Page 62 of King of Ruin

"You really are impossible."

"I know," he said with another dazzling grin. "Now get in. You're buying dessert."

"I thought you said this was your treat."

"It is."

He closed the passenger door with a satisfied smile.

Neither Elise nor Logan realized they had an audience.

Across the street, Benjamin stood beside the open rear door of the black Rolls-Royce, one hand resting on its polished frame as he waited for Xavier to get in. They had been about to leave for the restaurant when Xavier's steps had come to an abrupt halt.

He never made it into the car.

Instead, he stood motionless beside the open door, his broad shoulders squared beneath the perfectly tailored grey suit. The afternoon sun glinted off the silver-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, but behind the lenses, his eyes were fixed on only one person.

Elise.

From the moment the young man had appeared behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist...

Xavier hadn't looked away.

He watched her stiffen in surprise before recognizing him. Watched the tension leave her body. Watched her turn aroundand scold the man with that same gentle expression she wore whenever she was pretending to be annoyed.

Then came the smile.

Small.

Soft.

Unconscious.

The kind of smile she'd never given Xavier.

His jaw slowly tightened.

The muscles along his neck flexed beneath the crisp white collar of his shirt as his fingers curled around the edge of the open car door. The polished steel groaned faintly under the pressure of his grip, the tendons standing out sharply across the back of his hand.

Benjamin noticed.

He lowered his eyes without saying a word.

Years of working for Mr. Chen had taught him that his silence was often far more dangerous than anger.

Across the street, the man took Elise's hand.

He lifted it to his face.

Then, unbelievably, he rubbed his cheek against her palm.

A muscle jumped in Xavier's jaw.

His expression didn't change. If anything, it became even calmer.

Only his eyes gave him away. They had gone frighteningly dark behind the silver lenses.

So this is the "someone."