“Everything. I love this place. It’s so cute, and so alive. I can’t believe this is where I live now,” I gushed.
“It is one of the nicest parts of London, or at least I always thought so. Seeing you so happy here though, has just made me love it even more.”
“It’s just a different world to where I grew up, or at least the parts I remember anyway,” I shrugged. “I guess it’s just exciting to realise that. It truly feels like a fresh start for me.”
“It is,” Cal agreed as he released my hand and instead wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me closer to his side. “Your new life can be anything and everything you want it to be. We’ll all help you make sure of that.”
I looked up into his eyes, which looked a lighter shade of green in the light, sparking at me. The small smile on his face made him even more handsome if that were possible, and I felt this wild need to just grab him and reach up onto my toes so I could kiss him. It was wild because I had never felt anything soprimal towards a man in my life. I had never even considered such things before. Several less than stellar experiences had put pay to dreams of love and romance for me, but being there in London seemed to have changed that.
I’d been attracted to Cal, Arran, Dante, and Dio. I’d thought about kissing all of them at one time or other, if I were honest. I’d even envisioned way more than a kiss with several of them. And right there, in that moment, kissing Callan was all that was going through my mind as I stood before him completely enraptured.
“Cara?” Cal whispered.
“I really want to…”
“What are you doing? Hurry up!” Dante barked, cutting off what I was about to admit. I startled and stepped back from Cal, whipping my head around to see Dante and Arran just a few steps ahead, looking impatient.
Was Dante watching us? Was he pissed? He thought I belonged to him. Did that mean he’d lose it of I kissed Cal? Would he hurt Cal?
“I really want to know what you were about to say, Cara, but it’ll have to wait until later,” Cal smirked as he stepped over to me again, wrapped his arm around me, and led us to catch up with the others.
I was flustered, confused, and embarrassed by the time we reached the steakhouse. I had decided when I arrived in London that I wouldn’t allow myself to get mixed up with the guys I was crushing on, but now I had Dante telling me I was his, no matter what, and I had almost kissed Cal. Add in my feelings for Arranand Dio too, and I was driving myself to distraction with the chaos I was creating.
“Ye alright, lass?” Arran asked as we followed our server to the table Cal had reserved for us earlier. He was behind me, and I felt his hand at the small of my back as he leaned around me slightly.
“Good,” I nodded. “This place looks and smells great,” I added with a little too much fake enthusiasm.
“Aye. The food’s good, but it’s no’ too snobby either. I cannae stand those places with an arsenal of cutlery for the tiniest fuckin’ servings ye ever saw,” he grumbled.
“Can’t say I’ve ever been anywhere like that, but small servings is not something I can get on board with,” I laughed.
Our table was in the front corner of the restaurant, alongside the front window. Dante and Arran slid into the bench seat with their backs to the wall, so I sat beside the window with Cal, opposite them. When I glanced outside I saw a black SUV parked out front, in which I was pretty sure sat the additional security Rafe had insisted we have close, just in case. It seemed so extreme that such a measure was necessary.
The irony wasn’t lost on me either, that for eleven years I had lived the most dangerous and terrifying life, completely alone, with zero help or protection. Now I found myself surrounded by people who seemed to want to look out for me, in a place where I felt much more safe and secure, and suddenly I had this insane amount of security all around, and following me.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re just a precaution. You’re safe. It’s okay to relax and have some fun,” Cal leaned over and told me gently.
“I plan to,” I assured him. And I resolved to do just that. My worries would all still be waiting for me when I tried to go to sleep later that night, along with the reruns of my past and the panic of the future. I’d deal with it then, I decided. In the meantime I was out in a nice looking restaurant, with a great atmosphere, surrounded by people I liked and trusted. Fun sounded good, and much needed.
CHAPTER 8
CARA
“Oh my God! No one tell Terza, but I think that was the greatest meal of my life,” I gushed once the server had cleared our plates. I was way too full, having eaten far too much of the steak and multiple sides I had ordered, but it had been too good to leave.
“You need to eat more,” Dante grumbled, making me laugh.
“Seriously? I already ate so much that I’m not sure I can stand,” I laughed.
“Not now. At home. You never eat that much at home, and you just proved you can.”
“I just proved I shouldn’t. That was way too much. I feel ill, not just full, but it was so good. I couldn’t possibly eat like that all of the time,” I tried to placate him.
“Leave the lassie be, Dante. She has a good appetite. She eats plenty,” Arran added.
“I’m not sure how to take that,” I uttered as I stared across at him. He caught my gaze with question, then horror filled his face.
“No! I didnae…ye ken what I mean, Cara. It’s good ye have a healthy appetite. Yer too thin…ye need to….no’ that yer no’ beautiful. Of course yer perfect as ye are. I just…” he floundered.
