Page 87 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

“Mr. Amato.”

I nod and move around the front, opening her door before he can. My hand is there when she steps out, and she takes it.

“Mr. Amato,” she mocks as we walk to the restaurant doors.

“Smartass.”

She just grins up at me.

“Good evening, Mr. Amato,” the doorman says, opening it for us.

Katie has to stifle a laugh. I guide her inside with my hand at her back. Heads turn and once they see me, conversations drop. The host looks up, and for a second, his attention lands on her instead of me. He corrects it quickly.

“Mr. Amato.”

“I want a table in the main room tonight.”

There’s a pause. His eyes shift toward the back, and he nods.

“Of course.”

He turns and leads us through the dining room instead of past it. A few looks follow us, quick, quiet, and gone as soon as they’re caught. The table he gives us sits along the edge of the room, placed right, with a clear view of everything. It’s not the room in the back they usually keep ready for me.

I pull her chair out and wait until she sits before taking mine across from her. The server hands us menus and waits.

“What do you want to drink?” I ask her.

“Dr. Pepper.”

I nod once and look up.

“Dr. Pepper and Whiskey neat.”

“Yes, sir.”

She steps away. I lean back slightly and watch her.

“So,” she says. “This is where billionaires go out to eat?”

“Not just billionaires. Millionaires too.”

I wait for her reaction.

“God,” she laughs. “Your ego is the size of Mount Everest.”

I smirk. “And yet, you just keep coming back for more.”

“I mean, can you blame me? You are a billionaire.” She drags it out and leans across the table.

I’m about to reach for her hand when the server comes back with our drinks and sets them down. I pick up the menu then, flipping it open and sliding it toward her instead of keeping it.

“Take a look,” I tell her. “Get whatever you want.”

She glances down at it and back up at me.

“I already know what I want.”

“Yeah?”