Chapter 26: Chapter 26

The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Ana. The image of her on his phone wouldn't leave her mind. It wasn't even an explicit picture. The most erotic thing about it had been her bare shoulder, for God's sake. And maybe that was the most telling part. Was that how he saw her? Was there more depth to his feelings for her than she knew? Possibly more than he even knew?

"Hey."

Ana was jarred from her thoughts when Kate walked up.

"Hey."

"We're done, so…we're going to get going if that's OK," Kate said hopefully.

Translated: She wanted to get out of there before Eric tagged along to whatever it was she and Elliot had planned for the rest of the evening, and Ana could hardly blame her. She and Elliot hadn't had much time alone lately, and Ana had to bite back a grin when she remembered why.

"That's fine," Ana said, as she smiled sweetly at her friend and batted her eyelashes melodramatically. "Thank you for inviting me. I had so much fun with you."

Ana followed Kate's gaze over to where Eric was sitting, conversing with Elliot. Apparently Kate was satisfied that they wouldn't be overheard. "Ana, you have no idea how much I appreciate you coming tonight. It's the most relaxing evening I've had with my boyfriend in weeks." Kate winced. "I'm just sorry about the whole kiss thing."

Ana certainly wasn't, but she saw no reason to assuage her friend's guilt. "I'll live," she remarked dryly.

Kate grinned at her as she patted her on the back. "You're a trooper," she said as she straightened, then went to whisk her boyfriend away.

"Thanks for dinner," Ana said once she and Eric had reached the lobby. "Though—you really didn't have to pay."

"Nonsense," Eric said. "We discussed business."

"For all of two seconds," Ana muttered, her heartbeat accelerating as he flashed a grin. He'd done that a lot tonight, and she realized it was something she'd rarely seen up until now. All their time together had been so intense he'd either been coming or trying to make her come, and she felt herself flush at the thought.

"I'd love to know what put the pink in your cheeks," Eric said as he held her coat out for her.

"It's nothing," she said quickly, turning around to slide her arms into her coat. She froze when her arms were halfway in the sleeves.

"Ana!"

Eric saw her stiffen as the man who'd called her name approached, and he proceeded to pull the sleeves up her arms and then take a step closer to her until he was standing with half of his body behind her. "You OK?" he whispered.

"I'm fine," she answered in a strangled tone.

He lifted his hand to the small of her back and felt her body slightly relax.

"Cole," she said after a long pause.

Eric's gaze left Ana to study the man before them. Cole? This was Cole? The man who'd dumped her just a few short weeks before their wedding? He had an overwhelming urge to thank the bastard. After all, if he hadn't broken it off with Ana, she'd never have been at the bar that night and Eric would never have had the opportunity to bring her home. But he didn't think Ana would appreciate that, so he kept his mouth shut.

"How have you been?" he asked.

"Fine," she answered briskly and just like that, her tension was back.

Eric cleared his throat as he stepped in front of her, successfully obstructing her view of Cole. He reached for the bottom of her coat and started to zip it up. "We need to go," he said softly. "I have a conference call with the Tokyo office in an hour, and there are a few things I need to do to prepare," he lied smoothly.

She didn't say anything, just swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded miserably. Eric had to resist the urge to turn around and punch the fucker in the face.

He might not be able to control the way Ana felt, be he could damn well make sure she didn't have to look Cole's face again. He wrapped an arm around her, turned her around, and then led her out of the restaurant, not bothering to spare the other man a glance.

"I'm sorry about that," Ana said once they reached the sidewalk.

"About what?"

"It's the first time I've seen Cole since he left," she informed him. "I didn't realize…I'd react like that."

"Like what?" Eric pressed.

"Like a zombie," she admitted. "I completely shut down in there."

"Ana, the bastard walked out on you," Eric pointed out. "I'm sure there are a lot of unresolved feelings—"

"But there aren't any unresolved feelings," she stated emphatically.

The last thing Eric wanted to do was stand there with her and talk about her feelings—or lack of feelings—about another man, so he blurted the first thought that came to mind. "Tequila."

"What?" Ana asked with a frown.

"You need tequila," Eric insisted. "Tequila always makes things better."

"No," Ana said with a shake of her head. "I definitely do not need tequila."

"Ana—"

"I just need to go home," she said. "I…I had a really good time…with you tonight, Eric."

"You sound surprised."

"I am," she admitted. "I was beginning to think we couldn't have a good time without…" Color flooded her cheeks as her voice trailed off.

Eric grinned. "Now I really want to know what you were thinking back there in the lobby," he teased. "It's obvious you only ever blush when you're thinking naughty thoughts."

Ana laughed. "Actually, I was thinking you don't smile enough," she admitted as she put her hands in her pockets. "And I…I like it when you smile."

"I like it when you smile, too, you know," he returned. "But I guess I haven't done a whole hell of a lot to make you smile, have I?" he asked thoughtfully.

Ana was having a hard time reconciling the easygoing Eric in front of her with the intense, domineering Eric she was used to.

She had no idea how to answer his question, so she decided to ignore it altogether. "Thanks again for dinner, Eric," she said. "I'll see you…around, I guess. And…try not drive Kate too insane with your dating antics."

Eric laughed. "I'll do my best."

Ana stopped at a convenience store on her stroll home. She was convinced she was going to need a pint of Ben and Jerry's to make it through the night, though she had no idea why. Seeing Cole had shaken her more than it should have. As she'd told Eric, there were no lingering feelings for her ex-fiancé.

She'd pulled on her sweatpants and was just grabbing a spoon when she heard a knock. With a frown, she headed to the front door and pulled it open.

"What's going on?" Kate demanded.

"What do you mean?" Ana asked, confused.

"Elliot and I are home for all of ten minutes before your boy toy texts me," her friend informed her.

"My boy toy?" Ana asked in amusement.

"Yes! I ask again, what's going on?"

"What exactly did Eric text you?"

Kate's eyes narrowed as she held up her phone.

If you don't get your fucking ass over to Ana's right now, I'll crash every date you ever have.

Ana looked at her friend in surprise.

"I'm here in hopes of keeping my dating life intact," Kate said as she pushed past Ana and pulled her coat down over her shoulders. "Start talking."