“Drake?” his sister’s call cut me off.
When he turned away, I made a beeline for the seat next to Kyra, unnerved more by Drake’s nearness than his tone of voice. As I sat, I threw a cautious glance over my shoulder and flinched when his jaw clenched as though he ground his teeth. I’d have to keep busy else my sanity would take an unwanted knock. Circumventing Drake would be easy, but something told me he was a persistent man, and sooner or later, he’d get his way. I refocused my attention to the mischief banter around me.
All through dinner, I avoided looking at Drake. It was a feat. If his presence alone wasn’t overwhelming, his smooth mannerisms and husky laughter conjured memories, I was trying hard to forget.
“So, Sianna, how did you meet my grandson.”
Seated on my right, Jacob, Rayden’s grandfather, pulled me into a conversation I was trying to dodge. It meant opening myself to a possible interrogation by Drake.
“I babysat for Trent as a favor while he traveled and met Rayden when he came to visit.”
“Why don’t you tell him how I fell in love with you at first sight.” Rayden sat across the table from me.
I laughed at the memory, and when I turned away, I snagged Drake’s gaze. Something flickered in those eyes the color of storm clouds. Mistaking my hesitation for shyness, Rayden explained. I studied my fingers, trying desperately not to let Drake’s presence intimidate me. Epic fail. When I glanced back up, his eyes were still on me. The languid carnality in his stare flared a scorching flame across my skin, and my nipples puckered shamelessly against the thin fabric of my dress. The man was so enigmatic and powerful. It was hard not to liken him to a wolf once more—now released and stalking the jungle at night looking for prey. I resisted the urge to adjust my bra.
“I can’t believe a beauty like you can be called a blue monster.” Jacob tweaked my chin, chilling my flushed features to a relaxed smile. “Has this mischief grandson of mine proposed yet?” Hot color flooded my cheeks again.
“Stop, old man, you’re embarrassing the child,” Carol, his wife, scolded. I laughed.
“Well, it’s all fun and games until someone steals her right from under his nose, then what will he do?” the old man snorted.
“I did, pops. Show him the ring, babe.”
Rayden’s statement shot my blood pressure up a notch. He’d just put me on the spot. I promised to wear the ring as a token of our affection for each other, I still hadn’t accepted the proposal, though. Do I mention it? Even as I asked myself the question, I realized it was me wanting to justify my actions to Drake.Shit.
As the old man reached for my hand to inspect the ring, Kyra leaned over my shoulder to gush. I risked a glance up. Drake watched me intently, his expression unreadable, but the rigid set of his jaw was all the confirmation I needed that the conversation affected him, not in the happy father-in-law kind of way. He turned away when Tamara whispered in his ear.
Although the remainder of dinner passed with pleasant conversation, my heart thudded every time Rayden mentioned something about us until the tide changed.
“So, Drake, you still haven’t told me what you thought of Bianca?” Tamara asked, drawing everyone’s attention. Since meeting her, I’d taken an instant liking to Rayden’s aunt. I found her confidence and air of nonchalance utterly fascinating for a woman her age. Preferring to be called by her name, she scolded him when he attached the word aunt to it. She carried her age with such elegance, I wanted to be her when I grew up.
“Who’s Bianca?” Kyra asked with a mouthful of cherry.
“She’s a friend I set up with your father for a dinner date about—three weeks ago?” Tamara looked at him for confirmation.
“You’re dating again, dad? That’s cool,” Rayden said before Drake could respond.
I dropped my eyes to my mojito glass, trying to block out the conversation, unsure why his reaction would unsettle me. I took a considerable sip to ignore the sudden weirdness in my stomach. What was that? The unfamiliar heat spreading through my veins baffled me for a moment until realization dawned.Oh, my God.Was I jealous?Jesus, Sianna.I didn’t even know the man. Yet, the very idea of knowing Drake fucked other women, had every muscle in my body coiling, hating the idea. Still, I watched him from beneath the shield of my lashes.
Surprisingly, he glanced my way for barely a second before shifting his gaze first to Rayden, then his sister as he responded, “No, Ray, I’m not dating anyone. A pain in my ass, Tam. Too clingy and way too vain. I like my women simple, beautiful, and with an easy smile. Confident and conceited are two hugely different character traits.” He leaned back in his chair with a nonchalant shrug.
“You’re too damn picky,” Tamara snorted, setting her wine glass on the table. I looked up.
“No. I know what I want.” He watched me as he spoke. One dark brow rose.
Still uncomfortable with my reaction, I looked away. Even when Rayden had shared his past with me, I hadn’t felt anything this unnerving. Shoving aside my reflections, I turned my attention on Rayden, who was relaying some wild bush story. By the time Drake left the dinner table, I was close to suffocating on the air trapped in my lungs whenever he spoke. I half expected him to draw me into a conversation with everyone around us, but he refrained.
