“Let me guess, it’s in my eyes, huh?” I joked.
“Nah, it’s in your body. You press your lips together, like you are trying not to bite them. And your breathing, yeah, you don’t control that as well as you think.”
I swallowed as heat crept into my cheeks and down my neck. I lifted my braids and threw them over one shoulder, hoping to get some relief from Kier. “That’s just ridiculous.”
“You just ain’t ready to admit what you feel yet.”
There wasn’t much I could say without proving his point, so I said nothing. He pulled out of the parking lot and glanced over at me again. I kept my eyes on the road, but his words sat with me.
The irritating part was how calm he said it, as if it was obvious. And the part I didn’t like was… he wasn’t wrong. Kier noticed things, especially the ones you don’t think anyone’s paying attention to. I shifted in my seat, reminding myself of the same quiet rule I’d been keeping all summer: relax and let it be.The problem was, Kier Stone had a way of making that feel less certain every time he looked at me like that.
Not me falling this hard and this fast, Lord!
eight
. . .
Between the music,smoke, and constant activity of people coming and going, the studio had been a lot to take in. Once we got back to Kier’s house, he gave me time to settle in further. I admired the room and scenery again. The ocean outside rolled steadily against the shore, and the sound drifted through the open glass doors while the sky over Malibu slowly darkened. After unpacking a few things, I took a shower. I’d just finished smoothing foam through my hair when my phone vibrated.
Mr. Producer:
Get dressed. I’m taking you somewhere.
Staring at the message, I smiled to myself. A few minutes later, I slipped into a simple dress and sandals. After putting my hair into a ponytail at the top of my head, I met him in the living room. Kier glanced up from his phone..
“You look amazing. Are you ready?”
“Yes I’m ready, thank you.” I smiled. Kier looked good too. Simple white button-up and some beige shorts. A long intricate tattoo shaped his legs, making me realize I didn’t pay attention to how built he was.
We headed out to a blue Maserati. The day had cooled off as we pulled onto the Pacific Coast Highway. The drive itself felt like part of the experience. The ocean stretched endlessly to our right, dark and calm under the fading light, while headlights danced steadily along the road. Neither of us spoke. We let Ari Lennox fill the silence. Soon after, Kier turned into a parking lot perched along the cliffs.
When we stepped out of the car, the view caught my attention immediately. It was insane. The restaurant sat right on the edge of the coastline. Lanterns and soft lights glowed across the outdoor patio while the ocean rolled below. A small crowd walked through the entrance. I couldn’t believe something so beautiful was the norm for these people. I watched as couples spoke quietly amongst each other, while servers carried plates between tables.
“Geoffrey’s Malibu, one of my favorite spots,” Kier said as we walked toward the host stand.
“I can see why, it’s gorgeous.”
“And the food is good too.”
The host greeted Kier and led us toward a table along the railing. The ocean stretched out in front of us. The last bit of sunset faded along the horizon while candles glowed across the tables. Once we sat down, Kier poured the wine the server had brought over and slid the glass toward me. We sat there for a moment just taking in the view.
“Earlier you said this wasn’t your first time in LA,” Kier said, leaning back in his chair. “What did you do the last time you came?”
“It was business, so I pretty much spent most of my time in meetings. Not too much exploring, but I did go to one of my favorite restaurants called SUR. And I only knew about it due to one of the reality shows I watch.”
“Oh okay, never heard of it.”
The waiter approached again, this time offering menus. Kier asked if I had any allergies, then asked me to trust him with ordering. He ordered sautéed crab cakes, and ahi tuna tartare for our starters. Then he ordered the Australian wagyu New York steak for him, and a whole lobster with risotto. The confidence in which he ordered sent the wheels turning in my head.
“How did you hear of this place? Is this where you usually come when you visit Cali? You seem to know the menu very well.”
Kier looked at me over the rim of his glass and smiled. “Sexy Sibley, is that your way of asking me if I’ve brought other women here before?”
I smiled a little and took a sip of my wine. “Well, since you brought it up, have you? Not that it matters, because your experience with me will be quite different from any other woman.”
“Talk yo shit, Sibley! That confidence looks good on you, baby.”
“Thank you,” I replied. I didn’t know where my confidence had come from, especially since I was feeling somewhat broken. But Kier, with his conversations and attentiveness to my feelings, was assisting with making me whole again.
