Page 21 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

21

KAYDEN

K ayleigh agreeing to go on a real date with me is the best thing that’s happened all year. Although, Aurora being born a close second and being a Goddessfather a very close third.

She emerges from the main building door, and I push myself off the wall, dragging my greedy eyes over the length of her in that mouth-watering red dress. I strain at the exquisite sight. I curse to myself that I have to look at her all fucking night and somehow remain a gentleman who doesn’t want to tear her clothes off.

“Hi,” she says after her own eyes have taken a journey over me.

I reach a hand out for her, and she places her hand in mine, taking a step forward. I raise her knuckles to my lips before pressing a soft kiss to them, her perfume wafting into my nose and making this a thousand times harder for me.

“Hi,” I release a satisfied sigh and tug her towards me, noticing her cheeks are pink and flushed. My hand slides from behind my back, and she glances down at the stunning bouquet of red roses wrapped with ribbon. “These are for you.”

“Kayden,” she whispers, as her eyes glisten, disbelief settling over her face. “They are stunning.”

I’d buy her flowers every day if it means I get to see this reaction.

“Just like you.”

She flicks her eyes up to me as she takes them into her hands.“Thank you,” she says. “Sorry, I’m in shock. No one has bought me flowers before.”

“Yeah, and I wanted to be the first.”

And last.

After a moment, a smile covers her pretty mouth, and I melt at the sight.

“It’s my pleasure, blondie. I’d do anything to see you smile.” My gaze settles on her lips, which are coated with a layer of gloss, and I internally groan at the way it shimmers directly at me. Goddess, how am I being teased by some lip gloss? “You are so beautiful.”

Kayleigh laughs hesitantly. “Thanks,” she blurts. “So are you.”

My brows rise. At least I don’t have to hear her thoughts for the truth.

“Well, thank you.” I wink before tugging her hand. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

When we reach my car, I open the passenger side for her, motioning my head for her to get in. She beams at me, and I can see something behind her eyes that tells me not a lot of people—if any at all—have done this for her. It’s not just gratitude; it’s awe and honour.

“Thank you,” she whispers before climbing in, and I shut the door after her.

I slip into the driver's seat and make sure Kayleigh is buckled in before exiting campus and heading into town.

“How’s Ava and the baby doing?” she asks. “Have you heard anything from either of them? I didn’t want to bombard Ava with messages.”

“Yeah, they’re doing good.” I nod as I rest one arm on the steering wheel. “They’re home now.”

Kayleigh’s face lights up with delight. “I’m glad.”

“It’s been eventful so far with a screaming baby,” I say sarcastically.

She lightly whacks my arm and scolds me. “That baby is your Goddaughter. Give her a break.”

“You’re right.”

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?”

“It’s not far from here. We’ll be there soon.”

Kayleigh opens her mouth but doesn’t say anything before settling into the seat and knotting her hands together. I glance down at the action and hear her breathing quicken.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” I say before clutching her hands with mine.

She breathes out an exasperated breath. “Only a little.”

“Why? We’re going to have fun.”

Her knee begins to bounce.

“I guess you just?—”

“I what?”

“You make me nervous.”

My foot presses against the brakes as I approach a set of traffic lights. I turn my attention towards her and study the way her brows are slightly pinched. “I make you nervous, or is it the situation?”

“Both,” she admits shyly.

“You are fucking adorable,” I comment with a grin as she turns away to hide her blush.

We turn the corner and pull into a car park as Kayleigh grips the door handle to look up at the restaurant— The Opal .

She almost pales at the sight of it and turns to me with sudden fright. “This is where we’re going?”

I hum softly. “Yep.”

Once I get out and open Kayleigh’s door, it takes every inch of me not to think about how good she looks in those gold heels, especially having her legs wrapped around my head by the end of the night.

“This place is really fancy,” she whispers as we approach the foyer.

Inside are large chandeliers, dark wooden floors, and dimmed lighting.

“Sure is.” I smile wickedly down at her.

“Reservation?” a waiter asks before taking my name and guiding us to our table.

I allow Kayleigh to go first and hear the sound of those heels on the floor, ringing in my ears. My eyes dip down to the way her hips naturally sway with the silk fabric of her dress, and I have to clench my jaw. Even when she’s not trying, she’s still irresistible.

The waiter pulls out Kayleigh’s chair as she thanks him, and we sit down at the rounded table with a candle burning in the middle and fresh flowers.

“Do you like red wine?” I ask, and Kayleigh nods.

I have a quick look through the drinks menu before turning to the waiter. “We’ll have a bottle of the Napa Valley Dominus, please. Thank you.”

“Right away, sir.”

“C-can I have a look at that?” she asks as she gestures to the menu.

I hand it to her and watch as her eyes scan the pages before they almost bulge out of her head. She fidgets in her seat and shuts the menu with a firm slam before running a hand through her hair.

“What’s the matter?”

Kayleigh’s blue eyes snap to mine as she releases a hesitant laugh. “Nothing.”

Guess I’ll be in the back later doing the dishes after the prices in this place.

I cover my frown when her thoughts flood into my head.

“Kayleigh, tell me what’s wrong.”

Before she can answer, the waiter comes back with our bottle of wine. He pours us both a glass with one hand tucked behind his back before leaving us alone again.

Kayleigh sighs, and I lean forward, my hand stretching across the table, but I don’t take her hand.

“I can’t afford this, Kayden,” she whispers under a breath. “It’s way too much.”

“You don’t have to pay for anything.” I shrug and lean back in my chair, my fingers running around the edge of the glass.

Her pretty mouth falls open as she leans into the table. “Have you seen how much this stuff is? That bottle of wine alone was over three hundred pounds!”

“I am well aware.” I grin. “But thank you for pointing it out.”

She glares at me with panic behind her eyes.

“I said I was going to take you on a date; it was my choice.” I raise my glass off the table. “So stop worrying.”

Kayleigh squirms in her seat, still reluctant to pick up her own glass. “But I can’t repay or top this, I–”

I slip my hand under the table and cup her knee, which I already knew was bouncing. She holds my stare for a long moment before taking a breath. “You’re a student, Kayleigh. Of course I don’t expect you to pay for this. But it’s not about that; it’s on me. So please, just enjoy it.”

“Okay.” She swallows once despite the look of resistance.

I raise my glass towards her. “Cheers to our first official date,” I say as she raises her own, and they clink in the middle. “Cheers to becoming Godparents. Cheers to a good night that I don’t want to end.”

“Cheers,” she says after a few moments and rolls back her shoulders, slowly meeting my eyes. “Cheers to us.”