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“I’ll get us a table,” I said to him nodding to a free one near the back of the room.
Kade went to the bar, and a couple of my waitresses rushed up to him. I couldn’t blame them. Kade was a woman’s dream come true. Kind. Handsome. Rich.
“You look beautiful tonight,” John said taking a seat with me. I hadn’t even noticed his approach.
“You’re sucking up to me. I know I look haggard.”
“You look tired, but still beautiful. It’s distracting.” He looked down at his drink like he was nervous about confessing that. But something about it had me not believing him.
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?” I asked.
He gave me an affable smile and leaned toward me. “I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.”
I shifted, not liking his nearness. I looked to Kade, wondering if he was going to join me. He was immersed in a conversation with the chef.
I rose from my chair. “I really need to thank everyone for their great work tonight.” I headed over to where several of the wait staff were seated and joined them.
We chatted, and while their drinks made them more festive, my lemon soda didn’t have the same affect. I was drooping.
“Let me get you out of here.” I looked up into Kade’s gorgeous green eyes.
I nodded, too tired to do anything else.
He escorted me to the bar. “I’m heading out, but the drinks are still on me,” he told the bartender.
There was a loud, “Yeah!” at the bar.
He had his hand on my lower back as he guided me out the door and to the curb, where his driver waited outside the car. He helped me in the back seat, and then slid next to me.
“What a night.” I dropped my head to his shoulder, letting my eyes close.
“You did great, Morgan.” I felt his lips on my head, and it made me feel warm inside.
Then I frowned. “That fish order wasn’t wrong.”
“What?”
“John’s fish order. That wasn’t my mix up.”
He tensed under my head. “You fixed it. You and John seem to work close.”
I snorted.
“What’s that for?”
“It’s not like that with me and him.”
“Oh?” Kade’s arm came around me, and I settled in next to him. He smelled so good. Felt so strong and warm. I wanted to stay wrapped in him forever.
“Do you feel this exhausted every night?”
Kade laughed. “No. The first few openings, yes. Now, not so much.”
“It must be nice to be you.”
He flinched.
I looked up at him. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just think… you’re so handsome. You get to pursue your passion. You’re a good person. You’re living your best life.”
“I want you to live your best life too, Morgan.”
“Tonight, I did. Almost.” My best life would be not just living my passion, but having my mom get all the help she needs. And having a forever love. Having Kade.
“Almost?”
I rested my head on his shoulder. “The pursuing passion was my best life.”
“What’s missing?” he asked, his hand rubbing my arm.
“Right now? Nothing.”
We pulled up to the curb, but it wasn’t at my apartment. It was at a fancy upper west side building.
Kade got out of the car and held a hand for me. He was taking me to his place. As tired as I was, it was surprising my hormones could wake up. But they did. They started to hum. I took his hand and let him escort me to his apartment.
I didn’t know what all this meant, but I wasn’t going to question it. What better way to end a perfect night than with him?
We entered his apartment, and it was exactly like I’d have thought it would be. It was large and open. The kitchen had restaurant grade equipment and huge workspace. A floor-to-ceiling window let the moonshine cast a romantic glow through the room.
He took my hand and led me back to his bedroom. His bed was huge. Was there a size bigger than a king size?
He stood in front of me, his hands cradling my face. “I don’t share, Morgan.”
“Uh… okay.”
“John — ”
I scoffed. “It’s not like that.”
Then his lips were on mine, and I was in heaven. He tasted like Kade and scotch. I gripped the lapels of his jacket to make sure he didn’t get away from me. That’s how it often felt; like we’d come together, but then he’d get away from me. I supposed I allowed it by always being willing to let him touch me, knowing that for him it was just sex. It would ruin everything to tell him about the baby. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want me, except in moments like this.
Of course, I’d have to tell him at some point, but it didn’t need to be now. Now I just wanted to immerse myself in him. To surround myself with his heat and scent. To touch him and let him touch me.
