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Exhaling, he says, “And I get what it’s like to only want to see the good in a father. I lied to myself for years when my da came home covered in blood. My mother would say he hit a deer upstate.” He scoffs and then rips off a piece of bread from the basket put in front of us. “That didn’t explain why he was in a suit.”
I chuckle and reach for a piece myself. To my surprise, the slice Kieran just buttered gets handed to me on a plate. “Here.”
Our eyes lock, and I’m not sure he realizes what he did. I don’t suspect he butters bread for an enemy sitting in this seat. Instincts maybe? From his fiancée who passed?
A waiter comes by a moment later and looks at Kieran to take his order.
He puts his glass down hard on the table and glares up at the waiter. “First of all, this is my fiancée.Sheorders first. Next, why aren’t you asking her what she wants to drink?”
“It’s fine.” I try to smooth things over, although the chivalry turns me on. “Just some club soda. And a grilled chicken Caesar salad. Dressing on the side.”
Kieran barks his meal order of grilled trout with asparagus and rice then lifts the whiskey to his gorgeous mouth again.
When the waiter, who turned as white as the tablecloth, leaves, I say, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, excuse me for a minute.” He puts his drink down and storms away.
I exhale, thinking he’s going to really yell at the waiter.
Moments later, Kieran returns with my club soda himself and a small plate of lemons. I didn’t ask for them but really wanted them. It’s like he knew. Handing the drink to me, he pulls it away to be playful. “What do you say?”
“Please.”
“Good girl.” He places the drink down in front of me. “And when I’m taking my husbandly liberties with you every night, I want to hear you sayplease—often.” The gruff tone and devilish look in his eyes set me on fire. “I’m going to make you beg for it, Isabella.”
I take a sip with his eyes watching me, my heart pounding.
“You only a want a salad for lunch?” he asks to break the tension.
Smiling, I answer, “My stomach is still in knots.”
“Aye, then we’ll stop at a pharmacy.” He brings the glass of whiskey back to his lips and glances at his chunky masculine watch.
“Got somewhere else to be?” I lean my elbows on the table, wondering if I’ll get a tongue-lashing for my bad manners. None comes. But what does his tongue taste like? And how will it feel between my legs?
“As a matter of fact, yes, I do have somewhere to be,” he answers me.
“So, go.” I lean back and wave my hand. “I can eat lunch by myself and get my own antacid. I’m not completely useless. Or helpless. I managed to live away at college by myself for three years. Sure, guards were always nearby. But they didn’t buy me tampons or get my—” I stop, almost saying my birth control pills.
Kieran exhales. “I in no way think you’re helpless or useless.” He purses his lips like he’s thinking of ways touseme. “Isabella, we’re here so you have a chance to get out of the house.”
“Thank you. I was thinking maybe it was an apology for walking in on me naked last night.”
“I told you, I knocked. I won’t apologize if you were too busy playing with yourself to hear.” He taps his fingers on the table. “I certainly won’t apologize for what I did after I saw you naked.”
I lean in. “Went right to sleep?”
“Hardly.” He smirks. “I won’t get graphic with you aboutthat. Not yet. Not until you’re my wife.”
He takes a few more calls while we wait for the food, but he doesn’t say anything about who the caller is or what they wanted.
Our meals come, and he shoves the phone inside his suit jacket. Sitting back, he waits for me to eat while I cut up the chicken and mix in the dressing.
I catch him staring and smile. “You can eat. I like it mixed well.”
But he keeps watching me. And waiting. Nerves pool in my stomach, and I can barely finish the salad, all while he inhales his meal.
“Can I bring this home? It’s good. I just don’t want to fill up.”
