"So, Gracie Jo, tell us a little about yourself," Rob started, watching her fork her salmon. He knew this was going to be torture, watching her eat. Eating could be so erotic, he was suddenly unsure if he liked Kellan at the moment or not. He sipped his champagne, waiting for her to answer. He hoped she would give different answers then what she'd told him already.
"Okay," she sighed, and brought the salmon to her lips. He watched her lips part, and the fish disappear inside. She chewed for a moment, her jaw moving only slightly. He watched her throat work to swallow. He snapped his eyes up to hers when she started to speak, but she didn't meet his eyes.
"I was born and raised here in Georgia, in a suburb of Atlanta called Dunwoody. I have two older brothers, they live in Atlanta. Graduated high school in oh-two, which makes me twenty seven now. Started my own restaurant when I was twenty four, in a near by suburb called Buckhead." She paused to take another bite, chew and swallow. She took a sip of wine, and he watched her with rapt attention. "So far it's been great, super busy, but I feel I've accomplished a lot in the last three years, becoming one of the top hot spots in all of Atlanta for food and drink. I'm guessing that's why the studio called me to come here," she said, finally looking up at them through her lashes, then away towards her champagne.
Rob broke his stare and finished his own food and champagne, then refilled his glass. He found it amusing how she didn't mention her internship.
"You did that all yourself?" Kellan asked.
"Mostly, with the bank's help, of course. But they're happy with me," she said with a smile.
"Conragts," Kellan told her with a smile.
She beamed back at him. "Thanks."
"So what do you like to do if you happen to have any spare time?" Kellan continued.
He was going for it, Rob thought, panicking. Kellan was really going to straight out ask her. They didn't even have half the bottle of champagne gone yet. Was it too soon? His eyes shifted back to Gracie Jo as she laughed.
"Spare time is no longer in my dictionary," she said with a grin, and downed the remainder of her champagne. She reached for the bottle, but Rob grabbed it first and poured for her.
"Thank you," she said, making eye contact. She had the most beautiful eyes. A couple shades lighter than grass green, and flecks of gold and brown around the irises. She broke contact and looked to Kellan, answering his question, but Rob kept his gaze on her. He was so entranced by her. The way her cinnamon curls shown silky in the light, with glints of gold and mahogany as she moved. The light and excitement in her eyes when she spoke of her restaurant, how they would widen and become more expressive, framed with long thick dark lashes that fluttered often. He wondered what it would be like to caress the smooth pink skin over her cheek bones, to lay kisses along the soft curve of her jaw and down her elegant neck.
"...so you have read the Twilight books," Kellan said, breaking Rob's trance. Shit. He should have been paying more attention to the words than eye-fucking her head.
"I have, and seen the movies," she admitted shyly, and drained her third glass. Rob automatically filled hers, and topped his and Kellan's off. She smiled in thanks at him. He gave her his crooked grin back.
"So, the big question is, who's team are you on?" Kellan asked with a grin.
Rob watched Gracie Jo's eyes shift from Kellan to him, then down to her glass.
"I'm Switzerland," she said with a smile.
Kellan scoffed. "Not fair!" he shouted.
"Sorry!" She exclaimed, holding up her hands defensively, her glass in her left and a small smile on her face.
"Come on, nobody's honestly Team Switzerland," Kellan told her.
"Gah. Fine," She paused, took another couple swallows of her champagne, stalling. "Team Jacob?" she asked with a sly smile.
"Well now you're just lying," Kellan called her out.
"Alright, alright! I confess." She took a deep breath. "Both Team Jacob and Edward are so overdone, and sometimes I rebel against mainstream," she said slowly. "I love all the Cullens for different reasons, and even Jacob. Jacob's warm and strong, but too rash for me. Edward is sensitive, but too emo, but the hair is just-..." her eyes flicked to Rob's hair. He gave her the crooked grin. "Jasper, well, he alters your moods and that would piss me off- I need to work through them. Carlisle, he seems a little boring to me, but he's really smart and level headed, which I like. And then there's Emmett," she paused and finished her glass, meeting both Rob and Kellans's eyes. She laughed. "I'm Team Emmett," she admitted.
"Yes!" Kellan cheered. "Why?"
"He seems so spontaneous and fun loving, down for anything. It seems like what you see is what you get, even if it's brutal honesty." She turned to Rob. "Sorry," she apologized.
"It's alright," he said quietly with a smile. Shit. Kellan had the advantage from the beginning. And here he was, just listening to Kellan and Gracie Jo getting to be best buddies. He had to step up his game if he wanted a shot.
"But you guys are both great actors in your own right though," she said with a smile, making sure to make eye contact with Kellan, then turned her gaze to him. She lifted an eyebrow and tilted her glass. He smiled and refilled her glass. "I think it's time for dessert," she said, changing the subject. He watched her stand up, falter, then regain herself as she made her way to the counter for the cake and bars. "Which do you prefer?" She asked over her shoulder. Kellan elbowed Rob, and when Rob glanced over at him, he winked.
"Just you sweet cheeks!" he called.
She giggled, then turned and brought the cake, setting it down in front of them. She repeated her movements, but with the raspberry bars.
"Sorry, my cheeks aren't on the menue," she told Kellan with a smile.
"You got a man?" Kellan asked. Rob cringed, thinking, just cut the bullshit, no concern for tact what so ever.
Rob watched a grin bloom on her lips. "Haven't had time just yet," she answered, her accent slurring slightly. Game on, Rob thought. He exchanged a smile with Kellan as she cut the cake. Rob watched her serve a small piece of cake and a small bar on three plates, along with a fork. Have your cake and eat it too, in more ways than one, he thought. He'll just bide his time, and when it came, he'd make that move.
He topped off everyone's glasses, draining the bottle. His eyes moved to her face, and saw it fall as the last drop landed in her cup.
"Is anyone going to want more champagne?" She asked, looking between them. They both nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back," she told them, and made her way to the stairs. He saw her waver only once until she was out of site.
"Man, she's smokin'," Kellan said to the empty hall, then turned to Rob.
"Yes, yes she is," he agreed.
"Why are you so quiet? You're king of acting like Emoward," Kellan said with a grin and a playful push.
"I know, I'm just biding my time," he said with a sly grin.
"Well, just know that the more you drink, the quieter you get, and you're already quiet enough. Me, the more I drink, the louder I get, and I'm already loud."
"I'm aware, thank you," he said sarcastically.
"Hey, we should play truth or dare," Kellan said with a grin. "Maybe we can get that costume on."
"I think we've gotten enough out of her for one night. Let's save some for another," he said.
"But, don't you want her in that costume?" Kellan asked quietly.
"Of course I do. But we don't even have that costume yet," he reminded.
"True."
"Besides. We have to be up at six. Which means she has to be up early too, to fix us breakfast."
"Spoilsport," Kellan grumbled. "So when she comes back with that bottle of champagne, that trip was a waste for her?"
"No, I think we can have a couple more drinks, talk, but no truth or dare tonight, or anything else for that matter. We still haven't crossed into the familiar territory with her yet. Just because she watched our movies doesn't mean we're all instantly best friends with benefits, as much as I'd like to be," he said with a grin. It was then he saw her come out of the dark hall with another bottle of champagne.
"I couldn't find the same bottle we had, but this is as close as it gets, hope you don't mind," she said, holding up the bottle and making her way to a drawer to fish for a bottle opener, then returning to her stool. She sat and opened the bottle, and set it in the bucket of ice. They sat in silence for a moment, enjoying their dessert.
Chapter Six