Page 30 of Obsessions of the Heart

It was true what they said. When you rode in style, it felt like life was just passing you by, like you were in a bubble, watching how the others lived. It was surreal for me to feel this way even just once.

He finally drove off the freeway and down a couple of side streets before we stopped in front of a quaint house that was overgrown with trees, vines, and flower bushes. If you searched for it, you could see small two-person patio tables with white linens. The only things that gave this place away as a restaurant were the valet and the sign above the door that said, in gold cursive, Fruits of Nature.

Elio jogged out of the car and gave the valet his keys before he opened my door. “Come on, project buddy. We need to get in so you can buy me that coffee.”

My eyes were glued to how beautiful and romantic this place was until I looked down at my clothes again. Could I even afford a coffee here? “Elio.” My tone came out like a warning.

“Layrin.” Giving me the same tone back, he tugged on my backpack to get me out of the car. “I promise it's nothing weird. I just know the head chef here, and I like his burgers. That's it. No big deal.” He shook his open hand at me again, and I glared at him even though I accepted his offering.

“Fine, Elio, but the second we sit down, I am buying you that coffee, and that's it. We are just friends who are working on a paper together. Got it?”

“Of course. Cin would scalp my balls if it were more.” I let him guide me up the steps and into the small house. There were already a few people seated at tables both inside and outside. All the windows were open. Birds were singing, and bright natural light flowed through the room.

We sat down in the corner, and the hostess was about to place the menus down when Elio scooped them up and gave them back. “Oh, we're fine.” The hostess nodded and walked off.

I clenched my teeth. “Elio, I don't know what they serve here. I would like a damn menu.”

He waved me off. “Don't worry about that. He’ll make whatever you want, just, you know, better.”

Someone set two glasses of water at our table, and I gave them a tight smile before I whispered, “I don't think that's how restaurants work, Elio.”

“This one does.”

This was infuriating. I didn’t know why he didn't want me to see a menu, but I was going to goddamn see it whether he wanted me to or not.

I shrugged it off, making sure it looked like I had given up, but that was the last thing on my mind. “I guess we should start working.” I made a move to reach for my bag but hit the full glass of water my way. With fast reflexes, Elio caught the glass, but not before a small amount splashed in my lap. “Oh no! I’m sorry.” I looked around before I whispered, embarrassed, “Do you know where the bathroom is?”

He pointed me in the right direction, and I excused myself, excited that I was getting one over on him. I was going to go to the damn bathroom, grab one of the menus, and find out what he was trying to hide from me because I had a hunch it had something to do with the cost.

When I passed a waiter, I asked them to bring Elio a coffee and bill me for it separately. He thought he was going to get away with his sneaky shit? Well, I could play that way too. The waiter gave me a weird look, with his tipped up nose and slicked back hair, but he nodded and scurried back to the kitchen to make it happen.

I made a show of actually going to the bathroom, cleaning myself up before I carefully came out and went around the other way to see if I could find a menu. There was one on an empty table. Jackpot!

As soon as my hands closed around my prize, I heard a voice that stopped me dead in my tracks. It held the same notes as it had in their youth, but it was smoother, deeper, more cultured.

“Rin, is that you?”

I slowly turned around, my heart pumping in my chest like it was kicking its way out. My eyes collided with a tall, stunningly gorgeous man that took my breath away in more ways than one.

My eyes roamed over him like they could get sustenance just by feasting on him. His broad shoulders were so much more massive than I remembered, his hair just a tad longer than it should be, giving him a devil-may-care look. Rays of sun-golden blond sliced through the light caramel locks, making him look unnatural, unreal. His luscious lips curved as his honey brown eyes turned a shade of green right before my eyes, twinkling with mirth just like I remembered, and my breath stopped.

It was Ravi Ambros, someone I’d thought I would never see again.

Chapter 11

“Are you ready for today?”

I twirled around in the bar chair to face my stick-up-his-ass brother and laughed before my true feelings bubbled to the surface, melting my humor away. “I’ve been ready for this day since the moment we left her in that orphanage. I want our girl back, and no Ricci is going to take her from me.”

“Us. From us.” His narrowed eyes spoke of my murder, but I smiled, hanging my head over the back of the chair to turn his frown upside down.

“Of course. That goes without saying. It's always been us. Even when I say ‘me,’ it really means ‘us.’”

His deep inhale had my skin jumping with glee. I knew he was pissed that he didn’t have the personality to handle the first-contact part of the plan. I was the one that was needed, the one who could sweep her off her feet with my smile and charm.

“Just get it done.” Rion walked away, but not before I caught his hand clenching.

With those words, it was like he released his hold on the taut rubber band keeping me in my chair. I flung myself toward the stairs and up to my room to get ready.

---