Free The Seer (Tellaran Series) by Ariel MacArran Page A

table.
    “What would you recommend?” Jolar asked him suddenly. “If you were going to eat here?”
    The waiter hesitated, throwing a glance back where the hosts dawdled.
    “The sular steak or the spring medallions are excellent,” he murmured as he poured the wine.
    Jolar gave her a questioning look.
    “Both sound great,” she agreed. “I’ll take the medallions.”
    “The steak,” Jolar said, handing over his menu. “Done medium well.”
    Jolar took a swallow of his dry wine as the man moved off.
    “Maybe the sweet is better,” Arissa offered.
    “Yeah,” Jolar said, looking into his cup. “I was just thinking the dry is—” He broke off, the knuckles of the hand holding his wine glass suddenly showing white.
    Nipping her lip, Arissa moved aside her cutlery, smoothed the napkin over her lap.
    Jolar put his glass down.
    “How was shopping?” he asked at last.
    “Fine. How did your work go?” she asked as he was putting his napkin on his lap. “Well, maybe after dinner I could help you with whatever you found so frustrating.”
    He went still. “Do you mind letting me be part of this conversation too?” he asked tightly.
    Arissa looked at her clasped hands. “Sorry.”
    Jolar nodded toward her nearly full glass. “Is your drink all right?”
    “Oh, yes. It’s perfect.”
    “But you aren’t drinking it.”
    “I just want to keep it as long as I can.”
    His brow creased. “Why don’t you just order another one?”
    “Can I?”
    He passed his hand over his eyes. Arissa shifted in her seat as the waiter placed the salad course in front of her.
    Jolar shoved his wine glass at the waiter. “Bring me the sweet. And bring her another shooting star.”
    “Should I take—”
    “No,” Jolar cut him off. “Just bring her a second one.”
    Well, with two she could afford to drink more of this one. Arissa took a longer taste, smiling into the glass. 
    Jolar immediately downed half his wine when the waiter brought it. Arissa sampled her salad and found the citrusy vinaigrette very good.
    “I was thinking about the new house,” Jolar said with a meaningful look. “Do you think it’s large enough?”
    She shrugged, spearing more of the greens. “I thought so when we saw it. With the two extra bedrooms we could even make one into a study for you.”
    He relaxed a little and picked up his fork. “You aren’t worried about the move?”
    “You’ll be there this time. Not like the last time when you were on patrol at the border and I was on my own. It was exhausting.”
    “I’d forgotten about that,” Jolar murmured, then his voice took on a brighter note. “Well, we should do something onboard tomorrow. If, of course, you’re finished shopping for now.”
    She threw a smile at the waiter as he placed the medallions in front of her. “Like what?”
    He shrugged. “There’s an airskating rink, three casinos, a pool, and several gardens onboard. What do you want to do?”
    Arissa froze, her fork hovering over her plate. “Everything,” she said, her voice low and fierce. “I want to do everything.”
    His blue eyes were a little alarmed and she dropped her gaze.
    He took another deep draft of his wine then turned his attention to his dinner.
    “Good steak,” he said quietly.
    At meals’ end he gave her his dessert after she finished her own. He settled up with the waiter while she scraped the last bit of tararoot mousse from the dish.
    He stood and helped her from her chair.
    “That was an interesting dinner,” he muttered.
    She bit the inside of her cheek. “Can we take a walk?” she asked as they left the dining room. “I’d love to see more of the ship.”
    He avoided her eyes. “Let’s go back to the suite first.”
    Disappointed, she followed him back.
    He leveled his gaze at her as soon as their suite door slid shut behind him. “Here’s the thing, Arissa. It wouldn’t hurt for us to be seen onboard and talk to a few people. I had planned that we’d dine at a table