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“Hey,” he said, getting up. “Have a good day?”
“It got a little off track in the middle, but overall really good,” I replied. I didn’t typically spend my day around people—that was just the nature of my career—but hanging out with his mom had been great. “Is it bad that I’m already looking forward to Wednesday?”
The brightness of his smile rivaled the sun. “Not at all.” He opened the door for me, and I got in.
It was nice being treated like this, but when he got in the car, I said, “You don’t have to open doors for me. I don’t think anyone’s watching.”
“I am,” he replied. And that was that. He rolled down his sleeves and tightened his tie and began driving.
La Belle wasn’t too far away, and soon we were leaving his car with the valet driver and walking through the heavy glass doors. He put his hand low on my back as we walked in, sending shivers up my spine.
Jonas greeted the hostess and said, “I have a reservation for six o’clock under Moore.”
She smiled warmly at him and scratched her pen across a page. “I have you down. Please follow me.” She led us to a private table in the back corner of the restaurant, and I had to wonder whether it was coincidence or if Jonas had specifically requested privacy.
How would I feel either way?
Jonas held my chair out for me, the perfect gentleman, and then walked to his side of the table. “It’s been forever since I’ve eaten here.”
“Me too. I’m excited.”
Our waiter came to the table, and I did a double take. My jaw dropped flat on the floor.Haydenwas our waiter?
I knew he worked at the pet store, but he must have picked up another job. And while I stared in shock at him in his waiter’s uniform, he was looking equally stunned between Jonas and me.
“So I guess this is why I haven’t heard from you,” he said, setting our menus in front of us.
I hadn’t replied to any of his messages in the last several days, partially because we wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore. And also because we weren’t a couple—I didn’t owe him a response, just like he didn’t owe me one. But mostly, I hadn’t texted him back because of the man sitting across from me, the one who was looking more and more uncomfortable by the second.
“Um, Hayden,” I said, “this is Jonas. My boyfriend.”
Jonas stood and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Wow.” Hayden rocked back, ignoring Jonas completely. “Wow. I thought you ‘weren’t the relationship type.’”
I smiled and shrugged, trying to ignore how tense my shoulders, and the rest of my body, were.
“I see how it is,” Hayden said, sucking his teeth and then looking between Jonas and me. “This has to be your first boyfriend, right? When it doesn’t last, because it won’t...” He shrugged. “Give me a call. We’ll use the rest of that whipped cream.” He winked.
I didn’t embarrass easily, but let me tell you, I wasmortified. “Hayden!” I hissed.
A manager approached us and said, “Is there a problem here?”
“No,” Hayden quickly said.
Jonas said, “It’s fine. We just needed to check on something, in the bathroom. We’ll be right back,Hayden.”
Hayden’s expression hardened while the manager looked surprised. Before they had a chance to recover, Jonas was leading me away from our table, past staring diners, and back toward the women’s bathroom.
As soon as we were away from the table, I began apologizing. “Jonas, I am so sorry. I didn’t know he worked here, and I had no idea he would say that kind of thing, especially in front of you. I’m beyond embarrassed, and I’m sure you are too. But I want you to know I haven’t seen him since we began our.... arrangement. No way would I disrespect you like that.”
But he didn’t speak. He only opened the bathroom door, checked to make sure no one was there, and then pulled me into the large corner stall.
“Jonas, what are you...” I asked, but he silenced me with a kiss.
It was fucking sexy, him taking control like this. And his kiss... it sent heat pooling between my legs. He moved from my lips to my neck, trailing rough kisses along my sensitive skin.
“Jonas,” I gasped. “What is this?”