Chapter 14

Across the table, Julian slid the neatly sliced steak in front of Avery and switched away the untouched one. "Focus on eating," he said. "It's disrespectful to the food otherwise." Avery couldn't help but laugh. "First time I've heard that you're supposed to respect the food." "Everything should be treated with respect," Julian said. For whatever reason, coming from him, it landed. Avery blinked and then nodded. "Okay. Point taken." A second later, she actually looked at the plate and raised her gaze to meet his eyes. "You set me up?" When they had ordered, she had asked for medium, and he had asked for well-done. She had wondered when a man like him started eating steak that way. It turned out he had ordered it for her. Julian raised an eyebrow and kept cutting with an easy grace. "You're pregnant. Better to be safe than sorry. Well-done reduces the risk of Listeria." Avery's breath hitched. If he hadn't said it, she wouldn't have remembered. Early on, the doctor had rattled