Page 19 of Savage Seduction (Finding His Forever #2)

CHAPTER 19

Bretton

I adjust the cuffs of my suit jacket, checking my reflection in the restaurant’s glass door. It’s been years since I’ve been on a date—longer still since I’ve felt anything even resembling excitement over the prospect of one. But here I am, standing outside a swanky Los Angeles restaurant, about to meet a woman I know nothing about, except that she’s a friend of a friend and supposedly “perfect” for me.

Perfect.

I exhale heavily, running a hand through my hair. What does that even mean anymore? Two years ago, I would have had an answer. Two years ago, I had everything I ever wanted. A wife. A life that made sense. But that was before… before it was all ripped away. Before the blood. Before the phone call that shattered my world.

My fingers tighten into a fist before I release them, forcing myself to push those thoughts aside. Tonight isn’t about the past. Tonight is about trying to live again. Or at least pretending to.

I step inside, scanning the room. Candlelit tables, soft jazz humming through the speakers, the clink of silverware and low murmurs of conversation. It’s nice. It’s the kind of place I used to take my wife to on our anniversaries. A pang of guilt twists inside me. Should I even be here? Should I be doing this?

“Bretton?” A woman’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see her.

She’s beautiful. Red hair cascading in wild curls down her shoulders, striking green eyes, a warm, easy smile. She’s stunning, really, and for a moment, I almost feel something like relief. Maybe tonight won’t be so bad. Maybe I can do this.

I offer a polite smile. “You must be Lisa.”

She nods, stepping closer. “It’s nice to meet you. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about this whole thing. Blind dates aren’t exactly my forte.”

I chuckle, gesturing to the table. “Same here. But I figured, what the hell?”

We sit, menus placed before us, and I try. I really try. Lisa is everything I should want in a date—smart, successful, charming. She’s telling me about her work in entertainment law, and I nod at the right moments, offering small comments when necessary, but the truth is, I’m not here. Not really.

Because I’m thinking about Max.

I grip my glass a little tighter. It’s been happening more and more. The intrusive thoughts. The moments where I catch myself wondering about him, about his voice, about the way he moves. The way he looks at me, like he’s searching for something in me that I don’t even understand myself.

I should be focusing on Lisa. I should be present. But all I can think about is how much I’d rather be sitting across this table from him.

“So, tell me about yourself, Bretton,” Lisa says, tilting her head slightly. “Your friend James didn’t give me much, just that you’re in law enforcement.”

I clear my throat, setting my glass down. “Uh, yeah. FBI. ”

Her eyes widen slightly. “Wow. That must be intense.”

“It is.”

She waits, probably expecting me to elaborate, but I don’t. I used to be better at this—at small talk, at engaging with people. But ever since my wife… ever since her murder, everything has felt hollow. And now, with these confusing thoughts about Max, it’s like my brain is stuck between grief and something else entirely, something I don’t have a name for yet.

Lisa shifts slightly in her seat, sensing the distance. “I imagine it must be hard to date with a job like that. All the long hours, the stress.”

“You have no idea.”

She gives me a small, understanding smile. “I get it. My job keeps me busy, too. Sometimes it feels like there’s no room for anything else.”

I nod, taking another sip of my drink. She’s easy to talk to. This should be easy. But it’s not.

Because I keep seeing Max’s face. The way his lips twitch when he’s amused. The way his brows furrow when he’s deep in thought. I keep remembering the way my chest felt tight the last time we were together, the way something inside me pulled toward him without me even understanding why.

Lisa is saying something, but I don’t catch it. I shake my head slightly, offering a quick apology. “Sorry, long day.”

She laughs softly. “It’s okay. You seem a little… distracted.”

Understatement of the century.

I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah. I guess I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

She studies me for a moment, then sets her silverware down. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course.”

Her lips curve into something gentle, something knowing. “You’re not ready for this.”

My stomach tightens. “I?— ”

“It’s okay,” she says quickly, holding up a hand. “I’m not offended. I’ve been on enough of these to recognize when someone’s heart isn’t in it. And yours isn’t.”

I exhale slowly, pressing my palms against my thighs. “I thought I could do this. I thought maybe…”

She nods. “You lost someone.”

I look away. “Yeah.”

“And there’s someone else on your mind, isn’t there?”

My gaze snaps back to her, my pulse jumping. “What makes you say that?”

Lisa tilts her head, her smile turning a little wry. “Women have intuition, you know. It’s written all over your face.”

I let out a shaky breath, feeling a rush of something between relief and terror. She knows. A stranger, someone I’ve just met, can see what I’m trying so damn hard to deny.

“It’s complicated,” I admit.

She reaches across the table, resting a hand over mine. “Bretton, it’s okay to feel again. It’s okay to be confused. But don’t force yourself into something just because you think you should. You deserve more than that. And so does the person who’s really on your mind.”

I swallow hard, nodding slowly. “You’re right.”

She squeezes my hand once before pulling back, then gestures for the waiter. “Let’s split the bill. We’ll call this a nice evening between two people who needed to get out for a while.”

I chuckle softly. “That sounds perfect.”

As we settle the check and walk outside, Lisa gives me one last smile. “I hope you figure it out, Bretton. Whoever he is… he’s lucky to have you thinking about him.”

I freeze, the air knocked from my lungs. She knows. She doesn’t just suspect—she knows .

I should deny it. I should say she’s wrong. But I don’t. Because maybe, for the first time, I don’t want to pretend anymore.

“Take care, Lisa,” I say instead.

She nods, and then she’s gone.

I stand there for a long moment, staring up at the city lights, feeling something shift inside me. It’s terrifying. It’s liberating. And for the first time in a long time, I let myself wonder.

Maybe I don’t have all the answers. Maybe I don’t need them yet.

But one thing is certain. Even if nothing ever happens between us, I need to see Max again.

I need to keep Max safe so he can live the life he was meant to.

Whether that’s with… or without me.