Somehow, I get pushed to the front of the group to trail after the fast-footed host. I look back at the guys making sure they’re keeping up. He leads us to a sectioned off room that has a large silver grill in the center.Ares is seated on a stool near a wooden counter that runs around the cooktop. A lightness fills my steps as we near, until he turns and I see who’s next to him—Mia.
I falter, not expecting to see her here. It’s not like I don’t know they still work together, but having her away from the house has been like out of sight, out of mind. He stands when he sees me, moving off the stool to meet me at the room’s entrance.
Ares bends and places his lips on mine for abriefmoment. I close my eyes and let his scent and warmth enfold me.
When Ares pulls away, I plaster a smile on my lips and growl through my teeth so only he can hear me, “A little warning would have been nice.”
Ares’s pupils expand. “And chance not getting to spend afewextra stolen moments with you?” He makes a tsking sound, like I’ve underestimated him. I narrow my eyes and snap my teeth together, I may have felt bad for biting Dante, but I don’t have the same reservationwhen it comes to Ares, he likes it too much.
The grin that falls over his face issimplywicked, leaning in close, he mutters near my ear, “Anytime sweetheart.”
The host waits until Ares pulls away from me again and shakes hands with Dante—it’s a more formal greeting than they usually share—before asking,“Will anyone else be joining you, Mr. Costa?”
“No, this is us,” Ares answers, the heatthatwas in his tone moments ago, gone.
“If there isn’t anything else.” The young man bows before turning on his heel and hustling away.
We’re all just standing in the doorway. I’m not sure if the awkward tension means Dante knew Mia was here, and that’s why they were so slow to join us, or if it came as a surprise to them as well.
Ares moves first, snagging my hand to tow me along with him. He hesitates at the stools, not sure where to put himself, or me. He settles on reclaiming his seat, after pulling out the stool next to him for me while keeping himself between Mia and me.
“You guysdecided to get out a little early?” Mia waves a tiny porcelain cup at the guys and her smile droops.
“What’s a few hours, right?” Ollie answers her easily.
“A few hours.” Mia shakes her head and tips back the small cup, taking it like a shot. My brow tightens, is she drinking? I assumed it was tea.
A man in a tall, white hat enters from a side door and moves behind the grill. I could already feel the heat, but he adjusts something beneath the counter and a blast of warm air hits me.
“Chef’s table,” the man states with a heavy accent. Ares gives a nod of understanding. Moments later a thin woman walks out holding a large silver tray aloft. She carefully places it on a waiting stand near the chef’s hip. He looks it over and grabs a few items after squirtingoil on the grill. His movements are brisk, but he adds flare, cracking an egg over a steel rod and flipping a few shrimp in our direction once they’researed on the grill. Dante reaches out and captured a piece right before Ollie’s open mouth, which makes him pout.
The chef makes a little volcano out of thick white onions, flames billowing out of the top, while using his other hand to cook small bites of meats. The same woman who carried the tray returns, holding two deep dishes covered with dome lids. I can see the steam wafting out of the little holethey slot the spoon into, and opening it for our inspection, she reveals steamed rice. Again, Ares nods and she leaves.
Focusing more on cooking instead of entertaining, the chef places several meats and seafoods all from different containers on the grill, preparing our lunch. Ihave no idea what most of it is beyond beef, chicken, and fish, but I try almost everything that gets put on my plate. Finally, I wave him away when he keeps trying to add more. I place a hand low my belly and lean over onto Ollie’s shoulder.
Once he’s finished eating, Ares unfolds a black linen napkin he has over his thigh and wipes the corners of his lips and tosses it to the table. “I’m going to the restroom, be right back.” He drops a kiss to my temple and heads out the door.
Mia, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, chooses now to lean over and acknowledge my existence. She hasn’t so much as looked at me this entire time,seemingway more interested in refilling her little cup from a small bottle of dark liquid.
“Got to see the love nest.” Her eyes are a little glazed, but otherwise she looks like her normal put together self. Every hair is in place with light makeup, and a fitted cream sweater with navy blue trousers. I don’t comment on her description of our house, she can call it our fuck pad for all I care.
“It’s not much now, but it’ll beamazing once we’re through with it,” Ollie answers her excitedly.
She makes a thick sound in her throat and rolls her eyes. “It was a dump, Ares hates it.” That gets my attention.
“Mia, yourpetty, isn’t pretty.” Ollie raises his brows and slides his hand over my back. I see Dante’s dark head lean in to get a better look at our end of the table. His eyes flash orange, it calls to the beast inside me.
I make fists with my hands and smother the itching under my skin. I cannot grow talons and black tiger stripes in a restaurant. I look away from Dante and focus on the heat rising off the grill until I feel more in control.
“You think he’ll be happy there, in a little ranch on a mountain? He’s used to living in the city, having someplace to go and something to do when he can’t sleep and is restless.” She slurs a few of her words.
“He doesn’t need the distraction now, he sleeps,” I tell her.
Mia laughs, finding my statement funny. “Ares never sleeps, he stays up for days at a time, and only crashes when his body demands it.”
“Not anymore. I know, he sleeps next to me every night.” I don’t mean for my words to come out like barbs, but they do.
“You fucking wish.” She glares at me, knocking back another shot.
