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“Ridge?” Tori broke through my chaotic thoughts. “You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden. Is everything okay?”
“Of course.” I forced a smile. “Just lost in thought, that’s all.”
“About what?” she pressed, her eyes searching mine for any hidden truths.
“Nothing important.” I hoped she would not see through my facade. “Just enjoying this incredible night with you.”
“Good.” Her lips curved into a smile that made my stomach flip. “Because I’m enjoying it, too.”
The restaurant was dimly lit, with an air of elegance that Tori would appreciate. She looked so stunning tonight and seemed to glow in the warm candlelight. My wolf stirred within me, wanting nothing more than to claim her all over again.
“Have you decided what you’d like to order?” the waiter asked a few minutes later, his polite smile never wavering.
“Uh, yes.” I tried to focus on the menu in front of me, even though my thoughts were consumed by the ring in my pocket and my impending proposal. “I’ll have the, um, the filet mignon, medium rare, and, uh, mashed potatoes?”
“Excellent choice, sir.” He scribbled down my order. “And for the lady?”
Tori glanced up from her menu, her eyes locking onto mine as she said, “I’ll have the salmon, please, with a side of steamed vegetables.”
“Very good.” The waiter collected our menus. “Your meals will be out shortly.”
As he walked away, I realized I’d mistakenly ordered mashed potatoes instead of the garlic and herb roasted ones Tori loved. Dammit, I couldn’t even get a simple meal order right. My nerves were getting the better of me.
“Ridge, are you feeling okay?” Tori asked, her forehead wrinkling. “You seem a little…off tonight.”
“Me? No, I’m fine.” I tried to brush off her question with a nonchalant shrug, but my voice betrayed me, cracking slightly. “Just a little distracted, that’s all.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” She reached across the table, her fingers softly grazing mine.
“Nothing important,” I lied again, forcing a smile. “Just enjoying this incredible night with you.”
“Okay.” Her eyes searched mine. “If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely,” I said, trying my hardest to project confidence even as my insides twisted into knots. “I promise, everything’s fine.”
“All right.” Tori smiled, accepting my answer for now, but I knew she wouldn’t let it go if my behavior continued to be erratic.
As we waited for our food, I struggled to maintain a casual conversation, all the while feeling the ring box press against my leg. How the hell was I supposed to pull this off without giving myself away? My mind raced, desperately trying to come up with a plan that would allow me to propose to Tori without making a total fool of myself.
She interrupted my thoughts once more. “You really don’t have to hide anything from me, you know. If something’s bothering you, I want to help.”
“Tori, I’m fine.” My smile felt completely unnatural. Dammit, I needed to get my nerves under control. I wanted this night to go smoothly, for both our sakes. Tori had been through so much already, and the last thing she needed was more stress.
“All right,” Tori said skeptically, but she didn’t push. She leaned across the table and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, her lips soft and warm against my skin. “If you say so.”
“Trust me.” I attempted to sound confident despite my nerves. “I’ve got this.”
“Okay, then.” She smiled, and it was full of love—a love I would do anything to protect and cherish.
As we waited for our food, I decided to update her on the situation with the Greenthornes. If nothing else, it would give us something to talk about other than my painfully obvious anxiety.
“By the way,” I started, clearing my throat, “I spoke with the sheriff earlier. The Greenthornes are currently detained because of their outburst.”
“The Greenthornes? Detained?” Tori gaped at me, freezing before taking a bite of crusty bread. “How did that happen?”
I took a sip of wine to calm my nerves. “They were causing quite the scene earlier today. The authorities had no choice but to step in.”
Tori shook her head, setting the bread down with a sigh. “I guess it’s for the best. They’ve been stirring up enough troubleto warrant it.” She drew her fingers along the tablecloth. “But Ridge, what if this doesn’t stop them? What if they just come back more determined than ever?”
