It had been a quick peck on the lips, but based on the gleam in his eyes, I’d just made love to his mouth. It sent a shiver racing through me, igniting delicate nerve endings along the way.
“Thought I’d take you to dinner.” He tucked his hands in his pockets when I stepped back. “I assume you haven’t eaten.”
“I haven’t, no.” I met his gaze, asked the silent question.
Kieran sighed. “He’s not back yet. Last I talked to him; he said it’d be late tonight or early tomorrow.”
I hated the fact that Knox had been gone all week. I’d spoken to him a few times on the phone, but never at length. Something seemed off with him, but I didn’t know him well enough to understand what it could be. Rather than dwell on it, I’d focused my attention on work and spending my evenings with Kieran.
“Do you think we could go to Obsession tonight? After dinner, I mean.”
He nodded. “Aye. You looking to have a night out?”
“Figured I was due.” I giggled. “I invited Emmett. Thought I’d hit up Siobhan and Priya. Make up for ghosting them the past couple of weeks.”
Kieran pulled out his phone. “I’ll have them added to the guest list.”
“Did you have a place in mind for dinner?” I asked as I moved back to my desk to change my shoes. Although my feet cried at the loss of the softness, I knew better than to wear them on the streets of New York.
“The Plaza Hotel is right around the corner.” He linked my arm in his as we headed for the elevator. “I happen to know the chef there.”
Of course he did. I hadn’t learned much about Kieran during our time together, but based on our conversations, I’d ascertained that he knew a lot of people. Important people.
Then again, during some of my downtime, I’d done a few internet searches this week, my curiosity getting the better of me. Most of what I’d found were gossip blogs highlighting Kieran’s former relationship with lingerie model Arielle Adkins. From what I read, it had been a hot and heavy romance that ended abruptly when Arielle called it off. There were a number of rumors as to the reasons for the breakup, some claiming Kieran had cheated, others claiming Arielle had chosen her career over him.
Needless to say, I’d had to force myself to stop skimming stories about them. Just seeing pictures of the two of them together had made my stomach hurt. To say the woman was devastatingly beautiful would’ve been an understatement. What made it worse was she was the absolute opposite of me—blond hair, blue eyes, legs that went on for miles. And I’d thought I looked like a child next to Siobhan and Priya. I looked like an ogre compared to Arielle Adkins.
“What’s on your mind, love?” Kieran asked as the elevator descended.
I peered up at him, forcing the mental images of him and his ex-girlfriend from my mind. “Just hungry.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.”
At the very least, I hoped it would be enough of a distraction to bolster some of my confidence. A week ago, I would’ve said I had nothing to worry about with Kieran or Knox. After they’d all but staked their claim and insisted I stake mine, I’d felt better. Then Knox had disappeared, and now it felt as though something was missing.
~~~~
Kieran
I couldn’t remember the last time Iwent to a nightclub for no other reason than to enjoy the company I was with. I certainly couldn’t recall the last time I’d gone out with a bunch of twenty-somethings who were hellbent on drinking as much as they could, either.
Of the lot of them, Emily was the only one who had any semblance of control over her inhibitions, and I was learning that was her default setting. There was no doubt she was having a good time, engaging in conversation with Emmett and Siobhan, while Priya and a man whose name I’d already forgotten were making out like teenagers in every dark corner they could find.
“Would you like to dance?” Emmett asked Emily when Siobhan excused herself to take part in the action on the second floor.
Emily shook her head, smiling shyly. “No. Gosh, no. I promise you don’t want to see me dance.”
“I do,” I said firmly, reaching for her hand.
Emily giggled. “Kieran. Seriously.”
I offered her a wicked smile. “Come on, love. Just one dance.”
“The music’s too fast.”
“Emmett can fix that,” I said, motioning for him to go talk to the deejay.
Emmett offered a quick wink, and he was off. No doubt in my mind he was the smart one who would inform the music master that it was my request.
