Page 119 of The Quiet Witness

“Anything?” The last thing she wanted was to shoot off a sensitive question into the brush of prickly thorns that had been Lucien thus far.

“Anything.” He promised, eyes betraying his curiosity.

“Sooo, what made you decide to go vegan?” She leaned forward a little more, not wanting the answer to go lost in the mumbling, trusting him to fill the space she left hanging. Why cherish animals and dispose of humans?

“That’s your question? Here I was thinking I’d opened myself up to a barrage of highly improper personal questions.” He grinned. “That’s an easy one to answer, well…” He rolled his shoulders tentatively, searching for the words. “One day in my youth, kids in the neighbourhood were… less than friendly toward a stray dog. So I adopted him, against the wishes of my parents… Zorro and I, we fostered quite the bond together.”

Kate smiled, envisioning the scene before her. Young Lucien befriending a stray dog. “Zorro?” She questioned.

“I know, right? What a name.”

Before he could move on the crowd erupted into cheers, Kate spooked in place from the sudden noise.

Lucien nudged his chin. “Look behind you.”

She turned, a man had taken his seat behind the piano, warming up his wrists in elegance as only people with music flowing in their veins could, he rapped his fingers over the piano and the crowd let out a laugh at the show. Anticipation heavy in the atmosphere as couples huddled closer together, smiles lining the faces around them.

Her chair shifted, she whirled back to Lucien, the culprit had his hand on her chair edging her closer to him. “What are you doing?” She whispered.

He leaned in next to her ear, sending goosebumps down her neck, whispering equally low. “It offers a better view.”

Swallowing her snort, she settled in, her knee brushing against his.

For all the showmanship the artist sold. Kate wouldn’t have guessed for a second that his opening song would be “Mad World.”

“Oh, I love this song.” She started swaying in her chair with the opening rhythm. Sad? Yes, but so incredibly touching.

She glanced at Lucien, only to see that his gaze was already fully focused on her. A shiver danced under her skin. That glint in his eyes. As if only tonight existed and she was the only woman in the entire room to earn his attention. She could nearly swear there was something more to it. As if he gulped up the entire evening. If she didn’t know any better, it felt like something one would do before saying goodbye. A final tasting of what could be.

He got up, extending his hand toward her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She leaned back slightly.

“Asking you to dance of course.”

“What?!” Her voice went higher, betraying her.

He tilted his head. “Let’s call it insisting.” She blushed heavily, glancing around to see other couples already moving with the rhythm. “I uh—”

And there it was, one of the reasons she’d been unable to fully relax. She’d never been out with a man before, much less danced with one. What if he has… expectations?

He took her hand in his. “Relax, sweetheart, no expectations.” He squeezed once. “Ever.”

To do or not to do. “Okay.” She sighed. “But I am not dancing in these shoes.”

His face split into a laugh… and was that relief? “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

Kicking off her heels, she followed him to the space drawn up between the tables.

Chapter 51

Zorro

Lucien interlaced his fingers with hers, drawing her closer with a hand on her lower back. Keeping himself positioned firmly between the other patrons, not allowing anyone to bump into her. Kate raised her own hand, awkwardly placing it over his shoulder, feeling her muscles stiffen and hampering the flow of their dance. She glanced over his shoulder, watching how the couples danced together, their eyes focused only on the person in front of them. She clenched her teeth together, jaw clicking.

Why can’t I be like them? So free in their movements.

Lucien bent down to her, murmuring, “Why so nervous?”