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He doesn’t look up as he adds, “And I have a spot we can go to where we won’t be spotted.”

Damn, that hadn’t even popped in my mind. Maybe my hunger is clouding my judgment. It’d be harmless for us to be photographed out together, since we’re already expected to be seen together, but spotted out to dinner? Just the two of us?

That would send the wrong message, innocent or not.

Beau holds the door open for me, barely paying attention as he types away on his phone. Annabeth idles in front, probably having been sat out here for the last thirty minutes. I start to walk toward her when Beau calls my name. “We’ll go in my car.”

“That’s alright. Annabeth’s been waiting.”

He finishes up his message and pockets his phone. “Tell her she has the rest of the night off. We’ll drop you off once we’re done.”

I hesitate, which draws a deep sigh from Beau.

“Do you have to make everything such a big effort? Just accept the ride, Briar. I promise Gabriel is just as competent of a driver as your Annabeth.”

An apology creeps up my throat on instinct, but I shove it down as annoyance takes over. “Fine,” I say, and walk over to tell Annabeth she can take off.

I feel Beau’s eyes on me the entire time he waits. When I finally walk over to join him, he swings the door open for me. The car interior is tan, the leather silky smooth against the backs of my legs. The backseat also seems to have more space than usual.

No doubt it’s customized for Beau himself, or at very least, his family.

We ride in relative silence, but it’s only a few short minutes until we’re pulling around back in an alley. Beau clicks his seatbelt and hops out.

I make to follow him, but before I can open my door, he’s there doing it for me. I avert my gaze toward the ground and mutter a soft thank-you.

Gabriel goes ahead of us and knocks twice on a grimy, graffiti splattered door. After a few moments, it swings open, and in the archway is quite possibly the largest man I’ve ever seen in my life. “Ah, there he is! Get in here.”

Beau’s face splits in a grin as he steps up to the man and pulls him into a hug. There’s a lot of back-clapping and fast-talking. The man makes Beau look small as he clamps a meaty hand on his shoulder and shuffles him inside.

I glance sideways at Gabriel, who gives me the smallest exasperated blink that tells me this must be the usual greeting between the two of them.

I trail behind the buddies, getting an impromptu tour of the galley along the way. Chefs move every which way in an effortless choreographed dance that only comes from doing this night after night. Everything smells amazing, with an overwhelming scent of something like French onion soup cutting through them all and making my mouth water.

Beau peeks over his shoulder to ensure I’m following him. I hurry along as the large man escorts us out of the kitchen, but we don’t make it far into the dining room. There’s an alcove to the right of the kitchen, hidden by a dark drape. He holds it open for us.

As I pass by, he offers a hand to me. “Apologies for being rude, my lady. I forgot my manners. I’m Tywin.”

“Tywin, Briar. Briar, Tywin,” Beau chimes in. “We’ve been working together lately, but we’re old family friends.”

Old family friends? I mean, technically true. But I wouldn’t exactly call Beau my friend.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smile and shake his hand. It completely engulfs mine but he keeps his grip light. Probably for my benefit.

“Anything you want, you just let me know. Although I’m sure this one”—he jerks his head at Beau—“will try to get you to order his usuals.”

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

“We do new specials every week. The least you can do is indulge me in trying one every now and then.”

“Fine. Bring ‘em out. I’m sure Briar would be willing to do a taste test for you.” He flicks his eyes to me. “Any allergies he needs to know about?”

I shake my head.

“You got it.” Tywin claps his hands once. “I’ll be back in a few with your wine.” The drape falls closed as his big frame disappears. I turn to Beau, who’s already making himself at home on one side of the crescent shaped booth.

“We didn’t order wine.”

Beau takes a sip of the water already waiting. “He knows what I like.”