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Her face hardened more. “I agreed to dinner.”
“You did, but you also haven’t been the most cooperative when it comes to our situation.”
She huffed irritation and marched to the door, slamming it shut before she turned to face me again, hands on her hips eyes blazing with venom. “You mean our forced marriage, not situation. A situation is a state of circumstances that one findsoneselfin. What a situation is not is me being strongarmed into a marriage I didn’t ask for, nor do I want.” She was still pissed about the idea of marrying me which had her words delivered confidently and strong but the look in her eyes contradicted that confidence. She was unsure about me.
“Technically it is. The situation being the demand of our union. Get dressed. I called ahead to make sure we won’t have to wait in line but I don’t want to disrespect the owners by abusing the privilege.”
“Where are we going?” She eyed me cautiously taking in my jeans and V-neck. “I only have casual clothes.”
“You hadn’t planned on committing to dinner with me?” I arched a brow and she shrugged.
“You weren’t specific about the details. I assumed you’d make it work.”
I chuckled and glanced around, trying to decide how I would spend my time while she got ready for our date, settling on the tiny leather sofa. I sat uncomfortably almost consuming the entire thing and her expression landed hard on me.
“You can’t stay in here while I get dressed. I need to shower and…”
“That’s a bathroom, correct?”
She frowned harder when I motioned toward the door across the small space that was slightly ajar. I hadn’t looked inside but assumed it would offer enough space for privacy.
“Why can’t you just wait outside?”
“Cress, get dressed. We’re already pressed for time.”
Luckily she complied, snatching up the things she needed before closing herself into the tiny bathroom. Twenty minutes later she was invading my senses again. Freshly showered, dressed in jeans and a wine colored top that was slouching up top, fitted across the waist and forearms, hugging her stomach, and giving a full view of her shapely toned physique. The jeans she wore offered a nice visual of her tight ass and lean legs. Seeing Cress your first thought wouldn’t be that she was a dancer. Athlete maybe but her curves contradicted what most believed dancers bodies to be. However, when she moved, even a simple act such as crossing a room, you instantly admired her grace. Soft light steps that carried her with gentle touches.
“You look nice.” My gaze roved over every inch of her from head to toe before settling on her face. She was void of the makeup she’d worn during the performance. Although it had been light and natural, now I was experiencing Cress’s raw beauty and I was not disappointed in the least. The woman was easily stunning.
Her fingers flexed at her sides. My little dancer was nervous. “Thank you.” She turned away from me, shoving clothes into a leather duffle which draped over her shoulder. Once she was done, she collected a small purse and allowed her eyes to circle around the room, pausing on the massive display of black and red parrot tulips that sat in the corner. The ones I had gifted her.
“Perfect Pick.”
“You know their work?”
She nodded, mindlessly smiling at the arrangement. “They’re very expensive and rare but that’s their thing.” Those expressive eyes ended up on me as if questioning if I had been the one to gift the rare beauties.
“You like them?”
“They’re beautiful,” she rattled off without thought but her eyes darted my way again, her expression schooled as if in the moment she considered she was enjoying a gift from me.
I chuckled, moving closer. She tensed as I reached for her duffle, sliding it from her arm. “You want to change your mind about how beautiful they are, now that you know they’re from me?”
“No.” She tripped over the word and I smiled, motioning to the door, placing a hand at the small of her back.
“Let’s go.”
The drive to our destination was uneventful. Cress spent the time on her phone which I didn’t mind so much because I spent most of my time tortured by every breath I inhaled being a potent mix of her. By the time my driver pulled up to the side of Redmond’s I was grateful to step out into the night air to fill my lungs with a cleansing breath that didn’t test my restraint.
After retrieving Cress from the rear passenger side, I gave instructions to the driver to remain close and placed a hand at the small of her back, feeling her body stiffen from the contact. We bypassed the line and were greeted with a frown from the way we’d cut off the flow of traffic.
“Line’s back there.”
“Truce is holding a table. Can you get her for me?”
She smiled but didn’t give an inch. “There’s a full house tonight and we don’t hold tables. It’s first come first serve, seat yourself but, the line starts back there.”
I felt Cress beside me, beaming. I could only assume my less than warm welcome had her believing this dinner wouldn’t happen. Unfortunately she was wrong.
