Page 20 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

“We’re here,” he says, stopping.

I look up.

“Oh,” I say, surprised. “I love this place.”

We’re standing in front of The Lantern Cafe. It’s my favorite restaurant in Auburn Heights.

“I know.”

“How would you know that?”

“You tagged it four times last month.”

I blink.

“You stalked my Instagram.”

He smiles, opening the door for me to go in.

“Fucking psycho,” I breathe, but I still go inside.

He follows right behind me. I’m still thinking about punching him when I look up.

Oh God. No.

Working the host stand is one of my students.

“Ms. Miller!” Arianna says. She sees Michael behind me, and her eyes go wide. “Oh.”

“Hi, Arianna,” I give her a small wave as if I’m not deeply humiliated. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” Her eyes flick to Michael again. “I saw I got an A on the final paper.”

“It was wonderfully written.”

Why is this happening to me?

She nods quickly. “Do you have reservations?”

Michael steps forward. He completely blocks the light over the host stand.

“It’s under Amato.”

I look up at him. Amato. As in Amato Towers? Amato Plaza?

What the hell?

Arianna glances down at her tablet.

“Here it is. It’ll just be a moment.”

“Thanks, Arianna.”

The second she walks away, I whirl around and jab Michael in the chest.

“What the fuck, dude? Your last name is Amato?”

“Last I checked.”