Page 17 of Breadwinner

Sarah hummed softly, rolling the taste over her tongue before tilting her head slightly. “Vesper martini. How very Bond of you.”

Her lips curled as she lifted her glass, meeting Sarah’s gaze over the rim. “You strike me as someone who appreciates clarity.”

Sarah smirked, the ghost of amusement sparkling in her eyes. “And if I had wanted something else?”

Nell couldn’t help her low chuckle. She liked this—how Sarah tested her, played with her.She wasn’t uncomfortable with their dynamic. If anything, Nell could tell she was intrigued by it.

“Then you would have spoken up. You have a voice, Sarah. I expect that when we are together, you will use it. That’s my first rule.”

There. Rule number one, out in the open.

The words thrilled her as they left her mouth. They were unhurried and intentional as she savored them. Sarah held her gaze for a beat longer, showing no reaction, then, never breaking eye contact and entirely aware of what she was doing, she took another leisurely sip.

A concession. A small one, but still a concession.

Nell took her own sip, pleased.She let the silence stretch enough before shifting gears.

“So, tell me—how did you solve the puzzle?”

Sarah leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. Nell was momentarily distracted by Sarah’s ever-rising hemline, tracking even more of that toned thigh she had glimpsed earlier.

“You had me stumped there for a while. It was bold of you to presume I’d figure out a location in a city I’ve never spent a considerable amount of time in.” She took another sip from her martini before continuing. “Luckily for you, I don’t like to fail.”

“I would have never given you a task you couldn’t complete.”

“I’m learning that. You can’t play a game with someone unless both sides can make forward progress.” The look she gave was pointed in a way that said,I see what you’re doing, and I’m allowing it.

Nell raised a brow, swirling her drink. “Paranoid, are we?”

Sarah smirked. “Cautious. There’s a difference.”

Nell laughed again, warmth spreading in her chest. She was enjoying this too much. “Go on, then. How did you solve it?” she asked, tilting her head in amusement.

Sarah took another sip. “Sheer dumb luck.”

The smile that spread across her face was as infectious as the laugh that followed, and Nell couldn’t help but smile, too.She let out a long breath, letting herself be pleased—very pleased. This was exactly why she had picked Sarah.

She was intelligent. But also grounded. She was the type of woman who took herself seriously, but not too seriously. A mind worthy of Nell’s attention.

The waiter returned, offering a variety of small plates Nell had preselected. Sarah glanced at the spread before picking up her fork and testing a delicate bite from one of the expertly plated dishes.

“The scallops are all yours. I’m allergic to shellfish,” Sarah said, gesturing to the plate closest to her.

Nell froze for a moment in horror. A mistake.How had she overlooked that?How had that piece of information slipped through her thorough research?

She flagged the waiter, who appeared quickly and quietly beside them.

“Please remove this dish. We have a shellfish allergy at the table. Extend my apologies to the chef and assure her it is not indicative of her cooking. Please amend our dinner selection to include duck instead of lobster.”

The waiter listened to her intently and nodded before removing the plate of scallops, disappearing without a word. She turned to Sarah, who held a small, thoughtful smile.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly.

“I’m not about to have you in hives for the rest of the evening, or worse. Consider your allergy noted for all future meals.”

“Future meals?” Sarah asked, with a hint of smugness that Nell found incredibly attractive.

“If you play your cards right,” Nell said, her own smile pushing through as she pivoted topics. “How was the flight?”