That Carolina Summer (North Carolina) by Janet Dailey

although his eyes mocked her slightly because her father was still vetting the men in her life.
    “Happy birthday, Annette,” Josh repeated, then moved away to rejoin his party.
    From her chair, Annette had a clear view of the table where Josh was seated at right angles to her. She could observe him all evening without half trying.
    “Is that man your boyfriend?” Robby asked.
    “I wouldn't exactly call him that, no,” Annette replied, aware of her father's studied look. “He's a man friend."
    “It's getting late.” Kathleen deftly altered the subject, which she realized was a sensitive issue to her husband, by reminding him that Robby's bedtime was quickly approaching. “Perhaps we should order."
    “Yes, of course,” he agreed absently, and signaled the waiter to bring menus to the table.
    While the waiter was passing the menus around, the wine steward approached the table with a wine bucket and stand—and an iced magnum of champagne. He set it next to Annette's chair. Her father's gaze narrowed on it with displeasure.
    “We didn't order that,” he informed the steward.
    “No, sir,” the man agreed, and expertly popped the cork. “It's compliments of Mr. Lord.” With a towel wrapped around the bottle, he splashed some in a glass for Annette. “Madam?” It was a veiled request for her approval.
    As she looked across the dining room to Josh's table, she lifted the glass to her mouth. Josh was watching her, their eyes meeting across the distance. Annette held the glass close to her lips, not immediately sipping the champagne as she inhaled its heady bouquet and let the bubbles tickle her nose.
    Josh raised his drink in a silent toast to her. When he took a drink of it, Annette quivered with the disturbing sensation that he was drinking the essence of her. A little shaken, she lowered her gaze and sipped at the champagne, its alcoholic effervescence tingling down her throat.
    “It's very good,” she commented, assuring the steward of the champagne's excellence.
    After he filled her glass, the steward poured champagne for the others. Robby fussed because he didn't get any, but Kathleen distracted him with the menu, helping him choose his evening meal.
    “You're looking quite pleased with yourself, Annette,” her father remarked with narrowed interest.
    “It's my birthday,” she reminded him, as if that were the reason.
    But he wasn't buying it. “That didn't seem to matter earlier."
    “That was before I opened my presents,” Annette countered.
    “That was also before Joshua Lord stopped by the table,” he murmured.
    “Daddy, you sound just like a father,” she chided.
    The waiter returned to take their order, and Annette was relieved to have the conversation changed. Her father remained quiet throughout the meal, but he didn't mention Joshua Lord again. He was never out of Annette's mind, however, or her sight. And more than once, Josh looked in her direction, which only added to the soft glow about her.
    When it came time to leave, the magnum of champagne was still more than half-full. “Would madam like to take it with her?” the steward inquired with exaggerated formality.
    “Please,” Annette answered with a nod.
    “What are you going to do with that?” her father questioned with veiled sharpness.
    “Take it back to the room and celebrate my birthday,” she answered him with breezy innocence. “The night is young. Who knows how late Marsha and I will stay up?"
    He didn't look completely pleased or satisfied with her explanation, but he didn't belabor the point. With the addition of the champagne bottle to her other presents, Annette accepted her sister's offer to help carry some of them. As the family left the table, Annette smiled across the room to Josh. There was a responding movement of his mouth and something else in his look that Annette was certain she interpreted correctly.
    At the hotel room she shared with Marsha, she and her sister parted company from her parents and Robby