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“What are you doing?” he growls.
“I thought since we’re in public…”
He takes my hand and holds it tightly. “The Russians already know. I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks.”
We walk into the lobby. There are tall gold-edged mirrors on each side of the hostess’s desk.
Luke and I look mismatched. My cheeks are flushed, and my outfit makes me look like a young woman trying to appear older. Luke is confident, mature, and experienced, and I love how we look together. It’s like he’s leading the way. He’ll know the right path to take, but I can’t ignore the niggling voice that says other people would find the sight strange.
If the hostess does, she doesn’t show it. She’s a bubbly blonde with a gym-honed figure. I secretly watch Luke as she leads us to our table. She doesn’t ask who we are. I guess she already knows. Luke doesn’t glance at her shifting booty even one time. Is it pathetic that it makes me so giddy?
The restaurant has tall windows overlooking the city. Luke pulls my chair out, then walks around the table and sits. There’s lots of cutlery and, around us, men in suits and women in dresses make my earlier question seem silly.
Overdressed? More like under.
“So, what do you think?”
“It’s amazing,” I say, then my belly warbles.
Oh, this is embarrassing. Too much coffee this morning, and we’re about to eat breakfast. I cringe to think he can tell I need to use the bathroom. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a natural function, blah blah blah, but it’s still not something I want him thinking about.
“Would you excuse me for a second?”
I take my handbag with me because I’m expecting my period too, and wouldn’t that be a nightmare? I take a wrong turn until the hostess appears and shows me the way. I don’t think she’s judging me or silently mocking me, but I can’t stop my overanxious mind from taunting me she might be. Hot and cold… That’s how I feel, exactly what I told Luke I didn’t want.
In the bathroom, I take care of my business. I’m just washing up when my cell phone rings from my handbag. I grab it, thinking it might be my cleaning boss. I’ve been so busy and obsessed that I’ve forgotten to call them. It’s Lily, my old roommate. I decline the call.
A moment later comes a text. PICK UP. YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER.
This is so not fair. I’m finally enjoying my time with Luke—and yes, there are complications—but she picks now as the time to pull some stupid stunt, probably with Axel standing nearby, oh-so proud of himself for whatever trick they’re going to play. When I call her back, she answers right away.
“I’m not falling for this,” I snap.
“You need to listen to me,” Lily says, breathless.
“That’s an excellent performance.”
I’m thinking specifically of a few weeks ago when I came home, and Lily was in tears, claiming that Axel had gotten drunk and trashed my computer. I was in hysterics, pretty much because I’d forgotten to back up some stuff, and then Axel walked out, all teeth, laughing.
“Why did you do that?” I asked Lily.
I know why he did it—pure bully mentality. Lily just said sorry. That was it. Maybe she was scared. She probably was, but that doesn’t mean I have to trust her now.
“Jane,” she snaps. “Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“No, because I’m not listening.”
Childish, but at least I’m not sticking my fingers in my ears.
“Okay, just listen. Please? Just for a minute? I don’t care if you believe me. I need to know I’ve told you.”
I lean against the counter, massaging my forehead. “Fine, but hurry up. I’m on a date.”
“I know. At Le Ciel.”
I push away from the counter. “How did you know that?”
“Axel told me.”
“How would he know that?”
“This is what I know. Axel is in witness protection. He ratted on some bikers out west.”
“Oh, come on, Lily.”
“Seriously!” she yells. “His name’s not Axel. The thing is, these bikers have a connection with the Russian mob. Before the government hired Luke Hart’s company… Do you remember the leak?”
“Of course,” I snap. “That’s the whole reason they hired him. Get to the point.”
“The Russian mob found Axel. He’s been working for them, but now they’ve found his sister, and they’re threatening him.”
“Why?”
For money, I presume. She knows I’m with Luke, so Axel has told her to spin up this stupid tale, so I’ll ask Luke for some cash, playing on his concerns about the witness-protection program.
“If Axel doesn’t kill Luke, they’ve threatened to kill his little sister. She lives in Maine with her aunt. Axel thought she was safe.”
“He won’t get anywhere near Luke. There’s security everywhere.”
“One of the kitchen assistants is with the Russians. They saw Luke’s name on the booking list and told them. Then the same kitchen assistant sneaked Axel in there. He told me about the plan last night. He’s hiding, wearing chef’s whites.”
