Page 30 of The Billionaire Invitation

“Love you or whatever too.” He winked and then exited her apartment.

Dante arrived at the restaurant five minutes ’til the hour and scanned the hostess area for Honesty. The older hostess behind the stand tucked a strand of gray hair behind her ear and greeted him. “Do you have a reservation, sir?”

“Yes. Crane.”

Her eyes lit with what might have been recognition, but she banked any response save a professional one. “Party of two?” When he nodded, she said, “Your guest is seated. Right this way.”

So, she’d arrived early. He wasn’t sure what that meant, if anything. That she was eager or that she’d been nearby—could have been either one. The hostess led him through the dimly lit dining room and around a maze of tables dressed in crease-free white linens, a single flickering candle on each.

The low light and black and gold palette whispered old money. Luxury. Dante had thought that the lush setting and chef’s menu would be the perfect backdrop for meeting with Honesty tonight, but as he glanced around at the stiff suits and stately crowd, he worried he might have overshot the mark.

Then they rounded a wall and he caught sight of Honesty and every thought shot out of his head like a rocket. She was seated at an intimate corner table, her hair up in the back with long tendrils framing either side of her face. She looked up from the menu as if sensing him staring. Her lips lifted into a soft smile. Her skin appeared golden and glowy in the candlelight. She wore a satin slip dress with a cream blazer over top and an understated gold necklace.

He’d had her in his bed less than twenty-four hours ago and already he wanted her again.

Right now. Fuck dinner.

Jaylyn’s warning crawled out of the back of his skull. Or maybe you’re playing with fire and one or both of you will get burned.

He silently rebutted now with, If we burn, then we will rise from the ashes—both of us.

Like the mythical Phoenix that crowned the Van Heusen hotel downtown. Burning didn’t have to equal destruction. Sometimes it meant transformation. Alchemy.

Coming together, in this case literally, might even make them stronger.

Knowing that, he could stand here and want her with every fiber of his being, and it wouldn’t scare him away. It was the ultimate indulgence, not holding back, but being able to walk away when it was over. Without regret, and leaving both of them whole this time around.

He leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“I think I’m underdressed,” she whispered. “This jacket is too formal, but the dress alone is too informal.”

“You’re gorgeous. Enviably so. If anyone is judging it’s because they’re jealous.” He lifted her hand and helped her to stand. He turned her in a small pirouette, as her eyes darted around the room. When she completed the spin and faced him again, he dipped his head, nodding his approval. “Perfect. And you’re not going to be wearing it long anyway.”

He capped that sentence with a kiss to her hand, and she threw her head back and laughed. After she sat back in her chair, he sat down across from her. There wasn’t a lot of space at the table, which was nice. He wanted to be as close to her as possible. He hadn’t come here for the seven-course meal. He’d come here to make her an offer that would guarantee growth for her nonprofit.

“How did you sleep?” he asked casually as he spread his napkin in his lap. A sommelier materialized out of nowhere with a bottle of red.

“1984. An excellent year,” Honesty said with a smile. After she’d tasted the wine and approved, the sommelier filled their glasses and left them alone.

“You were paying attention last night.”

“I sure was.” She winked. “I’m buying dinner tonight, by the way. It’s a business write-off. Plus, we’re in this fifty-fifty.”

“No deal.”

“We are equals in this agreement, Dante. Plus, I am the one coming to you for help. This is a separate issue than…” She waved a hand. “Our other issue. I can’t let you pay for everything.”

“I appreciate the gesture. I do. And I am not trying to insult you by not accepting. I know you can afford it.”

She tilted her head while he talked, her face open. She was so beautiful he nearly lost his train of thought.

“I’m still paying. But I swear you will keep your autonomy over these next few weeks. I will not conflate the idea of paying for dinner as control over our…situation. Or you.”

“I know that.” She sighed. “You used to pay for everything when we dated. I didn’t want this to mimic that.”

And harken back to a time when they had been each other’s forevers. If he’d only known how long forever would have actually lasted…

“It won’t. This is something different. We are different.”