Oh, my God.
I licked my lips and reminded myselfI wanted a nice guy. I was done with assholes.
Only, Killian didn’t feel like anasshole. Not anymore.
Not at all.
I cleared my throat and tested him.“Just say please.”
His deep chuckle chased me throughthe phone. “Vera, please come eat lunch with me.”
Holycow.If I thoughtKillian was sexy when he told me what to do, the word please just rocketed himinto an entirely different dimension of irresistible.
“Okay,” I agreed breathlessly whilemy heart pounded erratically in my chest and my blood rushed with anticipation.
I heard the smile in his voice andknew he heard the same in mine. “See you soon.”
“Bye, Killian.”
I hesitated another three secondsbefore I made myself hang up. I was in very dangerous no-you-hang-up-firstterritory. Gross.
And at the same time—swoon!
I remembered belatedly that I wasdriving and refocused on the road, straightening out my car that had beengliding a little too freely to the left. Oops.
I determined not to think aboutKillian until lunch. I would focus on being a responsible driver, on findingthe right black pants that I could destroy in the kitchen without regret, and oninventory at the commissary. I wouldn’t think about him again.
Not once.
Starting now.
ChapterTwenty
Three hours later, I parked inVann’s lot and realized I had done nothing but think about Killian since I hungup the phone with him. Which was obnoxious.
And secretly,very secretly, adorable.
I locked up my car and walked acrossthe street, the August afternoon sun beating down on the top of my head. Therewas no breeze today, the air was thick with sticky humidity and sweat.
Hurrying across the street, Idebated on whether I should go in the side door like Killian always did orthrough the front even though they weren’t open yet. Nervespinballedback and forth through my appendages, making me equal parts nervous and excitedfor a behind the scenes look atLilou.
The enamored girl in me couldn’twait to spend more time with Killian. The curious professional couldn’t wait tosee the kitchen in all its famed glory or the dining room with the house lightsfully up. It was hard to say which side of me was more anxious for lunch.
Wyatt pushed through the side door,carrying boxes to the dumpster and I decided to let him lead me inside. I feltlike an imposter walking into the restaurant by myself.
When he turned around, he shot me afriendly smile and a cocked eyebrow. “What are you doing here? I thought todaywas your day off.”
About thirty replies rolled aroundin my mouth, but I decided on the truth. So I just said it, with confidence asif it were the most normal thing in the world. “Killian asked me to meet himfor lunch.”
Wyatt’s bark of surprised laughterwas the reason I had contemplated going with something other than the truth.“Did he now?”
“Don’t be weird,” I scolded. “He’sprobably trying to steal more recipes.”
“Well, that explains why he pushedour meeting.”
“You can join us,” I suggestedcasually, trying to downplay the idea that this was a date. “I don’t mind.”
“Not that kind of meeting. There’s acritic fromGourmandstopping bytonight. He wants to make sure we don’t fuck everything up.” Before I could fullygrasp how very cool that was, Wyatt swung the heavy steel door open and wavedme inside. “But now we can just blame everything on you, so we’re good.”
