He leaned back, relaxed in a way that made her suspicious. Men like him didn’t do relaxed. They did recon, detainment, and slow-motion walking away from explosions.
“So, what’s the occasion?” she asked. “Celebrating a mission? Recruiting me for some shadow op? Planning to seduce and ghost me before the check arrives?”
He tilted his head, amused. “Can’t I just take a beautiful woman to dinner?”
Rayna narrowed her eyes. “Youcan. But in your case, I imagine that usually ends with a hidden weapon and someone getting stabbed.”
“Well,” he said, “not tonight. Unlessyou’replanning something.”
She just smirked.
Their food arrived. Some kind of eggplant and risotto situation for her and a mound of steak for him.
Payne poured more wine into her glass. “No missions. No threats. Just me, you, and this overpriced zucchini.”
“It’s eggplant, and we can go Dutch.
“Not on your life. I invited you. I pay.”
She watched him for a beat longer, waiting for the other boot to drop. Then she smiled, because honestly, sheneededthis. A moment to breathe. To feel like the world wasn’t unraveling. Even if she was having wine with a man who could break her neck with one hand and fold his laundry with the other.
“So, what do we talk about when we’re not saving the world or yelling at each other?”
Payne smiled. “We lie.”
Rayna raised a brow. “Ooh. First date rules. I like it.” She twirled her fork through the risotto. “Alright, then. I’ll go first.”
She leaned in conspiratorially. “I’m not really a redhead. I dye it to look less ‘mousy librarian’ and more ‘sassy lead in a romantic comedy, with curse words.’”
Payne chuckled. “That’s a lie?”
“Technically, it’s a half-truth. I don’t use dye. I use a spell to change my hair without roots growing out and with more dramatic flair. Your turn.”
He considered her, fingers drumming lightly on the table. “I have never lost a fight.”
Rayna narrowed her eyes. “That’s not a lie. That’s just testosterone.”
He shrugged. “Your move.”
“Fine.” She took a sip of wine. “I once tried to curse an ex by hexing his houseplants. But instead of withering, theythrived. Grew three feet every day. His monstera got him a sponsorship deal with a botanist influencer.”
Payne laughed. A real laugh, low and rough around the edges. “That’s actually impressive. Reverse hexing. You could weaponize that.”
She snorted. “Yeah, L.A.W. Special Division: Emotional Torment and Unexpected Foliage.”
Their plates slowly emptied. The music blurred into a cozy background hum, and the wine bottle drained lower than either of them had intended.
Rayna set down her glass. “Okay. Real one. No lies this time.”
Payne nodded. “Ladies first.”
She snorted. “That’s cute that you think I’m a lady. Okay, here goes… I’m pretty sure you’re still reporting what you learn about the L.A.W. to your superiors.”
He sighed. “I already vouched for you. Unfortunately, they had to do their own vetting. That’s what the magical battle in Brooklyn was about.”
“Yeah. I figured. Especially when Lioness drew a big, black SUV that screamedGovernment,and then it disappeared. They were probably just cloaked and watching.”
“Probably. I had nothing to do with that. Hey, let’s talk about something else. Not work. Something personal. Very, very personal.” He winked.
