Written on Her Heart (18 page)

“It’s okay.” He cleared his throat and laughed, but the tension in his expression remained. “Things still aren’t great with Rachel, are they?”

Andi shrugged, saying nothing, but when Peter raised a brow, she conceded. “Not really. They’re okay, but we haven’t talked for a couple weeks.”
Since I threw her in the pool.

“I’m sure things will get better. The job is new yet, and you even said things have settled down in the last couple weeks. You just need to work through this thing with her.”

Her thoughts went to the conversation from the library. “Yeah, I know. We’ve had our stupid fights before where we didn’t talk and then days later, we’d be back to normal. I’m sure this will be no different.” Though even as she said it, she doubted the truth of it. Especially if what she overheard at the library was true and that was why Rachel was so desperate to take Ford and her job.

He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, his skin warm and smooth as he enveloped it in his own. A flash of Ford, his hands damp and cold from the lake, touching her face and intertwining their fingers ricocheted through her like a bullet, setting all her nerve endings on fire, and all she could do to defend herself from the image was close her eyes.

When she opened them, Peter read her expression wrong, which only added fuel to the pyre of her guilt. “I want to be there for you. No matter how crazy I think taking this job was. I’m sorry you had a bad day. Please relax, though. Let’s enjoy this dinner. Maybe go back to my place after…” He grinned and squeezed her hand.

Andi softened, sinking back into her seat. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”

“I was going more for amazing, incredible, mind-blowing. But I guess I’ll take
nice
.”

Andi laughed. “It does sound incredible.”

If only I could relax and stop thinking about Ford.

Andi picked up her wine glass and took the last sip.

“More wine?” Peter asked.

Andi lifted her gaze to answer but she froze. Behind him, Ford and Rachel appeared in the entryway. She ducked her head, hoping neither had seen her, but when she dared a peek, Ford’s heated gaze was staring right at her.

“Andi?  What is it?” Peter’s forehead buckled, and he glanced behind him, searching for the source of her attention.

“Shit. You have got to be kidding me,” he hissed. “Is there only one restaurant in this town?”

Ford took a step toward them and Andi cringed. But she forced herself to straighten. She would just have to get used to Ford’s ambivalence toward her and his relationship with Rachel. And the sooner, the better.

Peter scooted his chair back and stood as Ford came to a stop in front of their table. Andi frowned at Rachel, who greeted her with a smug smile.

“Well, if it isn’t the infamous Ford Delaney.” One side of Peter’s mouth curled, and Andi stiffened.

Ford looked Peter up and down, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “We meet again.” He put a finger to his lower lip and glanced at the ceiling. “What is it? Piper, Preston, Paul…” He snapped his fingers. “Ah, yes! Peter.”

Andi glanced over at Peter from under her lashes, but instead of saying something nasty back, he smirked.  “Yes, Andi’s
boyfriend
,” Peter said. “You know what? There’s room for two more at our table and we haven’t ordered our meals yet. Why don’t you two join us?”

Ford’s gaze flickered to Andi. “That sounds like a good idea, but maybe we should check with Andi first. The last thing I want to do is be
unprofessional
.”

Peter narrowed his eyes at him and the way he accentuated the word. Andi shrunk back in her seat as all three pairs of eyes turned on her. She hadn’t told Peter about her talk with Ford. They were weaving through landmines, as it was. The last thing she needed was another bomb to throw in a field full of them. And the last thing she wanted now was to give either Peter or Ford the impression that she couldn’t handle being around her boss.

Shrugging, she kept her voice even. “Sure. Whatever.”

“Great,” Ford said, pulling a chair out next to Andi.

Peter put his hand on the chair and stopped him. “Actually, I’ll trade places and sit next to Andi so you can sit next to
your
date.”

Ford chuckled softly and moved across from Andi, leaving Rachel to sit across from Peter.

The waiter appeared at their table. “Mr. Delaney, I’m assuming you two will be joining them?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Can we get a bottle of wine, please?” Andi nodded toward her empty glass, and Ford smirked at her. It took everything in her not to roll her eyes and stick her tongue out like a child.

Ford glanced at the waiter and said, “Make that two.” He leaned back in his seat, his eyes still on Andi.

My God, look away! Please stop staring at me.
Why, now, did he seem so willing to acknowledge her?

She bit her lip and tried to think of something to say, anything to break the ice or relieve some of the tension at the table, but she thought of nothing. Reaching up to her collar, she hooked a finger in it, fanning herself with her shirt and eliciting a chuckle from Ford.

Her hand stilled and her gaze shot to his. She frowned and turned to Peter. Leaning into him, she half whispered, half hissed into his ear. “What were you thinking, inviting them to sit with us?”

“I wanted to make amends and show you my support. Besides, I think it’s good he see us together. And maybe I need to know more about the man you’re stuck with in an office by yourself all day.”

Andi rolled her eyes so Peter couldn’t see. She leaned back into her chair and tried to relax, reasoning with herself that maybe this would somehow benefit them all. What if Peter and Ford hit it off? To have Peter’s full support in her endeavors would certainly help put her at ease. And maybe if Ford saw that Peter was truly a good man, he’d … what? What was she hoping for?

The waiter returned with the wine, and Andi had to stop herself from jumping up and kissing him. Already she felt the muscles in her back loosen. He poured her a glass, then asked if everyone was ready to order. Someone must have confirmed that they were because everyone started rattling off orders. When it was her turn, she had no idea what she wanted because she had been too preoccupied to read the menu, so she simply pointed to the first thing.

After the waiter left, Peter’s forehead crinkled and he leaned into her. “Veal? I thought you had a thing against eating baby cows?”

Crap.
“Um, yeah. I do...but, er…”

“It’s research.”

Andi glanced up, her eyes widening at the unexpected sound of Ford’s voice.

“One of her main characters owns a restaurant, so she’s trying different things,” he added.

“Really?” Peter eyed her.

“Uh, yeah.” She shrugged, knowing the confirmation was like an admission to Ford that Peter knew nothing about her current manuscript, since Ford had read the entire thing and knew there was no truth to his story.

Peter seemed to accept the explanation, though, and said nothing else about it as he poured himself a glass of wine. Andi dared a glance at Ford, who winked at her and mouthed,
You’re welcome
. Glaring at him, she took a huge sip of her wine. Then another.

Ford toyed with his own glass as he spoke. “You know, Andi, I’m glad we ran into you because I’ve been thinking about something. After I submit your manuscript to my agent, when she takes you on and starts querying publishers, which I know she will—”

“You gave him your book to read?” Peter turned to her, the betrayal in his tone clear. “You didn’t tell me this.”

Oops.
She swallowed. “Well, I didn’t give it to him, exactly. I had it at work and he stumbled across it. I was going to tell you, but the last couple weeks have been hectic, and I’ve been so stressed about finishing the last chapter, and you were talking about your research, and I just didn’t get the chance…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

“It’s brilliant,” Ford said, his voice chipper, as if there were no tension at the table. “You should read it sometime.”

Andi felt Peter stiffen in the booth next to her, and in that moment, she wanted to throttle Ford.

“Who says I haven’t?” Peter eyes flashed.

Ford shrugged, his gaze landing on Andi. “Call it a premonition.”

“I see,” Peter said, toying with a loose thread on the tablecloth.

Andi turned to him. “I didn’t—” she started to say, but Peter raised his hand.

“It’s fine,” he said and took a long sip of his wine just as the waiter appeared with their food.

Grateful for the distraction, Andi took a small bite of her mashed potatoes, praying the men would do the same and conversation would cease.

“Anyway—” Ford said, cutting into his steak.

No such luck.

“—I think we should be seen together. We need to go to various outings and events where the press will be. Because they’re trying to get to me like a pack of hungry dogs right now, they’ll want to know who you are. We’ll tell them, and publishers will be knocking down doors to publish your book. They won’t pass up free press and advertising like that.”

Peter dropped his fork on his plate with a clatter. Andi jumped. “And the press will think you’re a couple, won’t they?”

Ford shrugged and took a bite of his food while Andi gritted her teeth.

Why was Ford doing this now? Especially when he’d all but ignored her the last two weeks?

Peter cocked his head. “How convenient. This is all assuming you come out of hiding. Because you are in hiding, are you not? Running from the media? The truth of your life got too hot for you. Is that right?”

Andi’s eyes widened. “Peter!”

Ford snickered and waved her off. “It’s all right.”

The muscles in Peter’s jaw ticked and Andi knew it was only a matter of time before he blew. She glanced over at Rachel, who squirmed in her seat, looking uncomfortable, and Andi almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

“Andi’s work is brilliant. I have no doubt she’ll get an agent, but a publisher is a bit of a different story. If she’s seen with me and the media gets wind that she has a book coming out, she’ll garner enough buzz that a publisher will pick her up. I hate the media. But right now, they’re interested in me and my life. I can use that to Andi’s advantage. I have to come out of hiding, as you put it, eventually, anyway.” Ford’s gaze met Peter’s and hardened. “If it means the media think Andi and I are involved, if just for a couple months, won’t it be worth it to see the woman you love reach her dreams?”

Peter smirked. “I know what you’re trying to do right now. You’re not going to goad me into sounding like some unsupportive asshole. Of course I want her to have everything she’s ever wanted. But, excuse me if I think she doesn’t need to pretend to be your lover to do it!”

Andi gasped, her jaw dropping.

“It’s just a part of the game, and your girlfriend wants her name to be known. She wants her books to brace the shelves of every household in America.”

Peter stabbed a finger at the table. “Why don’t you let her decide what she wants?”

Andi clutched her wine glass. “I’m right here! You two can stop talking like I’m not.”

“That is what she wants!” Ford said. “If you had half a brain and would actually listen to her, you’d know that. But you’re too fucking busy worrying about her going back to school with you so you can keep her in tow.”