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By the time Samson stopped the limo outside an unfamiliar, upscale restaurant near the White House, my boiling anger had reduced to a simmer. I still planned to give the dragon a piece of my mind, but at least I wouldn’t sound like a crazy woman while doing it.
That was the goal, anyway. Fingers crossed I could pull it off.
Besides, I couldn’t turn down a free meal and some decent wine for once. Who knew when I’d have the opportunity again? They better be willing to box up any leftovers, too. I didn’t care how tacky that was for a place like this.
The door opened, and the driver offered his hand.
I stepped out of the limo. “Thank you, Samson. I hope he pays you well.”
His brown eyes twinkled with amusement as I tucked the borrowed clutch beneath my arm. “That he does, Ms. Johnson. Enjoy your evening.”
I took a deep breath and entered the restaurant.
A sparkling chandelier illuminated the foyer in a warm glow. Dark wood flooring stretched from the door to the lavish dining room behind the host’s podium. The murmur of conversation mostly drowned out the music playing from the speakers, and pink and white floral arrangements added a lovely scent.
A hallway opened to the right, which I assumed led to the bathrooms, and an elevator waited to the left.
The woman standing behind the podium looked up and smiled. “Good evening. Do you have a reservation?”
Talk about a stroke of luck. She had no idea who I was. Now was my chance to get away.
As I turned to escape, I bumped into a man’s massive chest. Mortified at my clumsiness, I took a step back. “Oh! Excuse me.”
“She’s dining with Mr. Sato,” the man said to the host, though his grin was directed at me.
Surprisingly, I recognized his dark tousled hair and ridiculously sculpted physique. It was the man I’d met at Dominic’s penthouse for the massage, thinking it was Dominic himself. I narrowed my eyes. “I see he just loves to get his cronies to do all his dirty work.”
The man’s dark eyes widened, and then he laughed so hard tears nearly spilled down his cheeks. “Oh, yeah, I get Nic’s interest now. Cronies. Ha!”
My cheeks flushed with heat. “If you’ll excuse me…”
As I tried to step around him toward the exit, the man blocked my way. “Trust me, nothing beats the view up there. You have to check it out before you go.”
Apparently, my fancy kidnapping hadn’t ended yet. I could probably scream and get away, but yelling at Dominic in a sophisticated, non-crazy way was still high on my priority list. Plus, my curiosity was getting the best of me. “Up where?”
The host appeared at my side and held out her hand toward the open elevator. “If you’ll follow me?”
Sighing for what was probably the hundredth time that day, I cast a final glare at the man blocking the door. He simply winked as I entered the elevator.
Eight floors up, the elevator doors slid open, and I stepped onto the restaurant’s rooftop deck. A lattice pergola covered part of the terrace’s tables and chairs, but the rest remained open to the clear night sky.
String lights draped around the perimeter, defining the seating area, and candles on each table provided just enough additional light to enjoy the meal and company without ruining the view. The White House stood across the street, its stately elegance only partially muted at night.
Near the elevator, a restaurant employee stood behind a bar, drying wine glasses. He smiled but didn’t make a move to show me where to go. He didn’t have to. There was only one other person on this rooftop terrace, and he was the real view.
Standing with his back facing me, Dominic had one hand tucked casually into the pocket of his black slacks as he gazed out into the night. He wore a red button-down shirt, though he’d rolled the sleeves up to his elbows.
“Enjoy your evening,” the host said, and the elevator door closed behind me with a ding.
When the Red Dragon turned to face me, all the angry words I’d planned to say disappeared. In the soft lighting, he took my breath away. His magnetic presence enveloped me, called me to him like the sweetest songs of the ocean.
His whiskey-colored eyes locked onto mine, and the world around us faded away. “You clean up nicely, princess. I almost didn’t recognize you without your mop.”
Whatever spell his gaze held over me popped like a bubble. He might know what I was after witnessing my magic in action, but that didn’t mean he knew who I was. If he did, then the oath-keeper better do its job and keep those very kissable lips sealed tight.
I scowled. “Don’t call me that.”
He feigned an apologetic look but amusement danced within his gorgeous eyes. “Of course. What would you like me to call you?”
