Page 83 of Hate It with You

“Don’t we have a reservation?” she asks, her voice growing husky as she continues to trace her fingers along my chest.

I shrug. “Yeah, but it’s Leo’s restaurant. We can get a table at any time.”

Her eyes dart up to mine, and I catch my mistake, hanging my head as she slips past me to head toward the stairs. “You didn’t tell me it was Leo’s restaurant.” She claps her hands excitedly. “Let’s go, I’ve been dying to try something from his menu. I haven’t had his food in over a year.”

I chuckle as I meet her at the top of the stairs, holding out my hand to her. “Right this way, milady.”

She places her hand in mine. “Such a gentleman,” she says, throwing a wink my way before descending the stairs.

I’ve never been happier than I am at this moment.

The one downside to visiting Leo’s restaurant? The fact that it’s located in downtown Portland. My Mustang hums beneath my feet as I search for street parking. Having been around the block three times now, I’m not sure a spot will open anytime soon.

“Oh, right there,” Beth says, pointing at a spot hidden away behind the corner of a building. With the recent time change, the sun has already set, and water droplets are gently tapping against my windshield.

“You’re in heels. I can find something closer,” I say, knowing the parking space is a block away from the restaurant.

“I’ll be fine. Park there. My stomach can’t wait another second.” She waves me off. Leo did tell me it was going to be a busy night for him, though he’d save me the best seat in the house. So I doubt I’ll be finding a parking space nearby anytime soon.

Driving over to the spot Beth pointed out, I park my Mustang. I’m quick to pay for a parking pass and throw it on the dashboard before heading to the passenger side of my car.

Opening the door for Beth, I give her my hand again, leading the way to Leo’s restaurant. It only takes a few steps for me to realize how tall her heels are. Our height difference looks almost normal with the shoes she’s put on for tonight. She’s one of the most athletic women I know but when her hand squeezes mine for the third time in an effort to balance herself on the cracked concrete, I give in.

“Alright, here we go,” I say as I stop, dipping down to place my arm under her legs.

She squeals out a laugh. “Alex, what are you doing?” Her arms wrap around my neck as she looks at me, a smile wide on her face.

“We still have half a block to go, and I don’t plan on making you walk in those things for a second longer,” I tell her as we make our way down the street.

“You’re so barbaric sometimes,” she says with a smile.

“And you love it.” The words leave my lips before I can process them, her smile faltering when she hears them. Her gaze drifts from mine as she looks toward the direction I’m walking. Thankfully, there are only a few more steps, the silence between us not lasting long before I’m setting her on her feet again.

Beating her to the entrance, I hold the door open for her. “Here we are,” I say. When the smile returns to her face, I let go of the breath I was holding at my previous slipup.

Note to self: stay away from the implications that she loves anything about you. Don’t push her.

I follow her inside, as we both hand our coats to the coat check at the front of the restaurant before making our way to the host.

“I have a reservation under Kane,” I tell the man at the front. As usual, at the mention of my last name, his eyes go wide.

Without checking the list in front of him, he says, “Yes, of course. Right this way Mr. Kane.” Looking back at Beth, I mouth the words “Mr. Kane” at her while pretending to tighten my invisible tie. The laugh that slips out of her grabs the attention of a few people at a nearby table as we follow the host.

It’s no surprise that Beth is turning heads as we make our way to the back of the restaurant, a table reserved for us near the kitchen, tucked away in a corner. Though when a few of the men can’t seem to look away from Beth, my playful demeanor turns deadly as I wrap my arm around Beth’s waist. My hand lowering to rest on her lower back, grazing the top of her ass.

In the most cliche way, I’m marking my territory. Though to say I own Beth is misleading. She’s the one with the power over me as I’m pretty sure she stole my heart the first time I saw her.

“Here you are,” Says the host when we reach our table, placing a couple of menus down.

Beth and I slide into the half-moon booth. She takes a spot on the edge of the booth, where the host has set down the menu, though she’s too far away for my liking. Skating my left arm around her waist again, I pull her toward me as we meet in the middle, feeling more relaxed when her thigh connects with mine under the table.

“Can’t last one dinner without touching me, huh?” Her voice is hushed as she looks at me. The warm vanilla scent of her perfume wrap around me in a way that feels like home.

I shake my head, my voice lowering when I say, “Have you looked in a mirror tonight? There isn’t a single word in the English dictionary to describe how beautiful you look.” Blushing, her cheeks turn red as she looks back toward the menu.

As if on cue, Leo comes out of the door to the right of our table, coming from the kitchen. “Well hello, you’re surprisingly on time, brother.” He pats my shoulder before he turns to Beth and reaches out his hand. “Beth, you look stunning as usual.” She places her hand in his as Leo covers the top of her hand with his other hand.

“Thank you,” she says, not removing her hand from his.