Sawyer sat first near the wall, and I sat in the chair next to him, leaving Thomas to sit across from us. Both men looked happy with the arrangement at first, but Thomas’s eyebrows pulled together when Sawyer scooted his chair a bit closer to mine.

I suspiciously eyed him. “I thought this was your favorite restaurant?”

“It is,” Thomas said.

“She said you haven’t been in here in a long time.”

“Nope.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Didn’t you used to bring your girl here?” Sawyer asked.

Thomas lowered his chin and glowered at Sawyer, but when Thomas’s eyes met mine, his features softened. He looked down, situating his silverware and napkin. “The last time I came here was with her.”

“Oh,” I said, my mouth suddenly dry.

A young waitress approached our table with a smile. “Hi, guys.”

Sawyer looked up at her with a familiar gleam in his eye. “Someone’s got a date after work. I’m jealous.”

Tessa blushed. “New lipstick.”

“I knew it was something.” Sawyer’s eyes lingered on her a big longer before he looked down at the menu.

Thomas rolled his eyes, ordered a bottle of wine without looking at the list, and then she was gone again.

“So,” Sawyer said, turning his entire body toward me, “did you figure out the painting?”

“No,” I said with a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t know why it’s so heavy. It’s still propped against the wall where I want to hang it.”

“So weird there’s not a stud anywhere along that wall,” Sawyer said, desperately trying not to seem nervous.

Thomas shifted in his seat. “I have anchors. How heavy is it?”

“Too heavy for the drywall, but I think an anchor would work,” I said.

Thomas shrugged, looking far more comfortable with the situation than Sawyer or me. “I’ll bring one down later.”

From my peripheral, I saw the smallest movement in Sawyer’s jaw. Thomas had just secured time alone with me later. I wasn’t sure if other women enjoyed being in this position, but I was borderline miserable.

Tessa returned with a bottle and three glasses.

As she poured, Sawyer winked at her. “Thanks, sweetheart.”

“You’re welcome, Sawyer.” She could barely contain her glee as she teetered on the heels of her feet. “Uh, have you decided on an appetizer?”

“The roasted stuffed marrow,” Thomas said, making a point not to take his eyes off of me.

The intensity of his stare made me squirm, but I didn’t look away. On the outside at least, I wanted to seem impervious.

“I’ll just have the hummus,” Sawyer said, looking disgusted at Thomas’s choice.

Tessa turned on her heels, and Sawyer watched her walk all the way back to the kitchen.

“Excuse me,” Sawyer said, motioning that he needed out of the booth.

“Oh.” I scooted over and stood, letting him get out.