Page 177 of Heart of Frost and Scars

“Are you happy?”

I pull in a breath and give him the truth. “No. I’m not. But I’m working on it.”

“Put on that green dress. The one with the…” He gestures at his sternum.

“The low plunge halter? That’s a fancy dress, Monty.”

“I’m taking you to dinner.”

“Off the island?”

When he inclines his head, a thrill jolts through me.

I haven’t left the island since the night Leo and Kody were arrested.

Two months ago.

Before he can change his mind, I race off to the guest bedroom to prepare.

39

Frankie

—

Sitka’s priciest restaurant flaunts elegance and refined taste with a flair for luxury, much like the man sitting across from me.

Monty took care of everything, from the chauffeured ride here to the private dining room and the precise ordering of our meals.

His black tailored suit fits him like a glove, enhancing the sculpted contours of his lean, muscular body. The intensity of his blue eyes, set against the harsh angles of his shaved jawline and raven-black hair, captivates and intimidates.

At age fifty, his commanding demeanor and stern bearing make him a formidable presence, his wealth and influence casting a long shadow over the restaurant when we walked in.

Hell, that shadow stretches across the entire state of Alaska.

Flickering candles adorn the small table between us, the romantic setting too intimate for the state of our relationship.

The bourbon arrives first, just as I like it, with dark, juicy cherries. I quickly slug it down, the warmth of the alcohol soothing my nerves.

He watches me, those arctic eyes never leaving mine. Sharp and penetrating, they reflect the icy waters surrounding his private island.

“You look stunning.” His deep, velvety baritone strokes me in places it has no business stroking.

“Thank you. I feel like a haggard old sea witch next to you. Every woman in the restaurant drooled on their filet mignon when you stepped in the door. They’re all going to go home tonight and watch billionaire porn until their fingers go numb.”

He smirks. “I didn’t notice them.”

“Liar.”

“In a crowd, my eyes always find you. No one else exists.”

A thousand stupid butterflies take flight in my belly, winging toward certain death. “You can’t say things like that.”

“I can do whatever I want, darling.”

“Whatever and whomever, apparently.”

“I will never hurt you like that again.”

---