Page 46 of Broken By Her Mate
“I’ve arranged a secure space.”
“So, you planned everything in advance?”
He shrugged. “Hoping you’d say yes.”
Her expression softened. “That’s very thoughtful, but I have nothing nice to wear to dinner. All my dresses are at my apartment in Cedar Ridge and—”
“I thought about that too. I got you something to wear.”
“Oh…” She blew out a breath. “Well, in that case, sure, let’s go out for dinner. I need a break from these four walls, anyway.”
Although she seemed reluctant, and he suspected she only accepted to be polite, he was satisfied. Tonight, they’d talk and fix things. “Great. Be ready by six.”
Later that evening, he paced the living room, waiting for Laila to come down. He took out his phone to get an update from his safe-date-with-Laila team, which only included Benny and Francisco. The two had also brought Cora in on their mission to find the safest place for a romantic dinner.
He sent Benny a text.Is the location secure?
Benny:Completely. The magical safeguards are also up, and we’ll be patrolling the area for as long as you need.
Tolliver:Great. I owe you guys.
Benny:Don’t worry about it. Here’s to hoping to get laid tonight, boss.
Staring at Benny’s response, Tolliver gave a long-suffering sigh and shook his head. The man had no filter whatsoever… but Tolliver was hoping for the same thing.
The clicking of heels on hardwood made him look up. His breath hitched, and he swore his tongue rolled out onto the floor like a cartoon. Standing at the top of the stairs was a vision that made his heart skip a beat. Laila looked stunning. Her dark hair fell in loose, silky waves over her shoulders and framed her face. She wore the emerald dress he had bought. It hugged her curves just right, and the silky fabric caught the light as she moved, shimmering with each step.
The dress dipped at the neckline, showing enough skin to make his mouth water. As she moved down the stairs, the slit on one side revealed a glimpse of her leg with each step.
She wore killer heels that elongated her legs and added to her elegant air. Her eyes were fixed on him, so when she almost reached the stairs' bottom, she missed a step and tumbled forward. Before she even had time to register the slip, Tolliver was there, moving with his natural shifter speed to catch her.
His arm wrapped around her waist, steady and strong, while his other hand braced her shoulder. She fell against him with a soft gasp, her hands instinctively clutching at his chest. Laila’s eyes widened, and then her cheeks turned hot pink. “Laila the Klutz strikes again.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Fine. Great catch. After all these years, you still do that thing where you catch me before I even fall.”
Tolliver chuckled. “Old habits die hard, I guess. I’ll never understand how a shifter can be so clumsy,” he joked. “You’re truly unique, Laila.”
She stepped out of his hold and playfully swatted his arm with her purse. “With my unnatural tendency to trip even on air, I shouldn’t be wearing heels.”
“But you look so good in them.” He didn’t realize he was staring at her as if he wanted to devour her until she took another retreating step and blushed harder.
Their eyes met. Both had fallen into the past, to the way they interacted when they were together. It came naturally to them—too naturally for Laila’s comfort because the laughter and warmth that lit up her eyes faded and were replaced with uncertainty.
“About the heels and everything else,” she said, looking down at herself. “Tolliver, this is too much. The dress, shoes, accessories...” She pulled in a deep breath. “You shouldn’t spend this amount of money on me.” She then fiddled with the necklace he’d chosen to pair with the dress.
“I don’t mind. I asked you out and you’re not at home. It’s only right that I take care of everything.” The truth was, a part of him wanted to impress her. He had gone from her mate to some guy pulling out all the stops just to get her to like him even a little bit. Sometimes, he felt like he bordered on pathetic, being a smitten fool.
After a moment’s hesitation, Laila nodded. “Okay. I’m ready if you are.”
Tolliver blew out a relieved breath. He wanted nothing to ruin the night he had planned.
About a half hour later, when Tolliver passed through the bustling town, Laila turned to him. “Where are we going? I assumed we were going to have dinner somewhere in town.”
“The place is still too busy.” At that time of evening, the town bustled more than it did in the day. The nightlife in Bellefleur was one of the most active Tolliver had ever seen. “That leaves too many chances to miss something or someone. We’re going somewhere off the map, a bit more secluded.”
“I see. So, I’m not overdressed for this secluded restaurant?”