"Did you rent the whole restaurant?" she asks sheepishly, gnawing her bottom lip.
"Yes." I sip my wine. "I wanted privacy."
"This is too much." She's still looking around, leaning forward like it's a conspiracy. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to." I set my glass down. "You deserve something special."
Playing the long con is my specialty. I've been doing it since I was four years old. She deserves nothing from me, and I'm not giving her anything but what I want her to believe. I signal the quartet, and they begin playing something soft and romantic that hums around us, putting my date even more at ease.
Danica's eyes widen and she turns to crane her neck. "Is that live music?"
"Yes." I stand and offer her my hand. "Dance with me?"
She hesitates for just a second before taking my hand and letting me lead her to the small space between tables. I pull her close, and she fits against me perfectly despite our height difference. Her hand trembles in mine, and I can feel her heart racing against my body. It's curious how I have this effect on her, but I'm not letting it go to waste.
We move slowly to the music, and she follows my lead even though I can tell she's nervous. Her breathing is shallow and she won't meet my eyes. I wait until she relaxes slightly before I start talking.
"I need to tell you something," I say quietly.
She looks up at me and there's trust in her eyes. "What?" she asks, and I swear I feel a tinge of guilt in my chest that almost makes me rethink what I'm doing. She's innocent, and I'm getting ready to suck her into a world that will destroy her, and I'm doing it on purpose.
But I need her. There is no other way. It has to be done. I can't go soft and start feeling sorry for her now.
"I'm here in Belgrade for work." I keep my voice low. "Specific work that requires me to stay longer than my visa allows."
Her brow furrows. "What kind of work?"
"That's where it gets interesting." I spin her gently. "There is a man who murdered my boss's son, and that man is here in town. I am here to find him and bring him to justice."
Danica's entire body goes stiff in my arms, but she keeps swaying to the beat. Her eyes dart around shiftily now, her hand clinging to my bicep harder.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asks, and I sense her trying to move away from me.
So I pull her closer. "I need help staying in the country… so I can finish my job." I spin her, letting her bend backward away from me long enough to make her breath catch, then pull her back.
"What kind of help?" Her voice is wary now. She gets the point that I'm not lying and that this is going somewhere she'd rather not go. I watch her throat work as she swallows hard, and the pink drains from her cheeks, leaving a ghostly appearance.
"I need to marry someone." I say it bluntly because softening it won't make it easier. This is the task, and now she knows too much. She's in this for the long haul, whether she knows it or not. "Someone with Serbian citizenship who can help me get temporary residency."
Danica stops moving and stares at me. The music continues around us, but we're standing still in the middle of the floor.Her hand goes slack in mine and I can see the moment understanding crashes over her.
"You want to marry me," she says flatly, pushing back from me. I let her have space, but I remain close enough that if she tries to run, I can grab her. The fright in her eyes tells me this may have been better after we'd eaten, but the ball is already rolling.
"Yes." I don't look away. "For paperwork."
"That's why you did all this." She gestures at the restaurant. "The roses and the music and the romantic dinner." Her eyes narrow and she takes another step back, but I mirror her movement, pursuing her.
"Yes." There's no point lying now. "I have a registrar who will do the ceremony for us."
Her face grows paler and then red and her eyes fill with tears that she blinks away furiously. She pulls her hand from mine and takes three steps back. She shakes her head, covering her mouth.
"What are you saying?" she asks. "You don’t even know me."
"So? You don't have to know someone to have a business arrangement." I keep my voice calm. "I'll pay you."
"I don't want your money," she hisses, swatting my hand away as I try to reach for her. "I thought you actually liked me."
"I do like you." That part isn't entirely a lie. I think she's very attractive, but this isn't about attraction. It's an unfortunate necessity. "But I also need your help."
