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“Everything alright?”
Samuel didn’t make eye contact with me again as he rose from the table. He didn’t even push his chair in before he darted out of the restaurant, leaving his jacket behind.
Two men in suits immediately cleared the table, taking away the plates and glasses Samuel left behind. They placed a white candle in the center of the table alone with a new bottle of champagne. They poured two fresh glasses, and when the bottle was set on the tablecloth, I recognized the name.
It was a two-thousand-euro bottle of champagne.
Without any explanation, the men walked away.
I knew exactly who was behind this. Only one man in this city could clear out a restaurant and shut it down within two minutes. His guard escorted random patrons out of the restaurant without argument, which told me he paid them off just to keep them happy. I didn’t have a clue what was said to Samuel, but judging by the paleness of his face, it was probably a threat.
I didn’t try to leave because I knew Bosco’s men would just push me back into the chair. With my legs crossed and my fingers wrapped around the expensive glass of champagne, I waited for the ruthless man to join me.
The back door to the car opened, and he emerged, over six feet of pure handsomeness. In a three-piece black suit with shiny shoes and a flashy watch, he looked like the rich man Bones rumored him to be. With hair perfectly styled and that damned lopsided grin, he looked right at me like this was some kind of game.
I faced forward and ignored him.
He entered the restaurant, and his footsteps sounded behind me. Heavy with a slow pace, he took his time as he approached my table. Before he even arrived, I could smell his scent, his pure masculinity that vibrated in the air around us.
He pulled out the chair and sat down, replacing Samuel like he’d never been there at all. His broad shoulders covered the chair behind him, and he made himself comfortable with his perfect posture. His hands rested in his lap, and he looked at me with an intense expression that mirrored the coldness of the Arctic. Twelve men took their places around the restaurant, securing each corner as well as the sidewalk outside. All armed and terrifying, they covered the perimeter with the effectiveness of an intelligence agency.
He didn’t make a word of introduction before he sipped his wine.
“What are you doing here, Bosco?” Any other woman would be impressed with his stealthy entrance, but I refused to be. Any man who had bodyguards like that was someone I should stay away from. The fact that I was on his radar at all told me it was probably too late—I was already his prisoner.
“Our date. Remember?”
“Our date?” I asked, still surprised by his arrogance. “I said no.”
“You must have misunderstood me, sweetheart. I never asked. I’m the kind of man that never asks.” He brought his glass to his lips again and took another drink. Even that simple action was sexy. He licked his lips at the end, tasting every single drop of the bubbles and fruit blended together to provide a crisp and clean taste.
“That was pretty rude.”
“Let’s not pretend I didn’t just rescue you from the most boring date of all time. It didn’t seem like you were even listening to him most of the time. Now, that’s pretty rude.”
I shook my head slightly. “This asshole thing might work on the others, but it doesn’t work on me.”
“No, this asshole thing is just me. No stunt. And I think it does work on you. Not once did you try to leave.”
“Like you would have let me.”
“When have I ever not let you?” He cocked his head slightly, his eyes narrowing on me. “You’ve had every right to walk away whenever you want. To say no. To slap me even if you wanted to. But no, you want me as much as I want you.”
“You’re so arrogant.”
“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But I’m also right.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Then leave.” He challenged me with more just his words. “Get up and walk out.”
I kept my fingers resting against the stem of the glass, my eyes looking at the intimidating man across the table. His suit fit him better than his own skin. The fabric hugged the muscles of his arms so perfectly. The cords in his neck were lickable. He’d shaved sometime that day because his jaw was completely clean. Somehow that made his eyes stand out even more.
“That’s what I thought.” He finished his glass then refilled it. “Let’s cut the bullshit, sweetheart. You aren’t the kind of woman that does something she doesn’t want to do. So be a man about it—and say that you want me.”
