Page 47 of Broken By Her Mate

He glanced at her and smiled. “It’s not exactly a restaurant, and no, you’re overdressed for the occasion.”

She turned to look out the window and stayed quiet for the rest of the journey. Tolliver wished he could read her mind. Hopefully, she wasn’t thinking about the reasons it was a bad idea for them to rekindle their relationship.

He turned onto a narrow road—more of a dirt path—and drove until he pulled up to an unassuming structure made of weathered bricks. Trees almost completely swallowed it up.

Laila raised an eyebrow, glancing over at him in curiosity.

He smiled. “Not exactly what you expected for dinner, huh?”

“Nope,” she replied, her tone teasing. “Very… subtle.”

“Wait until you see inside,” he said, hopping out of the car and coming around to open her door. He guided her toward a metal door that looked like it was meant for storage. When he gained access through a hidden security pad and enchanted locks, Laila gave him another questioning look.

“The Black Ops use this place as a safe house sometimes,” he explained. “It has magical safeguards, and a couple of my co-workers are patrolling the area.”

“You mean your guys are out working tonight just so you can take me out to dinner? Now, I feel guilty.”

“They’re happy to do it, and we’re all invested in keeping you safe. I need you to do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Relax and enjoy yourself.”

She smiled. “I can do that.”

Once they stepped through the door, the transformation was immediate. The building’s interior was worlds away from its gritty exterior. The space had been decorated to mimic a fancy five-star restaurant. A table in the center of the room was covered with a white tablecloth, lit candles, and an array of dishes. Dimmed lights were strung from rustic beams across the ceiling, and vases of fresh flowers adorned various surfaces.

Tolliver was just as shocked as Laila seemed to be. He had asked Benny, Francisco, and Cora to set up the place. His only input had been to pay for everything. The trio had really outdone themselves… although he was almost certain it was Cora who pulled off turning the bland space into a romantic atmosphere.

“Wow,” Laila breathed. “This is magnificent. It’s like we’re in an actual restaurant.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He led her to the table and pulled out her chair.

Laila sat and continued to take in the surroundings. Her eyes gleamed with excitement, and she didn’t have that uneasy air she typically got when they were alone in a non-sexualscenario. He sat beside her and began removing the polished silver dish covers.

Laila gasped when she saw the options. “Lobster bisque, truffle mashed potatoes…”

She listed each item with enthusiasm infused into her tone. Tolliver couldn’t help grinning as he listened. He’d never met anyone with such a deep appreciation for fine dining. He felt as if he was on the right track tonight.

“All my favorites. You still know me well, Tolliver.”

“Uh-huh.” He reached for the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, filled their glasses, and said, “I assume this is still your favorite?”

She glanced at the bottle. “Yes, but admittedly, I haven’t indulged in the expense stuff since…”

Since they broke up. He stifled a sigh because he hated being reminded of what a fool he’d been.

“That doesn’t matter now,” she eyed the wine bottle with a frown. “I’ll pass on the alcohol tonight.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Since when?”

“Since… I’m just not in the mood for it.”

He shrugged and put down the bottle.

“I haven’t gotten dressed up and gone on a fancy date in ages,” she gushed. “Thank you for this.”

He mentally wiped away the sweat from his forehead.Score one. Maybe he was finally getting somewhere with her. “I figured you should be spoiled tonight. I mean, you’re always the one in the kitchen, feeding everyone. Tonight, I’m here to serve you. What would you like to try first?”

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