Loren left it at that, for there was something about his expression—and the way he turned to look out the windows at the glimmering city, as if there was something he wanted to hide—that told her he didn’t feel like discussing it further.
Darien asked her a lot of questions over their two-hour dinner. She’d never talked so much about herself, and because of this it took longer than usual to get through her duck confit and roasted vegetables. She didn’t mind though, for the flavors were out of this world. She’d never had a meal like this before, and as someone who’d grown up on the North End, she’d been to a lot of expensive restaurants over the years, so that was saying something.
Along with her past, Darien wanted to know the simpler things about her, like what her favorite flower was or why she’d named her dogSinger.She didn’t understand how anyone could find these things about her interesting, but he didn’t look bored by a single word she said.
At the end of the meal, as she savoured every bite of her rich chocolate mousse, he settled his elbows onto the table and said, “I have a confession to make.”
Loren sucked on her spoon. Darien tracked the movement with a predatory gaze that sent a thrill down her spine. “Uh-oh,” she crooned. “Don’t tell me you can’t afford the bill either and we’re going to have to make a run for it.”
Darien gave an attractive laugh, and it was the realest laugh she’d ever heard from his distracting mouth. “You’re adorable, you know that?” The way he was looking at her—like she was something he wanted to eat—had her toes curling again. “I meant it when I said I don’t need reservations for this place, but you thought it was because ofthis.”He gestured to the tattoo below his ear.
The spoon clinked as Loren set it in the empty dish. “Isn’t it because of that?”
“Most of the time, yes. But for this place, it’s actually because I own it.”
She stared at him for a long time. As seconds turned into minutes, he began to look concerned by her silence. At last, she bit out, “You’re kidding.”
He shook his head slowly.
Loren propped her chin up on a hand. “How can you afford it? I mean, I know you make a lot of cash, but…Blackbird?”
He smiled. “When my mother was alive, this was her favorite restaurant. Three years ago, the owner decided they wanted to sell it. My father put a bid in, but not because he wanted to protect it—he wanted to have it destroyed.”
Loren’s forehead creased. “I don’t understand. Why would he want to destroy something that meant so much to your mother?”
“Simply put, my father is a malicious man. When my mother passed away, he wanted no reminders of her left behind. To him, her children were enough of a reminder. Blackbird had to go.” Every trace of humor in his expression had vanished. “So, I decided to outbid him. It cost me pretty much every copper I’d saved up, but I couldn’t stand to see something my mother loved so dearly razed to the ground. I refused to let it happen.”
“So, Blackbird became yours.”
Darien nodded. “My bid was anonymous, of course. If he ever found out I’d outbid him…,” he trailed off, his expression darkening. “Well, we won’t get into that tonight.”
Loren was still frowning. With a click of her tongue, she said, “I just can’t believe—”
“What is that?” Darien interrupted, eyes gleaming with amusement as he lowered his head, as if trying to peer into her mouth—despite that she’d clamped her lips together upon realizing he’d spotted her tongue piercing. “Let me see,” he commanded, his mouth twitching with the hint of a smile.
She stuck out her tongue only long enough for the stud embedded in the centre to catch the light of the chandeliers before snapping her mouth shut again.
Darien’s smile turned wicked, his eyes crinkling at the outer corners. “When did you get that done?”
“This past summer.”
The way he was looking at her suggested his thoughts were far from appropriate. “What’s it for?”
She giggled at the absurdity of his question. “What do you mean, ‘what’s it for?’” She scrunched her nose. “Don’t people get piercings only because they look good?”
“I can think of at least one other reason.”
Her mouth popped open with a gasp. “You are ashamelessflirt, you know that?”
Darien looked quite pleased with himself as he wheezed a chuckle. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist.”
“How did you not notice it last night?” He’d opened her mouth to put that pill under her tongue, after all.
The memory had his teasing smile fading a touch. “I think it’s safe to say I was distracted. I was very worried about you.” The confession made her body turn hot. “It’s a charm, isn’t it?” Damn, she was hoping he wouldn’t have noticed the rune carved into the side of the diamond. “What did you buy it for?”
“To hide my freckles,” she admitted.
Disappointment lined his face. “To hide your freckles,” he repeated. “Whereabouts would they be?”
