Diamonds (All that Glitters #1)(17)

Jude valeted his Jaguar and helped her out of the passenger seat. Then, they walked into the restaurant. As Jude spoke with the hostess, Bryna carefully surveyed the room for anyone she knew.

The restaurant was small and intimate in the front with a back room for large parties. It was all modern décor with high ceilings, plush white padded booths, and minimalistic decorations. As far as she could tell, she didn’t recognize anyone. It had been a while since she had been here anyway. Maybe her luck was with her.

“Right this way,” the hostess said, directing them to a booth in the back.

Bryna took a seat facing the room, so she could see if anyone she knew came in the door. She didn’t mind being seen with Jude as long as he didn’t find out how old she was, and it didn’t interfere with cheer. Either of those things could be potentially catastrophic.

“Bri?”

“Yes?” she asked, snapping out of her trance.

“You seem out of it,” Jude said. His hand rested comfortably on her waist, bringing her back to reality. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded confidently. She couldn’t let him know how out of her element she was at the moment. “Of course. I just wasn’t expecting Aim.”

“You’ve been here before?” He sounded surprised.

“I’ve been everywhere in Los Angeles,” she said mysteriously.

He arched an eyebrow. “That’s a sidestep if I’ve ever heard one.”

She fluttered her eyelashes and gave him a sly look. “Doesn’t sound like me at all.”

He laughed and looked down at the menu. She followed suit and sighed quietly in relief that he hadn’t pushed the subject.

When the waiter came over to take their order, Jude requested a bottle of red wine along with their meal, and then they were left alone once more.

“I’m glad we were able to do this tonight,” Jude said.

“Me, too.”

“I haven’t dated in a long time, Bri, but I really want this to work, and I’d like to get to know you better.”

A smile lit up her face. He wanted to move forward with their relationship. The earrings were the first step, then going out on their first real date, and now, this.

It had been fun, concealing her identity thus far, but she was curious about him. She wasn’t ready to tell him about Harmony yet. She needed to be secure in their relationship before she let him know that she was in high school…or that she was only seventeen. Small, minor details for later.

“So, we can start out slow and figure this thing out as we go,” he suggested.

“I think I’d like that.”

“I thought this could be the beginning of slow,” he said with a wink. He produced a flat square Tiffany’s box from his jacket pocket and slid it across the table.

Bryna slowly reached forward and took the box in her hand. This is slow?

“If Tiffany’s and Cartier are slow, what is fast going to be? A private jet and a weekend in Saint Barts?”

He chuckled and gestured for her to open it. “I like to give gifts, and since you obviously love the earrings I got you”—her hand went to the diamond earrings in her ears—“I wanted to get you something to match.”

Bryna slid the white ribbon off the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a slim bangle with inlaid diamonds. It was so perfect and elegant. She slipped it onto her wrist and stared at the way it glittered and sparkled in the light. Completely classic and timeless, she could wear it with anything.

“I love it.”

“Good.” Jude reached across the table and took her hand in his. He gently ran his thumb across her wrist where the bangle rested, taking in all the diamonds shining from the jewelry he had bought her.

Shortly afterward, their food arrived. They ate while chatting about their shared love of sports cars and college football. Bryna didn’t tell him why she loved Las Vegas State so much or that she hadn’t gone there, but it didn’t stop her from giving him shit about the fact that he had graduated from their biggest rival, University of Southern California.

After they finished their bottle of wine, Jude paid the check, and they were on their way out the door to return to his place.

A woman called out from a table near the door, “Bri!”

Bryna stopped and turned to face the woman. She silently prayed it wasn’t anyone from Harmony. That would be a tough f*cking thing to explain away. When she got a glimpse of the person, she realized that she didn’t recognize the stranger at all. How the hell does this person know me?

“Hey!” Bryna said with false enthusiasm.

The woman stood and gave her a hug. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Yeah, I’ve been so swamped.”

“I heard about you and—” She stopped, looked up at Jude, and then bit her lip. “Well, I see you’ve moved on.”

Bryna shrugged noncommittally. So, this woman knew her through Gates. At least she had stopped herself from saying his name. How many Gates are there in the city?

“Anyway, so good to see you again. Next time you’re out, stop by the club.” She stuffed a business card into Bryna’s hand. “Bring your new boyfriend, too. I’m sure Max will put you on the list.”

Max was a promoter friend of Bryna’s who would get her into all the hottest nightclubs. Bryna glanced down at the woman’s card. Dee Zion. No recognition. Must just be a club promoter. Phew!