“Let me take you for dinner tonight.”
“Dinner?” I ask, unable to hide the shock from my voice.
“Sure. You’ve been doing so well here, and I think you deserve something nice. I want to do that for you.”
I don’t even have to think twice.
“Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Elliot
I’m running out of time here.
I hadn’t realized seeing Harrison working so quickly to get Seraphine back would bother me so much. After learning his intentions and seeing them walk into my office together, I saw red. Not a single part of me cared that he is my son. I don’t want him anywhere near her, and I’m not opposed to playing dirty.
I don’t know what this woman has done to make me so infatuated with her and not a single part of me cares. I enjoy being with her, making her smile, seeing her happy. I will not allow another man, no matter who they are, to take her from me.
She’s mine.
Maybe I gloat a little that she chose to have dinner with me and not my son, even after spending the entire day with me. Sure, Harrison hadn’t asked her to dinner, but I’m sure heplanned on asking her somewhere. She ignored his call when her phone rang, and that’s good enough for me.
“This place is really nice. I’ve never been somewhere so fancy,” she comments as she glances around the restaurant.
“Because my son is a fool.”
“He’s not. He’s just…”
“A fool,” I finish for her.
She’ll realize it one day.
She relents, reaching for her water. I’d only just placed an order for a bottle of wine. It should arrive any moment.
Seraphine sets her glass on the table and looks around again. Something in her eyes changes when her attention settles on me again. Something not good.
“What’s wrong?” I ask gently.
The waiter shows up then with two glasses and the bottle of wine I ordered. He pours us each a glass and leaves the bottle, and we put in our food orders while he’s here.
Seraphine takes a sip of the wine, the red liquid leaving a sheen on her lips that she quickly licks away. The way I want to taste her is indecent.
“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetness.”
She blinks at me, all innocent like, holding her breath as if I’ve caught her doing something wrong. Her face softens and she takes another sip of her wine before putting the glass down and folding her hands, tucking them beneath the table.
“I feel out of place.”
“Why?”
“Look at everyone here.”
“What about them?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know what I mean.”
“If you think that everyone here is rich, you’re wrong. If you think everyone here sits in a class above you, you’re wrong. People scrimp and save to come here for anniversaries, birthdays, or just a date night with someone they love. There are plenty of people here who struggle to pay their rent each month.” She looks as if she wants to argue, but I continue before she can. “And even if that wasn’t the case, it doesn’t meanyoudon’t belong. You’re here with me. You work for the biggest development agency in Seattle. You mean something, Seraphine. Don’t ever let anyone make you think otherwise.”
