Ryan smiles before looking down at his watch. "With how dense the traffic is tonight, I don't think we will have enough time for a drink, but I won't say no to a nightcap later.” He returns his intense eyes to me.
Smiling, I grab my coat from the entranceway table before closing my front door behind me. "I have a stringent three date rule."
“I’m free all week,” he quips with a sassy wink before offering me the crook of his arm.
The drive to the restaurant was pleasant. Our conversation flowed freely, and there was never any awkward silence. Although Ryan doesn’t know I work for the FBI, he has heard of my Uncle Tobias. He even shared a few stories with me about my Uncle that I hadn’t heard before.
By the time we walk into the restaurant, I'm so immersed by Ryan, I’ve forgotten we're meeting other guests until the restaurant hostess walks us to the table Isaac and his date are already seated at.
Isaac’s date is beautiful in a slutty type of way. Unsurprisingly, she is blonde, as that seems to be Isaac’s preferred choice of late. She is wearing an elegant dress that cost more than I earn in a week. It’s just a pity she ordered it two sizes too small, as her silicon breasts are threatening to spill out of the top of it at any moment.
Isaac glances up at me, our gazes colliding with palpable tension. He lowers his heated gaze down my body, loitering on my bare thighs longer than what could be classed as an acceptable glance. My ego awakens. I chose this dress with my four-inch-high stilettos as I knew it made my legs look like they went on for days and days. My outfit is the perfect cock-teasing ensemble.
The heat of his gaze turns icy-cold when he notices mine and Ryan’s interlocked hands. After working his jaw side to side, he returns his eyes to mine. His stare quickens my pulse, but I remain quiet, letting him stew, grateful the shoe is finally on the other foot.
“Isaac, I haven’t seen you in months. Where have you been?” Ryan releases my hand to offer it in greeting to Isaac. “How is Nick? How many months left until we have another Holt player running around?” he continues, making me realize he knows Isaac more personally than just a casual acquaintance.
Isaac stands from his seat, his demeanor commanding the attention of everyone surrounding him. Numerous women—and even a handful of men’s eyes—turn to watch him as if he is performing an act, instead of doing something as simple as standing.
“I’ve been around; I’ve just been busy.” Isaac’s infuriated gaze shifts to me before he continues in a friendlier tone, “Jenni is due in a couple of months.”
A smile curls on my lips. Even in his bad-tempered mood, he can’t hide his excitement when he talks about his nephew due in a few months.
“Isabelle, this is Isaac Holt. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of arresting him, but I’m sure my day will come soon. Isaac, this is my date, Isabelle,” Ryan introduces us, unaware that we’ve already met.
Isaac isn’t the slightest bit fazed by Ryan’s cheeky statement. His captivating gaze remains steadfast on mine as he offers me his hand to shake.
Rolling my eyes, I accept his offer. My heart thumps in an unnatural rhythm when he raises my hand to his mouth to kiss my palm. Although my heart is flipping, my outward appearance doesn’t give any indication that his simplest touch has affected me.
“Are you going to introduce us to your date?” I drop my gaze to Isaac’s date, who’s more interested in the polish on her nails than participating in an adult conversation.
“Isabelle, Ryan, this is. . .” Isaac’s brows tack as confusion slides over his face.
“Tatiana,” she informs us.
Her nasally whine screeches through my eardrums. If I’d only heard her speak, I would assume she was a twelve-year-old boy going through puberty.
“Tatiana.” Isaac shakes his head before his mouth carves into a smirk.
I huff, disgusted he doesn’t know his date’s name. Sighing, I plunk down in a spare chair and skim my eyes around the restaurant while Isaac and Ryan continue with their chitchat.
Thankfully, not long later, Harlow saunters toward our group. My mouth gapes, and my pupils widen. It isn’t just her beautiful canary yellow dress that has my eyes bugging. It is the pair of Jimmy Choo gold and black Lana stilettos encasing her feet capturing my attention. When we were fantasy shopping online a few weeks ago, she told me they were her dream pair of shoes, but at nearly twelve hundred dollars a pair, they were to remain a fantasy.
“Cormack’s two-month anniversary present,” she explains to my shocked expression before sitting down in the chair next to me. “I got him a present, but it is only suitable for him to open in private.” She gives me a cheeky wink.
Her playful commentary improves my sour mood. I’m glad things are going well for Cormack and Harlow.
When Ryan takes a seat next to me, I jump when he places his hand on the lower half of my bare thigh. Lifting my eyes, I meet his rugged grin. He seems pleased my body reacted to his touch. Although it did respond, it was more because I wasn't expecting his hand on my thigh than a zing of intimacy. Ryan is gorgeous, but no man can make my senses ignite like Isaac does.
“How do you know Isaac?” Ryan probes, gesturing his head to Isaac, who has sat back down next to his date.
Hearing Ryan’s quiet interrogation, Isaac’s unique colored eyes lift to mine. He shifts his head and cocks his brow, not attempting to conceal he is eavesdropping on our conversation.
"I don't know him; he is practically a stranger," I reply, my tone pompous.
A ravenous smile morphs onto Isaac’s face before his tongue slides out to lick his top lip. When his eyes darken, I know he’s recalling our time in the office of his nightclub.
Isaac’s pussy-clenching chuckle sounds around our group when I dart my eyes away from his, needing to look at anything but his sinfully striking face.
