Page 171 of Lethal King

“No,” I snap, almost standing up from my seat. The rational side of my brain is slowly fighting back against the heat in my heart. “How are you so comfortable with this? With all the enemies we have? The people we know don’t just set up blind dates.”

“You’re right,” Rian nods. Leaning forward again, he places his forearms on the table. “But I’m not worried.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” I tell him, unwilling to admit that his apparent tranquility is growing on me.

“Or maybe I just find your presence comforting.”

“That’s insane. I’m a killer.”

Rian intertwines his fingers and leans further across the table.

“So am I,” he whispers, like it’s some big secret.

Still, despite the banality of his words, they seep down my tender throat and into my chest. My heart clenches, instinctually trying to fight off the warmth.

But it’s a losing battle.

“So, what? You just want to sit here and drink champagne?” I ask, trying to hide any signs of the battle raging inside of me.

I’ve never been spoiled like this before. I’ve never wanted to be spoiled like this before.

So why is the idea of Rian doing it so alluring?

“It’s not champagne. It’s wine,” Rian notes, smiling as he falls back in his chair. “And no, I don’t want to just sit here, sipping on wine. I want you to talk.”

“So, it’s an interrogation?”

Now it’s Rian’s turn to get frustrated. Sitting up in his chair, his smile twists into an annoyed frown.

“Stop trying to make this something you’re comfortable with, Roz,” he says. “This has nothing to do with the underworld. This is about us, and us only.”

To my surprise, I don’t feel any satisfaction from finally breaking through his casual demeanor.

Instead, my stubbornness seems to bring a cold chill over our table. It only makes me realize just how cozy this has become. Despite my protests, I’m starting to feel almost as comfortable as Rian is pretending to be. And I don’t want to lose it.

“And what are we?” I ask, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“That’s what we’re going to figure out.”

I’m so tempted to play along. And not just because I’m curious about the answer too. But because I don’t want to risk losing this sparkling warmth that surrounds us.

“Fine,” I relent, slinking down into my chair. “Order me something expensive and start asking your questions.”

That brings a smile back to Rian’s stupidly handsome face.

“Not a question, just a small little dare,” he says, gesturing for the waiter.

“Yes, sir?”

“What do you like to eat?” Rian asks me.

“Everything,” I say, crossing my arms.

Rian’s smile widens.

“Bring us one of everything, please,” he orders.

The waiter doesn’t even hesitate.