Page 129 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“Thank you.” I got out and offered my hand to Kaylani.

Slipping her hand into mine, she emerged from the limo perfectly at home among the lights.

The restaurant radiated power as we climbed up the steps to the entrance. Inside carried the same masculine energy. Black and red décor. Dark wood. Polished stone. Open flames licked up behind glass where cuts of meat were seared with precision. The air smelled of char, butter, rosemary, and something rich enough to make you slow down and breathe it in.

Men in tailored suits dipped their heads in greeting, waiting to be summoned. Women in silk and diamonds sat at tables, sipping wine. The low lighting made everything feel intimate, even in a room full of people.

I pulled out Kaylani’s chair.

“I meant to say that you look extremely sexy this evening,” Kaylani murmured as I took my seat across from her.

My lip twitched up.

“I always do.”

Kaylani laughed at my mock arrogance.

“Yes, but tonight there is no earpiece. No, assessing the room every five seconds. No, tension humming under your skin.”

I chuckled softly and reached across the table for her hand.

“I still watch the room. I just make it less obvious.”

She was right, though, for the first time since we left Arizona, I felt relaxed.

The waiter arrived with a polished smile and a confidence that only came from training to be the best. He described each cut as if it were a piece of art. Dry-aged beef marbled to perfection. Sides plated like sculptures.

We ordered too much, but every bite tasted better than any meal I had ever had before. My favorite part was watching Kaylani eat her dessert. With each mouthful, she moaned, her lips wrapping around the spoon and sliding off, and it drove me insane.

“That good?” I teased.

“I want to smear this chocolate on your body and lick it off. It’s that good.”

My dress pants suddenly felt snug as I shifted in my seat.

“Well, that is quite the visual.” I gave her a tight smile.

“Try it.”

Lani held out the spoon, a tantalizing challenge dancing in her eyes.

I couldn’t resist the offer. The chocolate soufflé was as delicious as she had promised. Rich with a sweet, salty flavor, light as a feather, and perfectly smooth.

“That is incredible.”

She smirked and bit her lip, setting my blood on fire.

We talked about everything and nothing important. The competition circuit and her dream of starting a breeding program with Atlas. Neither of us could believe how much Cutter had grown. We envisioned what our house might look like if it didn’t have security cameras installed in the hedges.

All the little things that made this moment, and us, feel normal.

I paid the bill in cash, and we went out to the limo so that we wouldn’t be late for the show.

“What do you want,” Kaylani asked quietly as we settled into the car.

“For what?”

“If this were… normal. If we didn’t have an axe hanging over our heads.”