Page 120 of Off Limits Mogul

“You’re wasting time.”

“How was I supposed to know that when you’re being all secret agent on me and withholding important information?”

“I had to pull strings to get this reservation.” One call to Larkin and I was set. He secured a table at his Santa Monica award-winning restaurant in a flash. “We can’t be late. Go on now.” I jerk my head towards the house.

She stares at me.

She’s suspicious.

“Can I at least know what I did to be treated to this last-minute celebration on a Tuesday night?”

I trace her lips with the pad of my thumb. “It’s not about what you did.” I hold her gaze. “It’s about who you are.”

Chapter 25

Keira

I’m still not sure what we’re celebrating, but judging by my surroundings, I’m guessing it’s something monumental. Then again, I could be wrong. Aegean Grill in Santa Monica is a sophisticated, upscale seafood restaurant with an extensive raw-bar option. Raw fish? No Thanks. We both agree on that front. When I saw wild jumbo Mexican shrimp on the menu, I was sold. We’ll start with that and share the wild Virginia black sea bass. We just placed our order, and I’m already salivating.

Rhys lifts his champagne flute. “Here’s to tonight.”

“Finally, I get to find out what the big deal is about,” I say, lifting my glass.

“Oh, no, dimples, not yet.” He bursts my bubble. “It’s still too early in the evening for that. We’ll have that discussion over dessert.”

“Are you seriously going to make me wait that long?”

“Yup. I don’t want you to get too excited and ruin your appetite. I’m being a considerate boyfriend. Trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.”

“You’re killing me, you know that?”

“I do.” His grin widens. “Here’s to tonight.”

I clink my glass with his before taking a long sip of the effervescent liquid.

He does the same. “Not bad?” He lifts his glass at eye level.

“You mean, holy shit, this is amazing?”

He chuckles.

Bless the French.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?”

I blush. “Not in the last fifteen minutes.”

He leans into the table. “Well, my girlfriend is hot, and I can’t wait to find out which French Appliqué number she’s hiding underneath that sexy dress.”

I have to squeeze my thighs together to curtail my throbbing pussy.

Damn him.

When I accepted his challenge, I didn’t go at it with half measures. I only had forty-five minutes to get ready. In my spike heels, it was impossible not to hear me coming down the stairs. Rhys’s attention was trained on me like a laser beam. When I reached the last step, the intense heat radiating from his blue eyes took the wind out of my lungs. He was speechless for a few long beats before rendering his verdict,“Mission accomplished. You took my breath away. Let’s get out of here before I change my mind about dinner”. His sweet and naughty words made me want to beg him to stay home.

“I offered you a peek earlier, but you––”

“Yoo-hoo, oh, Rhys.” A female voice interrupts me.