Page 104 of Inked in Devotion

“You’re impossible, Kolya!”

“Where do you want to eat?” I’d made my point and picked up Sebastian. “If you’re starving, Sam suggested a steak place and a burger joint.”

When Chloe didn’t answer, I looked at her. “Both are walkable.” I pointed to the right. “Burger that way.” Then pointed to the left. “Steak that way.”

Chloe was looking at me strangely, then she gave a shake of her head. “You’re taking lunch suggestions from Sam?”

I chuckled. “She was helpful.”

She burst out laughing. “Just how chatty did you two get?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I pushed the stroller. “She was entertaining.” She kept me from my murderous thoughts. “So where do you want to go, baby?”

“Burger. I want a big, juicy burger.”

“You got it.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Chloe

“Is it my imagination, or were people staring at us on our way here?” I settled into a chair while Kolya transferred Sebastian to a high chair and positioned him close to me.

“We make an interesting family.” Kolya folded the stroller away and sat on the chair that would put Sebastian between us. I noted a hint of irritation in his voice, though.

So I pressed, “Is there news that I’m not aware of?”

Did my stay at The Astorian make it to the press? Was I causing Theo a headache again?

“Of course not.” He nodded at the menu in front of me. “They have a variety of burgers.”

“I want a simple double patty with extra cheese on a potato bun. Fries.” I put down the menu. “Sebastian can share mine.”

Kolya wasn’t looking at me. He seemed unusually interested in the beer selection. When our server arrived, he took his time questioning her. I never understood the fascination with beer. Every time I tasted one, it was bitter. Maybe it was an acquired taste. Although I’d once seen on TV some people were more sensitive. Something about bitter taste receptors that gave them an aversion to beer.

“Do you want anything else, Chloe?”

I shrugged. “Just burger, fries, and a Coke.” I wanted to sit by the window, but Kolya vetoed it and told the hostess to give us a table farther inside the restaurant. There were women on their phones trying to film through the restaurant window. The restaurant manager went out and ushered them away. They giggled.

Kolya muttered, “Excuse me, I need to make a call.”

Displeasure darkened his face. I really thought people were watching us. I checked my phone to see if I had any news notifications from the sites I had set, but I didn’t see anything.

Then I saw a notification pop up from Ivy.

I saw the rolling laughter emoji, and it made me curious.

When I opened it. It was a link to a video.

Ivy

It’s giving daddy vibes, and the internet is feral.

I clicked on the link and it played a footage recorded from the café. Kolya was talking to Sam, who thankfully had her face blurred in the video. Then it cut through a segment of Kolya standing, carrying Sebastian and settling him in the carrier. Then Kolya and me. Kolya doing the leaning thing.

The caption: Daddy Kolya is so fine and hot. Chloe King is so lucky.