Page 26 of Stay With Me
I’m so fucked.
***
Standing outside the restaurant, I take in a shuddering breath. Nerves flutter in my belly as I take in the building. It’s a classy black building, but nothing that screams wow.
“You ready?” Tasha asks.
“Sure.” I plaster on a fake smile.
“Babe, are you okay?” she asks me. “Everything is going to be fine. My dad is awesome, you know that. And he’s excited to have you come.”
I swallow down a surprised laugh. I’m sure he would be glad if I came.
“He asks about you all the time.”
“Really?” My brows rise.
“Yes. Come on. I’m starving. And he’s paying, so we can order whatever we want.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
She loops her arm through mine as we head into the restaurant.
The outside might not be anything to get excited over, but the inside? Holy shit, it’s nice. Really nice. The walls are black, and all the furniture is a deep brown. Everything looks modern yet classic. And very expensive.
“Hello. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asks as we approach the stand. I feel like I’m staring, but I can’t help it. She’s so elegantly beautiful. If she weren’t waiting at the hostess stand, I would have thought she was one of the guests. She’s wearing a tight black dress that hugs her curves. Her hair is down like mine, in long raven curls. From the looks of it, she’s older than us, but not by much.
“Yes, we’re here with the Knight party,” Tasha responds.
The hostess nods. “Follow me.”
We follow her through the restaurant, and my eyes drop to her feet. She’s rocking a pair of six-inch heels. I could never. Mine are two inches at best.
Finally, I pull my eyes away from the woman, almost regretting it immediately because when I look beyond her, I see him.
Roman Knight rises from the table, a handsome smile on his face that has my belly in knots and my core clenching around the toy, reminding me that it’s still inside me.
God, I can’t believe I’m doing this.
“Here you go,” the hostess says, walking us right up to the table. “A server will be by in a moment.” I don’t miss the way her eyes linger on Roman. But Roman isn’t looking at her... he’s looking at me.
My heart pounds in my chest as we lock eyes, and I don’t miss the heat in his stare.
“Hey, Daddy,” Tasha greets her father. My eyes widen slightly at the use of the word. God, I just called him that last night.
“Hi, darling.” Roman kisses her cheek, then hugs her, flashing me a knowing grin at where my mind just went. They break from the hug, and Roman pulls out a chair for Tasha. Once she’s seated, he comes to stand next to me. “Ava.” My name comes out friendly, but the flash of hunger in his eyes tells me a whole different story.
“Mr. Knight.” The greeting easily gives away how nervous I am.
“Please, call me Roman,” he insists, then lowers his voice. “Or Sir.” I swallow hard as he pulls me into a hug. His lips brush against the shell of my ear. “You look utterly divine tonight, Princess,” he whispers in a low, husky voice. “Good enough to eat. Shame, you’re not on the menu.” This man, ugh. This man is making me blush, radiating enough warmth to compete with the sun, and my belly heats like a volcano. When he sucks my earlobe into his mouth, giving it a little nibble, I have to choke down a whimper.
I can’t hide the shiver that takes over my whole body, though. When he pulls back and steps away, he gives me a smug smirk before turning to pull out a chair for me like he did for Tasha.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Of course.”
Roman pushes my seat in before taking his own. The table is set up for three, giving it more like a triangle shape instead of being seated directly beside one another.