Read Online Catching Stardust by Heather Thurmeier - Free Book Online
Authors: Heather Thurmeier
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inside.
Not that outside in this city smelled a whole lot better. She gazed longingly across the traffic at Central Park. There. The park was one place in the city where she sort of felt closer to home and she could really breathe and feel at ease. Too bad there wasn’t a restaurant right in the park.
“I think the place you were talking about for dinner sounds great, but is there a restaurant in the park?”
“The Boathouse is right by the lake, but it would be impossible to get a table on such short notice without being a celebrity. I can take us somewhere fancier than the place I was thinking if you want.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I just really like the park and being outside. And it’s such a beautiful night. Seems a shame to waste more of it inside after spending the afternoon in the museum. But, it’s fine. I’m looking forward to seeing this place you’re so fond of. I’ll eat in the park another time.”
His shoulders visibly relaxed and he smiled at her with apparent ease. “Great. You coming, Jude?” he asked over his shoulder as he started to walk down the street away from the museum.
Maia walked beside Zander, but Jude didn’t follow. He turned to the street and haled a cab instead. “I can’t tonight.”
His response was short and something in his tone didn’t sit well in her stomach.
“What are you off to do?” Zander questioned, sounding borderline annoyed with his friend.
“Research, of course. Remember, the thing you should be doing, but are too busy with some chick to do?”
“Hey, you’ve no business being rude to Maia. You agreed this thing wouldn’t get in the way of our normal lives. Going to dinner. Relaxing after work. Enjoying a new friend’s company, this is normal.”
“Whatever you’ve gotta tell yourself man. Go. Enjoy your new ‘friend.’ You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
Jude eyed Maia one last time before a taxi stopped in front of him and he opened the door. His eyes said more than any words he could have spoken right at that moment.
Jude knew something wasn’t right about Maia. She could feel it. His quiet demeanor, his calculating stare, his questions about her eyes—he knew something was different about her and he looked damned determined to figure out what it was.
Well, she couldn’t let that happen, but she also couldn’t stop him. Guess it was a good thing he couldn’t make it to dinner with them. Less chance of him interrogating her and finding out anything else he shouldn’t know. She would need to steer clear of Jude, from now on. He was dangerous.
Of course, being alone with Zander could be a bad thing too. Now there wouldn’t be a buffer to keep her emotions intact. Somehow, the thought of letting her emotions get the better of her where it concerned Zander didn’t bother her as much as she knew it should.
Yep. Dinner was going to be trouble, no matter how she looked at it.
Chapter Six
Even in the twilight, Zander could see the goose bumps rising on Maia’s arms as they walked down the sidewalk to the restaurant. For being early summer, the days were usually hot, but once in a while, the evenings still seemed to cool off substantially. Most women he saw always dressed in layers at this time of year, knowing they’d need lighter clothes for daytime and possibly a sweater for the cooler evenings after the sun set and the heat of the day escaped the city.
But not Maia. She wore a thin sundress—which looked unbelievably amazing on her—clinging to her curves in all the right places. As much as he liked the view, he couldn’t leave her to shiver.
He slipped his jacket off and draped it across her shoulders. She glanced up at him, surprise evident on her face.
“I saw you shivering. It’s not a long walk, but I don’t want you to wish you had gone straight home before we even get to enjoy dinner together.”
“Thanks.” She slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled the jacket tight
Not that outside in this city smelled a whole lot better. She gazed longingly across the traffic at Central Park. There. The park was one place in the city where she sort of felt closer to home and she could really breathe and feel at ease. Too bad there wasn’t a restaurant right in the park.
“I think the place you were talking about for dinner sounds great, but is there a restaurant in the park?”
“The Boathouse is right by the lake, but it would be impossible to get a table on such short notice without being a celebrity. I can take us somewhere fancier than the place I was thinking if you want.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I just really like the park and being outside. And it’s such a beautiful night. Seems a shame to waste more of it inside after spending the afternoon in the museum. But, it’s fine. I’m looking forward to seeing this place you’re so fond of. I’ll eat in the park another time.”
His shoulders visibly relaxed and he smiled at her with apparent ease. “Great. You coming, Jude?” he asked over his shoulder as he started to walk down the street away from the museum.
Maia walked beside Zander, but Jude didn’t follow. He turned to the street and haled a cab instead. “I can’t tonight.”
His response was short and something in his tone didn’t sit well in her stomach.
“What are you off to do?” Zander questioned, sounding borderline annoyed with his friend.
“Research, of course. Remember, the thing you should be doing, but are too busy with some chick to do?”
“Hey, you’ve no business being rude to Maia. You agreed this thing wouldn’t get in the way of our normal lives. Going to dinner. Relaxing after work. Enjoying a new friend’s company, this is normal.”
“Whatever you’ve gotta tell yourself man. Go. Enjoy your new ‘friend.’ You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
Jude eyed Maia one last time before a taxi stopped in front of him and he opened the door. His eyes said more than any words he could have spoken right at that moment.
Jude knew something wasn’t right about Maia. She could feel it. His quiet demeanor, his calculating stare, his questions about her eyes—he knew something was different about her and he looked damned determined to figure out what it was.
Well, she couldn’t let that happen, but she also couldn’t stop him. Guess it was a good thing he couldn’t make it to dinner with them. Less chance of him interrogating her and finding out anything else he shouldn’t know. She would need to steer clear of Jude, from now on. He was dangerous.
Of course, being alone with Zander could be a bad thing too. Now there wouldn’t be a buffer to keep her emotions intact. Somehow, the thought of letting her emotions get the better of her where it concerned Zander didn’t bother her as much as she knew it should.
Yep. Dinner was going to be trouble, no matter how she looked at it.
Chapter Six
Even in the twilight, Zander could see the goose bumps rising on Maia’s arms as they walked down the sidewalk to the restaurant. For being early summer, the days were usually hot, but once in a while, the evenings still seemed to cool off substantially. Most women he saw always dressed in layers at this time of year, knowing they’d need lighter clothes for daytime and possibly a sweater for the cooler evenings after the sun set and the heat of the day escaped the city.
But not Maia. She wore a thin sundress—which looked unbelievably amazing on her—clinging to her curves in all the right places. As much as he liked the view, he couldn’t leave her to shiver.
He slipped his jacket off and draped it across her shoulders. She glanced up at him, surprise evident on her face.
“I saw you shivering. It’s not a long walk, but I don’t want you to wish you had gone straight home before we even get to enjoy dinner together.”
“Thanks.” She slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled the jacket tight
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