Free One and Only by Bianca D'Arc Page B

had come, “I have quite a bit of news on that front. He asked me to move in with him.”
    Exclamations sounded from around the table. Some were disbelieving, some excited, but all were surprised. Lissa had been so caught up in Atticus these last days, she hadn’t spared a whole lot of time talking to any of her friends except to reassure them that she was healing well when they called to check on her injuries.
    “Well, are you?” Kelly wanted to know.
    “This is kind of sudden, isn’t it?” Jena, ever the most levelheaded of the group, seemed suspicious.
    “Actually, I’ve been spending a lot of time with him since that first day I got home from the hospital. He’s…um…I’m in love with him and he loves me too. We’re going to get married and I want you all to be bridesmaids.” The words came out in an excited rush.
    Squeals of delight drew attention from around the restaurant as her friends jumped from their seats to clobber her with awkward hugs. Jena still seemed skeptical, but congratulated her along with the rest. They talked more about Lissa’s news and the plans she and Atticus had made so far for the wedding.
    Lissa was careful to explain that Atticus worked odd hours and would probably be available for a dinner one night soon to meet them all. In fact, she told them, he’d asked her to arrange a dinner party at the vineyard so her friends could see where she would be living.
    Atticus and Lissa had discussed the plan at length. While the vineyard was kept private and as secure as possible, Atticus didn’t think letting her friends visit under controlled conditions would be too much of a problem. They agreed to ease her friends into the idea of them as a couple, starting tonight. Atticus would pick her up at the restaurant, taking a few minutes to be formally introduced to the tight-knit group. It was one of many meetings they had planned for the next few weeks during which time the women could learn more about him.
    When dinner was nearly over, an hour and a half later, Lissa gave Atticus a little wave. He was in perfect time to pick her up and meet her friends.
    “Is that him?” Kelly asked, following the direction of Lissa’s greeting. “Invite him over for dessert. We have to look him over and be sure he’s good enough for you, Lis.” Kelly’s tinkling laughter followed her teasing statement.
    Lissa rose, placing her napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
    She stopped on her way to ask the waiter to add another chair to their large table, then walked straight into Atticus’s waiting arms. He kissed her with just the right amount of passion and discretion for such a public place, but refused to let her go completely as they walked to the table.
    This was the perfect set-up as far as Lissa was concerned. Atticus could join them for an after-dinner drink. He wouldn’t be required to eat anything, yet he’d be seen at a restaurant, which helped maintain his façade of mortality.
    “You’re getting good at this covert stuff, my love,” he said in her mind as they neared the table.
    “Every little bit helps, Atticus. I want to help keep you safe and if pretending to be mortal achieves that goal, I’m all for it.”
    He bent to kiss her temple with a soft brush of his lips. “You’re too good to me.”
    He pulled out her chair and smiled at the group of women as Lissa made the introductions. Atticus was at his most charming and he easily won over Lissa’s closest friends. Jena, the doctor, was the last to fall under his spell, but fall she did and by the time they’d drunk their after-dinner wine and nibbled on a few fortune cookies, they’d not only agreed to serve as bridesmaids, but Kelly had promised to help Lissa pack her belongings for the big move.
     
    ***
     
    Lissa and Kelly had been packing all day at her apartment as it neared dusk. The plants were boxed, as were all the dishes and her mother’s crystal. Everything but the kitchen table and the bigger pieces of