brother, Sawyer, and his friend, Paloma Clark. At least, I assume they are only friends because she dated my other brother, Sullivan, until recently," Shay introduced. It would sound like a rude introduction to most people, but Shay still hadn't gotten a clear answer on what had happened between the three of them, which was irritating her. One thing was sure. Shay knew neither brother was in love with her.
No one added to Shay's comment as Sawyer reached forward with an extended hand.
"I've heard a lot about you," Sawyer said as he pumped Nate's hand vigorously. "Not from Shay. She's not a sharer but from Paloma. She thinks you're yummy." It was Sawyer's way of testing the water to see if there was any interest for Nate in the news that Paloma was interested in him.
Nate still held Shay against him with the arm that Sawyer wasn't pumping, and they both turned to look at Paloma, who smiled and said that indeed she did in Spanish.
"Nate speaks Spanish, Paloma," Shay informed her.
Paloma's grin only widened.
"She doesn't make me stutter either," Nate whispered in Shay's ear, and Shay grinned.
Sawyer nodded and reached out a hand for Paloma. "Come on, beautiful. We have another party to make." Shay watched as Sawyer held out a hand, and a taxi stopped immediately.
"I'll see you at home, Shay," Sawyer shouted as the taxi drove away.
"You're living with him now? What happened with Corey?" Nate took Shay's hand, and they started walking.
"Umm..she dated you, and I didn't like it." Shay blushed as she admitted her jealously. "Besides, I'm headed to Africa in a few weeks, so I only need a temporary place to stay."
Nate stopped walking and looked down at her. "You are?"
Shay nodded. "I'll be there for at least six months, maybe longer, depending on the speed of the project."
"I didn't realize that." Nate frowned.
"Do you think you'll have to go back to Hong Kong?" Shay linked her arm through his, and they started walking once more.
"I don't know, Shay."
Eventually, they caught a taxi, and the rest of their journey to Sawyer's apartment was made in silence as they realized that if they had any time together before Shay left it, it would be short-lived.
"It feels as if the universe is against us, Nate," Shay felt like crying as he walked her to the door.
"Nothing worth having is ever easy, Shay." Nate traced her cheek and then gave her a farewell kiss before turning and leaving.
There was no mention of another date.