Page 31 of Restrained

Oh. I nod my head, my throat still dry, and I find it hard to speak, clearing my throat. “Yes. Of course.”

He looks at his phone. “Do you need to go home first, or are you ready now?”

I look at my own phone and see it’s nearly six in the evening.Wow, today went fast.“No, I don’t need to go home.”

“Good.” I follow him as we pass Gretchen in the lobby, her death glare stays trained on me as Hayden addresses her. “Put in the final orders I sent to your email and then go home for the day.”

She looks panicked. “You’re leaving with her?”

Hayden’s back straightens as his shoulders square. It’s clear he’s losing patience. “We have more work to do.”

Her eyes move to mine with a silent, hateful warning, and I can’t stop my eyes from rolling. I won’t be intimidated by anyone.

Hayden turns to me. “I’ll drive. I’ll bring you back to your car later.”

I don’t argue, I just want to be far away from Gretchen and her icy gaze. I follow him and climb into his passenger seat before he takes off.

“So where are we going?”

“One of my favorite restaurants.”

“Dinner?”

His shoulders shrugs as he clutches the wheel with one hand. “We have to eat, don’t we?”

“I suppose.” I look at the cars in front of us as we creep along the road. “So, are we stealing ideas from this restaurant?”

“No. Although, I wish it could work.”

I’m confused. “What?”

“I don’t think it would fit with the guests we’ll be accommodating, but it’s by far my favorite restaurant here.”

“What was your favorite restaurant in Kansas City?”

Now he smiles, and I could stare at him smiling all day long. “Gates.”

That brings a smile to my face. He really is from Kansas City. Everyone there knows Gates Barbecue. “I’m more of a Jack Stack sort of girl.”

He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Of course you are.”

“Some sort of rich girl jab?”

“Yup.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t remove the smile. “So, if we aren’t learning from this adventure, then we are just two people having dinner at your favorite place?”

“And talking business.”

“Right.”

My eyes move back to the scar on his hand, the one gripping the steering wheel, and he sighs loudly. “I’m sorry I froze when you asked me about it.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“I didn’t have a great childhood or really one at all. And it’s not a time I like to talk about.”

I nod solemnly. “I understand.” He gives me a side-eye, and I quickly try to explain by adding. “Penelope didn’t have the best start, and she’s told me some things over the years.”

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