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DAVINA

Manhattan Rose was a gorgeous restaurant inspired by its first location in Manhattan, New York.

There were only four franchises across the United States thus far, and one just so happened to be located in Charlotte and owned by a culinary chef named Leticia Brent.

After checking in with the valet, I stood in front of the castle-like building, bringing the strap of my purse to my shoulder. The exterior was made of gray cement, and there were three levels, with the upper two having balconies. According to my research, there was also a rooftop with seating and a full bar. Hey, at least there were no cabanas.

When I walked inside, I was greeted with a rush of cool air. Crystal chandeliers hung from a ceiling that seemed endless, and the roof was made of glass. Trees with leafy green tops were spread out like columns, and sofas were inside, occupied by waiting guests. It was like the outdoors had been brought indoors in elegant fashion.

Stairs with black railing led to the upper floors, and when I checked in with the hostess, she guided me to the second level and rounded a corner to a private area, and that’s when I saw him.

Dressed in a lavender linen shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of oxford shoes, Deke stood next to an older woman in a black chef’s uniform, who was laughing at something he was saying.

Two gold chains hung from his neck, per usual, and there was a small gold hoop earring in one ear and a diamond stud in the other. The lavender shirt was a soft color, but it took nothing away from the masculinity that practically leaked out of his pores. If anything, I found him even sexier for wearing it. I knew a lot of men who were afraid of wearing pastels publicly, but not Deke Bishop. Of course he wasn’t.

From the information I’d gathered online, I knew the woman laughing and chatting with him was the famous Leticia Brent. She was nearing her fifties but easily could’ve passed for early forties. Her upturned head swung in my direction when she noticed me, and Deke followed her gaze.

When Deke caught sight of me, he did a double take over his shoulder before turning around to drink me in. Those warm eyes of his traveled down the length of my body, and I was glad he liked what he saw.

I had given this brunch a lot of effort. In the back of my closet I’d found a sienna lantern-sleeved dress with a plunge at the neckline, and I’d plucked out my best push-up bra. And because I couldn’t sleep so easily last night, I decided to braid my hair into thick singles and unbraided them this morning for a cute braid-out.

I kept my makeup simple, with some concealer, a few brushes of mascara, blush, and a touch-up of the brows. I also took off my dragonfly necklace, which was bittersweet. I guess I wanted to show up as someone with a positive mindset, not someone attached to their grief.

“Davina.” Deke sounded breathless as his eyes kept roaming me, and I bit back a smile as I moved forward and offered a hand to Leticia.

“Hi, Leticia. I’m Davina Klein. I’m so honored to be here right now.” I smiled as she took my hand. “Figured I’d introduce myself, since this guy is too speechless to do so.” I bobbed my head at him, and he grinned.

“It’s lovely meeting you, Davina. I’m glad you could make it. Is this your first time?” Leticia asked.

“It is. I’ve heard incredible things about your food, so I’m very excited.”

Leticia let out a tinkle of a laugh and pressed her hands to her heart. “Aren’t you sweet?” She looked between me and Deke, who still hadn’t said a word. I could feel him still looking at me, though. “I was happy to hear Deke was coming in for a visit. He’s one of my favorites to serve.”

“Is he?” I looked up at Deke from beneath my lashes, and he finally snapped out of his silent stupor to point his attention to Leticia.

“Your food is the best, Leticia. You know I had to swing through. I appreciate you for setting me up in a private room.”

“Absolutely. Well, I’m going to let you two get to your brunch, but please let me know if there’s anything you need. Davina”—she took my hand and shook it again—“so lovely to meet you. Take care of this one.” She pointed a thumb at Deke, gave me a wink, then left the room.

Then there were two.

I found Deke’s eyes.

“Do, uh ... do you wanna sit?” he asked.

I laughed. “Please.”

He moved around me to pull out one of the chairs beneath the table.

“Thank you.” I sat and placed my purse on my lap.

He took the chair across from me, and after he slid in, he cleared his throat and said, “As always, you look divine. Davina the Divine. New nickname?”

“Oh, please no,” I snorted. “I’d rather take D-Baby over that one.”

His lips quirked up at the corners. “You got it, D-Baby.”

Okay. I had to stop smiling. I felt like a goof. I put my focus on the menu, just as a waiter appeared. Deke ordered a regular orange mimosa, and I decided to go with a mango version.

“But real talk, you look good, D,” Deke said, when the waiter took off with our drink orders. “Thank you for joining me ... and for shooting me your number.”

I smiled again. “It felt right.”

“How was your flight back from Miami?”

“Terrible.” I waved a hand. “There was a lot of turbulence for such a short flight.”

“Damn, that sucks.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, though, with your private jets and all. Doesn’t your team have a private charter or something?”

“We do, yeah, but it’s mostly used during the season. I can get you on a private jet if you want. Just say when.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

The waiter returned with our drinks, we placed our entrée orders, and Deke cleared his throat after taking a sip of his mimosa. With his back resting against the chair, he studied me with a smile.

“You’re staring,” I informed him.

“I can’t help it when there’s such a nice view in front of me.”

I pursed my lips after taking a sip of my drink. This guy. May as well have called himself Prince Charming. “So ... there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

At that, he sat forward and folded his long arms on the tabletop. “I’m listening.”

“The . . . thing that happened on the rooftop . . .”

He fought a smile. “Go on.”

“I didn’t realize how badly I needed it.”

One of his brows inclined. “When was the last time you had it?”

“I don’t know. Months ago.” Over a year, actually. I took another nervous sip of mimosa.

I dared a glance at him, and he seemed to be mulling my statement over. “I’ll be more than happy to fuck you if that’s what you need, D.”

I nearly spit out my drink, and a laugh burst out of him. “How blunt of you,” I said after swallowing the drink down.

“Just ask for what you want. I won’t judge, and I definitely won’t tell.”

“I never said that was what I wanted,” I claimed, but my voice was much too soft for even myself to believe those words.

“You said last night that you liked me, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“And you enjoyed how I ate your pussy in that cabana?”

“Deke,” I whispered, looking around like there were other people in the room who could hear us. There weren’t any, but still.

“What? I’m just asking. I mean, I enjoyed feasting on you, and I like you, too, so let’s be straight up about it. Whenever you need it again, we’ll fuck. I satisfy you, you satisfy me, and we’ll go on with our lives until the next time you need it. We’ll keep it as simple as that.”

That was tempting. “And you wouldn’t want more?” I challenged.

He leaned in closer. “As long as I get the chance to bury my dick inside you, that’s more than enough for me.”

My face was on fire now. I’d never been talked to that way. I couldn’t say I didn’t love it. There was something illicit about his words. Every single one of them went straight to the warm area between my legs.

Lew was always so polite about sex. On rare occasions (likely when he’d been drinking) he’d be a little naughtier, and I loved when he took charge.

Nope. Stop comparing them.

“So we’ll be fuck-buddies?”

He gave me a nod. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is what I want. Just sex.”

He looked from my eyes to my lips. When he found my eyes again, he said, “All right then.”

“Okay,” I breathed, relaxing a bit. “Good.”

“So let’s start right now. They’ve got restrooms around the corner we can use,” Deke said, cocking his head to the left. I fumbled over my words, which made him belt out a belly-deep laugh. “I’m just messing with you, D. Relax.” He picked up his glass and took a swig, while I tossed out a nervous laugh. “We’ll start when you’re ready. Just say the word, D-Baby.”

I ran a finger over the edge of my cloth napkin. “What is the word, by the way?”

He thought about it a second, then said, “Brunch.”

“Brunch?” I repeated, laughing. “Why that word?”

“We’re making this arrangement over brunch. Seems fitting.”

“Okay.” I sat back and crossed my legs beneath the table. “So if I randomly text you the word brunch , you’re gonna drop whatever you’re doing to come fuck me?”

“ Ooohh , Davina Klein.” Deke’s expression was priceless. His mouth parted, and his eyes sparked beneath the chandeliers as he said, “Keep talking to me like that, and we’ll definitely be making use of those restrooms.” I giggled as he sat back again and spread his legs. I wanted to sit on his lap. Hell, I wanted to climb him like a tree. “If I can swing it, I’ll be there,” he stated.

“Wait. This isn’t going to be a one-and-done thing, is it?” I asked. “Because if so, let’s not even worry about it. I’m not looking for a one-night stand situation.”

“Nah.” He looked up at the ceiling before dropping his gaze and caging his bottom lip in his teeth. “I’ve been waiting too long to have you to make this a one-night stand. If we agree on this, I don’t want there to be an end. I want to savor every second I get with you.”

A smirk claimed my lips. “You’re a patient man, Deke Bishop.”

He winked. “Only for you, D.”