My eyes widened. “You spoke to Trent?”
Rayden gave me a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have intervened.”
“It’s a busy time for the restaurant. I need to be here,” I groaned, my reluctance evident.
“I called in a favor, you know, for taking care of his kids. Trent is happy to let you come with me. He’ll alternate days with Brandon,” he explained, referring to the other restaurant manager who usually alternated with me.
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Rayden.” Annoyance stole my calm. Why? I had no idea. Maybe I was independent for too long and didn’t appreciate anyone taking liberties over me without my knowing.
“I’m sorry, babe.” His green gaze filled with remorse, he leaned closer, curling his arms around my waist. “I don’t want to spend the holidays without you and Kyra’s on my ass about missing another Christmas with them. You’ll have a great time that I can guarantee.”
I shook my head at his childish jubilance, suddenly wanting so much to keep him smiling that way. “Okay,” I relented then squealed when he jumped up with me in his arms. “Does it mean that much to you?” I wrapped my legs around his waist.
He leaned closer, brushing his lips over mine. “You have no idea.” He captured my lips in a slow, tantalizing kiss as he turned.
“What are you doing?” I asked when he broke the kiss to set me down on the breakfast counter. “I have work to do.”
“Trent can wait today. I haven’t had breakfast yet.” He winked, sliding my skirt up.
“You’re insatiable,” I scolded. “But, seriously, Rayden, I have work to do, especially now if I’m taking personal time off. I need to make sure everything—”
His puppy dog look made me laugh. “Can I ask you a question, then?” I nodded. Stepping between my thighs, he circled my waist and chewed his bottom lip for a moment. “Have you ever been in love before?”
My brow puckered in a deep frown, I leaned back. “Where’s this coming from?”
“Just something I thought about.”
Despite his light shrug, I got the sudden impression he had something on his mind and tried to find the right approach to tell me. Sighing, I cupped his face in my palms and smiled. “I met a man once, and while I had no relationship with him, I believed I might’ve given him a piece of my heart.”
He cocked his head to one side, studying me. “How’s that possible?”
My cheeks warmed. Other than Ruvash, I’d never shared this part of my life with anyone before. “He was my first, and it happened during an unusual date.”
“Unusual? What does that mean?”
I grinned. “The morning after, I discovered he was married.”
“Shit.” Rayden chuckled. “And yet you still gave him your heart. Why?”
“Given my inexperience with men, he could’ve taken advantage of me. But he gave me one of the best nights I’ve had since before my parents passed. At the time, I’d never felt that comfortable with a stranger before. Anyway, it was a long time ago. Now, it’s just a reflective memory. One of those you keep at the back of your mind and pops up when reminded. Like now, for instance.” I shrugged.
“Do you realize you’ve only told me you love me once since we started dating?”
“Is that what all this is about.” I kissed his lips lightly. “I don’t have to tell you I love you every day for you to believe it, for it to mean something or for me to remind myself I do. Seeing you, hearing your laugh, and this gorgeous smile is enough for me.”
“You break my heart, babe, with your beautifully simplistic explanations that mean so much more.”
“Yeah, well, that’s me. Simple ol’ Sianna Saxena.” I pushed at his chest. “I need to get my work done now.”
Although he stepped back, he didn’t let me go. “Are you not going to ask me?”
I frowned. “Ask you what?”
“If I’ve been in love before.”
Did I imagine the sudden change in his demeanor, or did his expression taken on a solemnity I hadn’t witnessed before?
“Have you?” I arched a brow. Slowly, he nodded. “Is this the part where you tell me you’re leaving me because she’s back in your life again?” I teased, hoping to bring back his smile.
