“Arianna, you look…stunning. This is for you.” He hands me a single red rose.
“Thank you, kind sir. Such a gentleman.” I smell the pretty perfume from the rose and then place it in the middle of vase of flowers by the door.
“Nothing less for you, Trouble.”
I giggle at his affectionate nickname and ask, “Where are we going then?”
“It’s a surprise,” he says, holding out his hand for me to take. “Let’s go.”
We’re seated in a private corner of the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. The view is spectacular and the company is just as enchanting. So far, Denham hasn’t let go of my hand for more than a few seconds and insists on holding at least one of them across the table. His thumb moves in slow, lazy circles along my knuckles and with each movement I find it a little harder to concentrate.
Not only are we in 'Paris', but Denham has spoken to the waiter and ordered wine for us in French too. “I'm guessing you have a lot of talents I know nothing about …” I raise an eyebrow at Denham.
His eyes lock on mine and he moves closer to me across the table. “Stunner, I have a whole load of talents and I plan on showing you every single one.” His voice is deep and dusty and not only do I hear it, I feel it.
The waiter interrupts our heated exchange. “Monsieur, madame, vous avez choisi?”
“Mes excuses, s’il vous plait vous donner un peu plus de temps?”
“Bien sûr, monsieur.”
The waiter returns to his station and I have no idea of the exchange they just had. “You do know that I have no idea what you guys just said to each other?”
“No idea at all? Well, that information could be kinda useful.” He waggles his brows at me and it earns a giggle that I can’t stifle. That’s the kind of action that could really turn you off because it can really look pervy on some guys, but I’m that smitten with Denham King that I can’t think of a single thing he could do that would put me off him. I’m pretty sure he could pull faces at me all night and all I would do is laugh.
Unless it’s the face he’s making now.
The 'I can see straight to your soul' look. The 'heated, strip you bare, emotionally and physically' look.
I may as well be sitting here in my underwear. I feel my cheeks flush as tingles spread all over. He’s devouring me. He turned me down in the early hours of this morning, but he’s making it clear that it wasn't due to lack of desire. His withdrawal is him being chivalrous. I’m out of my depth and totally unsure how to handle a man like him. A man honest in his actions as well as his words.
“So,” I say, needing a break in the intensity, “what do you recommend?” I pick up the menu and study the words as if my life depends on it.
He hooks a finger over the top of my menu and pulls it down so I can see his eyes. “Will you let me order for you?”
I study him for a moment. He’s asking me to put a little trust in him. “Sure, but I don’t eat mushrooms.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope … or snails.”
He chuckles “No mushrooms or snails. Got it.”
After ordering what sounded likeloadsof food, we settle into comfortable conversation about where we grew up, how many different places I’ve lived and outline the dynamics of our families. This didn’t take long for me as I have no aunts, uncles, brothers or sisters. Just my mom.
“So, Lottie said you have a brother, do you have any more brothers or sisters?” I ask, wanting to know everything about him.
“Yes. You’ve met my brother, and I have a sister named Tara.”
“I’ve met your brother?”
“Yes.” My confused face clearly shows I have no idea who he is talking about, and he frowns. “Yeah, Spike.”
“Spike is your brother?”
“Yeah.” He frowns. “You didn’t see that?”
“I didn’t, I—” I haven’t really been paying attention to anything. “So your mom named him Spike?”
