Literally edible.
And Haven…
Christ.
She’s in a deep blue dress that hugs her curves before flaring slightly at the knee. The color matches her eyes—those impossible blue eyes that I’ve dreamed about more times than I care to admit. Her hair is down, soft waves framing her face, and around her neck?—
A butterfly pendant. Platinum chain, sapphires winking in the candlelight.
It’s new, and she’s not used to it yet, from the way she keeps touching it.
“They put in effort,”Good Wolf says wonderingly.“They actually want to be here.”
“Or they want to look good while they tell you to fuck off,”Bad Wolf counters.
Either way, they’re here.
That has to mean something.
“Professor,” Haven says when they reach the table, her voice guarded.
“Miss Lee.” I gesture beside me. “Mr. Jordan. Thank you for coming.”
We sound like strangers conducting a business meeting. Which, I suppose, is exactly what this is.
Kai slides in, Haven following suit. His jaw is tight, his shoulders tense, and he won’t quite meet my eyes. He immediately puts his hand on her thigh, and they sit so close together I have to suffocate the thread of jealousy that surfaces.
They came.
They both came.
And that’s all that matters right now.
“I thought you’d changed your mind,” I say, settling back into my side of the booth.
“Took long to get an Uber,” Kai cuts in flatly.
“Ah.”
Silence.
The waiter materializes, all smiles now that I’m not a solo diner taking up a whole booth. “Welcome to The Railyard. Can I start you off with something to drink? We have an excellent wine list, or if you’d prefer cocktails?—“
“They’ll share with me,” I say, nodding toward the wine bottle.
“You fucking wish,” Kai scoffs, but at least he does it under his breath.
The waiter glances at the wine. “Excellent. I’ll bring two more glasses.”
He disappears. The silence returns.
Haven’s fingers drift to her necklace. Kai’s leg is bouncing under the table—I can feel the vibration through the seat.
“It’s beautiful in here,” Haven offers finally. “Never thought they’d open such a fancy place so close to the tracks.”
“It was a railway switching station,” I say. “It was built in 1892 before being abandoned in the sixties. Remarkable what they’ve done in just?—“
“We didn’t come here for the architecture, Rooke,” Kai says sharply.
