I wanted to do something nice for her.
Footsteps on her staircase had me putting away my phone, our reservations made. I gazed up at a vision. Lovelyn in a long, dark-purple dress which sparkled with every step. Her hair brushed up into a high ponytail that weakened my knees.
I exhaled hard. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
Pink crept up her cheeks.
I held out my arm, and she took my elbow. Whatever else I had to think about, and whatever trouble I needed to deal with, tonight was all about this woman.
Chapter 36
Lovelyn
The intimate, low-lit dining room at the castle hotel had to be Kane’s worst nightmare. Though the building was huge with turret corners and ivy climbing the walls, their restaurant was cramped and closed in.
I was half-ready to suggest we grab room service, but Kane didn’t seem bothered.
The maître d’ greeted us with a professional smile and checked our booking. “Follow me.”
To one side of the restaurant, a doorway gave a glimpse through to a covered outdoors area, rain drumming down on the white tarpaulin roof. It was also empty from what I could see.
But when we got out there, I realised I was wrong.
A single table was made up, white cloth, silver cutlery, and with heaters and candlelight casting a warm glow.
And flowers. Stands of them around the table.
The woman dipped her head. “Your table, Mr and Mrs Ryan. Happy anniversary. I’ll return with the champagne you ordered.”
We settled in the cosy booth, the gentle sound of rain falling overhead. Kane watched me.
I swallowed. “Did I hallucinate and miss our wedding?”
“It felt like a good idea to get them to agree to what I wanted.” His steady gaze held on me. “Do you like it?”
“It’s perfect.” I couldn’t have imagined anything better. Space for him, the flowers for me, a castle, and his soft smile. It melted my heart for good. “We can probably consider your boyfriend training complete.”
“Don’t say that. We have the night to come yet.”
I shivered. Kane had me order for us both, complimenting every choice like I’d personally cooked it. We drank wine with a three-course dinner and talked, not about anything challenging, but making a connection. He told me more about the mission with Tyler. How he’d enjoyed the work. How he’d thought about me.
I let him in on why I’d started selling information to the skeleton crew. The mortgage I’d taken on my mother’s house that needed paying so I didn’t lose it. The way my father had made that easier by having me deliver information to Arran, giving me a path to follow in his footsteps.
Kane listened to every word like he wanted to know me. The romance of the night took my breath away.
One more day.
That’s all it would take to fall in love with him.
I was so close but had guarded my heart. While I’d been grieving, opening up to anyone hadn’t been a good idea. I’d dated Lyle without the slightest concern that it would get serious. Kane’s closed-off nature had made that easier, but each tiny degree of letting me in had shoved bricks out of that wall.
After a year, maybe I was ready to move on. The thought had me giddy. The wine gave me other ideas.
When we were done, Kane took me to the reception area to check us in, getting the keys for a bedroom, a turret room with windows surrounding a four-poster bed, gauzy curtains open to the night.
A fairy tale.
He locked the door, and I kicked off my heels and peeked in the open door of the dressing room. So fancy. In a few long strides, Kane caught me by the waist, turning me to face him.
