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“Me, either.”
I groaned and plopped on the bed. “Renee,” I pleaded. “Don’t let this happen to the project.”
“I won’t. In the meantime, I’ll still use our contacts. Our lobbyist is still working. Construction is going well, right?”
“Yes. It’s on track.”
“That’s good. Keeping the project on schedule is key to pushing the legislators. It’s going to come together, Kennedy. You’ll see. Focus on those things you can control, and I’ll focus on the others.” She was one of my only employees who called me by my first name.
“I could go under,” I whispered.
“You won’t,” she urged. “You won’t.”
I took a giant inhale. “Call me with any updates.”
“I always do.”
I hung up with Renee. It was after noon, long past when I usually drove to the office. I would work the rest of the day from home. I wandered to my closet. Work from home meant work casual attire. I saw the red swimsuit hanging by the door.
I remembered Knight’s visit. The kiss by the pool. I touched my lips lightly, wondering if they appeared blue. Knight had kissed them raw. It was a brutal punishing kiss. It drained logic and sanity from my head. I’d waited five years for that kiss. I could still feel it burning my skin. It made me wonder what he had in store for our date tonight. More than that, I wondered why I agreed to go.
* * *
I watchedfrom my bedroom window when Knight pulled into the circle drive. I was hidden by the curtain. He wore a dark suit. Fitted. From this far away, he still looked edible. I took a full inhale. The doorbell rang, but I didn’t budge. It wasn’t long before Bella knocked on my door.
“Ms. Martin, your guest has arrived,” she announced, and I pretended I wasn’t aware that the air was twenty degrees warmer since he walked through the front door.
“Thank you, Bella. Tell him I’ll be down in a minute.” I was dressed. I stepped into the high black heels that added inches to my height. I hesitated in front of my vanity. I flipped open the marble box and pressed the button underneath the velvet shelf. The tiny door popped, and I retrieved the necklace. It was a bold statement. I touched the pearl against my skin once the clasp was fastened. It was a night for surprises.
I took one step down, and I saw him. I swallowed, wondering if I should call off the date. The man waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase looked like a wolf ready to draw in his prey. Was it the Knight I knew, or was it a new version that had let in more darkness than light?
I took a second step and then a third until my hand was in his.
“You look gorgeous.” He leaned to kiss me on the cheek.
“Thank you.”
“You ready?” he asked.
“I am.” My phone was tucked in my small purse. I had silenced it. “Where are we going?”
“I have a full evening planned. You’ll see.”
“Marguerite’s?” I guessed. I had been to visit her a few times after Knight’s move to Paris. She knew I missed him. But eventually, even that became too difficult for me.
He chuckled. “Even better. Trust me.”
I expected Knight to drive us out to the bayou. He liked the places on the road less traveled. The anonymity that came with dive bars and local haunts. As we turned through more downtown streets, I had a sinking feeling. It felt off.
He pulled along the curb as the valet hurried to the driver’s side of the car.
My eyes cut to him. “Is this a joke?”
“Is there something wrong with the food here? I heard it was the best in the city. Now.”
The curly French writing scrawled on the marquee lit behind his head. We had arrived at the Vieux Carre.
When I didn’t answer he quieted the music in the car. “Look, it’s a little ironic. I thought it would be a good place to start our truce.”
