Page 112 of Coveted

“The croissant doesn’t count, it’s mostly air. You need real food. I’m taking you to dinner.”

“But I had a whole study plan for this evening. First I was going to⁠—”

Even as I speak, Lucan gathers my notebooks and papers in a stack, then grabs my leather satchel. He places a hundred-dollar note on the table without looking at it.

My shoulders slump. “But I⁠—”

Lucan gives me a knowing look, like this conversation was over before it started.

And maybe it was. Saying no to him is incredibly difficult, and I’m not even sure I want to anymore. Maybe a date would be fun. I could do with a break.

“Fine,” I say as he pulls out my chair. “I guess I could eat.”

The guy next to us abandons all pretense and gawks openly. Students at the other tables do the same. Even the barista pauses at the coffee machine, watching.

Feeling uncomfortable, I walk ahead of Lucan while he carries my belongings. The whispers follow us all the way to the door, and people snap more pictures.

Outside, cold air bites at my face and I inhale deeply.

“Is it always like that when you’re in public?” I ask.

He blinks. “Like what?”

“Never mind.” I chuckle. “I guess you’re used to the attention.”

“You’d better get used to it too. People want to know who you are. I could make them stop though, if you like?”

“No,” I rush to say, fearing the lengths he’d go to. “It’s fine. It just feels odd, that’s all.”

Lucan places his hand at the small of my back, guiding me to his car. He’s pulled up in a spot that I’m pretty sure isn’t actually a parking space.

“Where are we going anyway?” I ask as I step into the passenger seat.

“Dinner,” he says. “I told you.”

Sounds simple enough. So why does a nervous trickle run down my back?

He closes my car door before I can ask for more information.

CHAPTER 28

Sadie

When Lucan misses the turn for Ember Falls after we leave campus, I’m certain something’s off.

“Where are we going?” I ask again, peering through the tinted window.

The car glides low to the road, swift yet perfectly controlled. Trees zip past.

“Trust me.” Lucan squeezes my thigh through my stockings, sending a jolt of warmth to my core. “You’ll like it.”

“Did you get a private chef or something?”

“No.” He changes gears over a rise. “We’re going to a restaurant.”

The forest thins to rolling green fields, increasing my confusion. There’s nothing around. Why would a restaurant be in the middle of nowhere?

The nerves in my stomach grow. God, where is he taking me? He ordered me to sit on a glass table the first time he got me alone. Now that we’ve slept together, what might he plan?