Maverick leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. One arm rested loosely on the table while the other lifted his coffee.
“What do you think?” he said calmly. “Can’t you see? I’m on a date, Elias.”
Elias’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle jumped in his cheek.
His eyes flashed.
His gaze immediately snapped to Amara.
“You’re on a date withhim?”he asked.
The shock in his voice was sharper than the anger now. Almost disbelieving. Like the idea itself didn’t fit in his world.
Amara’s mouth parted slightly, caught off guard by the intensity of his stare.
“I—” she started.
But Maverick spoke at the same time, straightening in his seat.
“You called him here?” Maverick asked suddenly, his gaze shifting to her.
Amara almost looked offended by the accusation. Her head whipped toward him immediately.
“No! Of course not!” she cried out.
Her voice rose slightly in defense as she looked between them.
“I didn’t call anyone. I’m not even—” she gestured vaguely at the table, flustered.
Her words died in her throat when she looked at Elias again.
The expression on his face made her freeze.
He looked like he had caught her in bed with Maverick instead of sitting in a restaurant with a coffee cup in her hand. His jaw was tight, his dark eyes cold and furious as they locked onto her.
“Seems like you’re enjoying your time on your blind date, Mrs. Creed,” Elias said in a low voice. “Do you feel happy sitting across from another man instead of me?”
Amara stared at him in disbelief.
Elias’s head turned toward Maverick, eyes burning.
“Maverick,” he said sharply, each syllable controlled, “this is your last fucking warning. Stay away from Amara.”
Maverick lifted his coffee again, completely unbothered. He took a slow sip before placing it down with deliberate calm.
Then he exhaled lightly, as if bored.
“I don’t think it’s any of your business what I do,” he replied evenly.
Elias’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking as he clenched his teeth. The fury on his face made Amara freeze, a cold chill running down her spine.
Then suddenly, he grabbed a chair from a nearby table. The legs scraped loudly against the floor, the sharp sound cutting through the restaurant and drawing attention from nearby customers.
He dragged it directly toward their table and shoved it right into the narrow space between them.
There were only supposed to be two seats at the table.
But Elias forced the chair right into the middle anyway before casually sitting down between them like he belonged there. One arm rested over the back of the chair while he leaned back slightly, completely ignoring the tension around him.
