Chapter 15

“Dinner, really?” Caleb mumbled for the hundredth time while sitting outside a swanky downtown eatery.

When Cindy had passed him the message, his chest had slammed tight. After so long, he’d almost forgotten about the blonde. Okay, that was a lie. More like tried to forget her but failed. His smile widened; she’d sounded so—hot—when he’d returned the sexy woman’s call. Bugatti blue. Sleek.

“Daisy,” he muttered. “Gotta remember that.” He chuckled. “At least for the night.”

Growl building, he checked the time once more, and as he inspected the dark parking lot, the sound slipped free. The woman had stood him up. Hmm, her voice had been shaky on the phone, but still...

“Café bitch,” he snarled, rising from the bench.

Right as he was about to take a step, a compact car halted at the foot of the stairs. Golden-blonde tresses shimmering, a sleek silhouette appeared from the backseat. The world staggered. Yeah, it was that silhouette.

As she click-clacked nearer in glossy heels, the hem of a darker blue, low-cut dress swirled around toned thighs. Sapphire eyes sparkling, she was a vision in smoky evening makeup with shiny golden earrings and a necklace that bounced between pale swells.

“Sorry, Caleb,” escaped her as she halted before him. “Lost track of time. Just, um—”

“It’s alright,” he heard himself say as the anger fizzled to nothing under her wide-eyed gaze. “You look lovely.”

“Thanks.” She chuckled under her breath. It was a nervous sound, and another growl built within him. It was one born of hunger—not for food. “You’re awfully ... Um, handsome.”

Once inside the posh eatery, they were shown to a small table toward the rear of the dining area. Lit by candles, it had two chairs, and after holding hers while she sat, he settled into the other across from her. The server left menus and departed.

“God, I’m so nervous,” she said. “Haven’t done this in a while.”

After glancing at her wedding ring, Caleb pursed his lips and kept silent. Neither had he. Amina meant fucking not dating. Terry’s wife, a lot of fucking. With Beth, they’d dated for a while, but then almost always primal fucking. At last, noticing the blue-eyed stare over her menu, he sighed.

“Well, I still want you, nervous or not.” Although it seemed like the right thing to say, he swallowed a gasp when a tremor rippled through her. “You okay?”

“Um-hmm. It’s only ... This place.” She scanned the quiet restaurant. “It’s so fancy and, um...” She glanced at him before inspecting the menu. Her brows knitted. “Never eaten...”

Just then, the server returned. After giving Daisy a quick wink, he ordered ... for them both.

“Th-Thanks, Caleb. God, I’m such a—”

“—beautiful woman.” He smiled while filling their wineglasses.

“Um, thanks. It’s our first time in this city.” She shook as he slid a glass towards her. “I mean, uh, I only arrived a couple of months ago. We ... I don’t have upscale restaurants back home.”

“Do I want to ask?” he said, while gesturing at her glittering diamond and lifting his wine.

“I’d, uh, rather not talk about it.” She shot him a thin smile before placing the wineglass to rosy, full lips.

Mouth like that ... Yeah, she’d be an amazing cocksucker. Her complications were hers alone, and he grinned before taking a sip.

“Okay by me.” He shrugged.

When the food arrived, her smile widened. Both that he’d ordered a simple meat and potatoes dish and after tasting it. Points. And more points.

Speaking of which ... He scanned the top of her dress. Yep, sharp.

When she caught his gaze, her cheeks flooded with crimson, and that tremor returned. Cute. No, sexy. Both. As she lifted her chest, his pulse slowed. Was she advertising? Nervous as she was, she didn’t seem to be working, nor had he asked about her going rate on the phone. Time to find out.

“So, what do you do, Daisy?” he asked before devouring a large forkful. Costly or not, he wanted her, not food.

“Um, I’m a waitress.” She pursed her lips and sighed. “Server, whatever, at a small bar out by the highway.”

“Hmm.” He scanned her sleek curves, and, despite trembling, she again lifted her chest. “Figured you for a dancer.”

Okay, so she’d be a freebie fuck. Much better. Muscles loosening, he gave her an even more obvious scan, which intensified her shakes.

“Oh, I do a little of that as well.” Her cheeks darkened once more.

“At the bar?”

“Yes.”

“Huh, interesting.” He swallowed another load of Steak Diane. “What’s the bar called?”

“Um, you wouldn’t know it.” She flicked her gaze around the restaurant before clearing her throat. “It’s, uh, not your kind of place.”

“My kind of place?” His eyebrows raised.

“Yeah, it’s just a sports bar.” She coughed. “Tiny, really.”

“Tell me the damn name,” he growled in an icy voice.

“The Dancing Hoot,” flew from her.

“Thank you,” he said before taking a long sip of wine and inspecting her face.

Eyes wide, she was shaking while again scanning the room. When he followed her gaze, he could spot nothing but dark corners. After returning to her, he cocked his head and raised an eyebrow.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Huh? Um, what? Oh, nobody.” She shrugged, and he caught the slide of her sharp nipples, also the sudden quiver of her lips. “It’s a nervous habit.”

“Hmm, fine.” He pushed another forkful into his mouth and chewed.

As he ate, and she picked at the food on her plate, his mind wandered. Not so much to the obvious—her naked and moaning—but deeper into those glittering blue eyes. At last, he lowered his fork to an empty plate and sat back, lifting his wine.