Page 32 of While She Sleeps (The Hunter and The Thief #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY

EMBER

I eye Orion’s lava cake with keen interest.

He just left it there, untouched. I wonder if he would notice if I had a bite.

As it is, despite my best efforts to savor my own, it was gone in four tiny bites, and my notorious sweet tooth is unsatisfied.

But alas, stealing his dessert on our first date probably isn’t a great start to whatever the fuck we’re doing here.

To distract myself from the tempting morsel, I glance around the busy restaurant.

Our table is situated in the back corner with a perfect view of the whole room, making it a table I would have chosen for myself. When you make enemies at the rate I do, it’s best to always have your guard up to avoid any incidents when I’m off the job.

I guess Orion probably gravitates toward these kinds of seats for similar reasons. With his status as the city’s most eligible bachelor, it probably gives him the chance to escape the paparazzi if they slip past the restaurant’s security.

This place is busy as hell considering the food is so tiny, but then again, it’s not really about the food.

Dining in a place like this is about status.

You could have all the money in the world, but if you’re eating at the local diner instead of a place like this, you’re probably going to be looked down upon by your peers.

Personally, I’ve never given a fuck about that kind of thing. I’d take a greasy cheeseburger and some fries over this every single day of the week, but that’s not to say I don’t understand eating here, even with the price tag and tiny food.

I cast another longing glance at Orion’s plate and sigh. He’d definitely notice if I had a bite.

Movement catches my eye, and I notice a man in a black suit standing a few tables over, his back leaning against the wall and his gaze locked on the restaurant. When did he get there?

Is he security?

I nibble at my lower lip and fiddle with the bracelet Orion bought me. I think I’m safe here, but I’ve thought that before and have been proven wrong.

But this place is crawling with people. No one would make a move in a busy restaurant, right?

Forcing a calming breath, I take another look around, cataloging all the people who could be here for anything other than an overpriced meal.

To the left there are a couple of men lurking at the edge of a table, but they’re speaking to the couple sitting down, meaning they’re more than likely just catching up with old friends.

Satisfied they’re not a threat, I move on to the outskirts of the room where there’s a woman laughing, her hand pressed to the chest of a man who looks less than interested in her touch.

His hard eyes survey the space around him, all but ignoring the blonde as she juts her ample chest out until it brushes his.

I cringe internally. She needs to move on from the dangerous-looking man before he moves her on.

I suck in another breath and settle back into my seat. I’m being ridiculous. But when you’ve lived your life looking over your shoulder, it’s a hard habit to break.

I brush my hands over my dress, wiping away the moisture I didn’t realize had gathered. Something else for my therapist to psychoanalyze.

Where the hell is Orion?

It feels like he’s been gone for ages.

I swallow past the doubt that tries to climb my throat.

What if he’s skipped out on the bill?

What if this is his idea of fun? Leading on women who can’t afford to eat in a place like this and then forcing them to pick up the check.

But then I notice his jacket is still resting over the back of his chair.

Your imagination is really running rampant tonight , I scold myself.

“Miss?” A voice on my right startles me, and I just about come out of my skin when I realize it’s the man who was stuck talking to blondie a few moments ago.

“Uh, hi?” I stutter.

I’m usually way more confident than this, but there’s something about tonight that has me off kilter. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.

“I’m Killian.” He smiles. “I’m part of Orion’s security team.”

“Oh.” My shoulders relax slightly. “Is he okay?”

Killian nods, his face remaining perfectly passive. “He had to take a quick call. He’ll be back in a few minutes, and he didn’t want you to worry while you wait.”

I nod my understanding as I take him in.

I can’t say I blame the blonde who was trying to climb the man like a tree, because he’s awfully pretty.

His dark hair is pushed back in that messy style you know took at least a few minutes in front of the mirror, and his eyes are captivating in a way I’ve found few to be in the past.

Orion is definitely more my type, but I can see the appeal of Killian for sure.

“Thank you for letting me know.” I smile. “Did you want to sit? Your one-woman fan club is still lurking over there.”

He looks over his shoulder and sighs, annoyance appearing in his amber eyes. “That woman doesn’t know the meaning of the word no.”

“Sit.” I motion to Orion’s abandoned chair.

He hesitates for a second before pulling the chair out, unbuttoning his jacket, and lowering himself into the seat with a grace I wouldn’t expect from a man his size.

His six-foot-four frame is entirely too large for the chair, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“Boss man is not going to like me sitting here with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s…possessive when it comes to you.”

My brows tug together, my stomach fluttering with misplaced butterflies. Surely I shouldn’t find that attractive. Isn’t that some kind of red flag for most women?

But I guess I’ve never been like most girls. Maybe I like my men with a bit of darkness in their souls.

I shake my head to clear the thought, because getting attached to Orion isn’t an option. Not in the long run, at least. This is just about having a little fun with a man I have no doubt will blow my mind and ruin me for everyone that comes after him. But it’ll be worth it.

“I doubt that.”

He chuckles, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The slight tip of his lips transforms his whole face, and I’m sure as hell he’s glad blondie can’t see him now because she might start humping his leg if she finds out.

“Killian,” Orion snaps from beside him, his eyes flaring with annoyance. My stomach flips because I think his security guard just may have been correct. Has anyone ever been possessive of me? I highly fucking doubt it. “I told you to watch her, not take my place at the table.”

“I was saving him from a woman who looked like she was ready to walk down the aisle to marry him.” I laugh, and Killian’s eyes roll. “I’m sure you’ve been faced with similar scenarios a time or two.”

Orion flicks his eyes to me, and they soften immediately, setting a fresh wave of butterflies off. Jesus. This man’s effect on my body is dangerous. “Killian has that effect on women a lot.”

The man in question shakes his head, but there’s a slight smirk playing on his lips, telling me these two men are closer than just security and employer.

Which, I guess, makes sense, considering Killian didn’t hesitate to approach me, even knowing Orion wouldn’t be okay with it.

“Everything okay with your call?” Killian asks.

Orion stares at him for a beat before nodding, which is odd.

Was that explanation just a cover?

And if it was, what was Orion doing while he was missing from the table?