Soft music plays through the car as he drives us through the city. I have no idea where he's taking me, but I can't wait. When he pulls up to the valet at the restaurant, there is an air of excitement because everything about tonight feels new.
I've been to fancy places like this before but when mother would send us, it was all about manipulating and trying to get money from whoever. This was a way she would shake them down, sending us out on dates to show them a good time, or be pretty on their arm, and in turn they would pay Mother a significant amount of money.
Tonight is different. It’s not about Mother or some strange man. No, it’s about me and Kieran.
Kieran leads me into the restaurant, and the hostess leads us to our table in the corner. I can't help but be in awe of everything.The atmosphere is dark with fairy lights all around, giving it an enchanted feel.
He pulls out my chair and I whisper, "Thank you."
Kieran doesn't say anything, just gives me his sexy smirk and walks over to the other side of the table. The server comes over the moment he sits down. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Kieran looks over at me, surprising me when he asks, “Do you like white wine?”
My voice is stuck in my throat, instead of answering, I just nod. He gives me a soft smile turning back toward the server. "We'll have a bottle of Pinot Grigio and two waters."
Once the server leaves, he reaches for my hand, and I let him take it. His hand engulfs mine, and I can’t help but notice how small mine is next to his when he asks me, "How do you like this place so far?"
"It's beautiful."
“I know the chef here and he is good. Would you like to try his menu?” he asks me, and once again I’m surprised at how he wants to know what my opinion is.
“Yes,” I whisper in disbelief. I’m not sure anyone cared to know my own thoughts or to even ask me what I wanted. Before Kieran can ask me anything else the server returns with our drinks, placing them down on the table.
The server looks at Kieran, "What can I get you?"
"The chef has a tasting menu," Kieran tells the server.
"Got it."
"Thank you," Kieran says to the server and we both watch him walk away. When he is out of view, Kieran looks back at me. "Before we get interrupted again, there is something I wanted to give to you," he begins, as he pulls a black box out of his jacket pocket. When he opens it, my heart stops.
"I'm not going to ask you to marry me, because you are already my wife, I want you to have this so everyone around us knows how much I love you," he says as tears streak down my face. Kieran pulls the ring out of the box and slides it onto my finger.
I can't help but admire the ring. "It's beautiful."
"It was my grandmother's," Kieran tells me and I swear the tears come even faster. "Mia," he says, sounding pained.
I tighten my grip on his hand. "Kieran, it's okay. These are happy tears."
I can see Kieran's shoulders relax a bit. That is, until a shadow comes over to our table. Kieran looks up at the man and his jaw tightens, but so does his hand on mine.
"What do you want, Carrino?" Kieran snaps.
"I want to talk," he says casually.
"Now is not the time. We’ll talk soon,” Kieran says, tryingto dismiss him.
But this Carrino guy doesn’t seem to take the hint. “You make sure of it.” Then the man turns to me and gives me a creepy smile. "It looks like congratulations are in order."
I don't say anything. I've been around enough men like this to know that he's just as dangerous as Kieran. But I don't look away from him either. A man like that you don't turn your back on. It was one of the few lessons that my mother gave me that was actually worth anything.
Kieran stands abruptly, causing me to jump when he demands, "Don't talk to her. Don't even look at her. You want me, leave her out of it."
The man that Kieran called Carrino, gives me one last smile, then turns back toward him. Neither of them say anything, having a stare off. Finally, the other man straightens his jacket before sharply saying, "You better answer when Icall."
Kieran doesn't respond, but his gaze never leaves the man walking away, until he's out of sight. From the corner of my eye, I see a man start to move toward us. I turn my body to see who it is and when I see Henry nod to Kieran, I relax a bit. Turning my attention back to my husband—hmm...that's the first time I've called him that.
Shaking my head from that revelation, I watch as he sits back down at the table, picking up his glass of wine and takes a huge sip. I can tell that he's trying to push his anger down but doing a shitty job. I reach for my glass and take a sip, too. It feels like I'm on a tight rope. This is the downside of his hot and cold behavior.
