"Uh-huh," she says, groaning. "What time is dinner with Royce?"
"Now-ish?"
"Oh my gosh! You're there already?"
"I'm in the parking lot, trying to work up the nerve to go in."
"Go in!" she cries. "And don't you dare fire that man as a client, Emelia Jónsson. Not until you give him a chance."
"I can't!"
"Do you want me to go to dinner with Dawson?"
"Yes."
"Then you aren't allowed to fire Royce tonight. If you do, I'm not going," she says, her tone triumphant.
"Cheater."
"You love me."
She's right. I do.
"Fine. I won't fire him. Yet."
"That's my girl!" she cries. "Now, get in there. Shoo. Go!"
"I'm—"
She hangs up on me, making me laugh despite myself. Of course she's advocating for me to actually date this man. She didn't meet him today. She has no idea how flipping gorgeous he is, or how unhinged.
Or how I haven't been able to stop thinking about him all day.
"Crap," I groan, hauling myself out of the car before I can chicken out. My heart pounds wildly as I hurry across the parking lot to the entrance, praying he forgot about tonight.
No such luck.
I don't even reach the doors before he materializes from the shadows, dressed in a suit that looks like it was tailor-made for his broad frame. His gaze sweeps down my body, a smirk curving his lips up. "Damn, baby. I thought you looked beautiful today, but that little dress right there puts the one you were in today to shame."
My cheeks heat, butterflies floating through my stomach. "Thanks."
He places his hand on the small of my back, leaning in to press his lips to my cheek. "Our table is waiting."
I don't shiver. Idon't.
I'm also a dirty, dirty liar.
Our table is in the back corner, hidden from the rest of the restaurant. It's nothing but us, candles, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline outside the windows.
Instead of sliding into the seat across from me, Royce slides in beside me, so close his thigh presses to mine, and his arm brushes my side every time he moves.
"I ordered a bottle of wine." He grins at me. "We're celebrating."
"What?"
"I said, we're celebrating, babe."
"What are we celebrating, Royce?"
