Page 16 of Sunshine & Sinful

Another ripple of disquiet tingles across my skin from head to toe. Something’s definitely amiss. I can’t put my finger on what’s off, but something’s off—whether that be me, this restaurant, or Todd.

Afraid to eat, I set my fork on the plate as the waiter reappears with Todd’s remade plate sans green beans and butter. Another waiter approaches our table with two champagne flutes and an expensive bottle of bubbly.

He sets a crystal glass in front of each of us, and before I get a second to ask what we’re celebrating, the new waiter, a taller blond with a goatee, swishes his hand, gesturing to someone behind me. “A gift from the men at the bar,” he announces, and I turn in my chair the best I can to…

Those stupid, jackass, pain-in-the-balls, motherfuckers!

I’m gonna murder them.

They’re dead. Not kinda dead. But dead, dead.

Two matching sets of gray eyes, glinting with bullshit humor, lift their amber-filled glasses in cheers.

Sunshine and Dark.

Grumbling under my breath, I thrust the flute back to the waiter with too much gusto. His eyes widen in surprise, but he recovers quickly. “Do you not want it, ma’am?”

“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to break the bottle over those asshole’s heads,” I reply. It would serve them right and soil their precious cuts. Who in their right mind wears black jeans and their colors in a restaurant like this? I’m surprised they were even allowed inside in the first place.

The waiter gasps, and so does Todd. “Kali. What has gotten into you?” my date scolds.

What has gotten into me? What has gotten intome?

Having none of this, I reach across the table, snatch Todd’s flute, and shove it back at the waiter. “Sorry, but we won’t drink this.”

My date clucks his tongue, clearly annoyed with me. “Kali,” he snips.

Ignoring Todd, I focus on the blond. “If you could politely or not politely, whatever works for you…tell those assholes to fuck off, I’d be forever in your debt.” To emphasize how serious I am, I smile too brightly, all teeth, hoping he’ll be a rebel and break the rules to get those interfering assholes out of here.

My date squeaks in horror. “Kali, this is wildly inappropriate. Those gentlemen could be clients, and the waiter is simply doing his job.”

I level him with an unimpressed stare. “Those are not gentlemen, Todd. That’s my ex-husband and my ex-father-in-law.”

“Oh…Ohhhh.” Eyes widening in surprise, Todd glances around me to get a good look at all that is them. By the severe frown that consumes his entire face, he’s not pleased. “That’syour ex-husband?”

“Yes.” All six-foot-plus of him with muscles, tattoos, and a… stupidly gorgeous face.

Fuck Dark.

Rubbing both palms down the front of his pressed shirt, Todd examines his average physique, then readjusts in his seat. “Right.” Head dropping low, he digs into his meal as if Dark and Sunshine aren’t at the bar. He forks a massive bite of steak into his mouth, which rounds his cheeks. He hums his appreciation for the meat before swallowing and signals toward his nearly empty wine glass. “More. Please.” He flicks the side of it with the tip of his nail, never looking up from his plate, as the blond waiterremains table side, not knowing what to do. That makes two of us.

Gripping my fork handle until it leaves a painful imprint in my palm, I smile awkwardly at the blond. “No more drinks from the men at the bar. We’d like to eat in peace. Thank you.” For whatever lame reason, I wink as if that will help cure the Hot Mess Express that is our presence.

Taking this entire ordeal in stride, the blond leaves without a word and returns moments later to refill not only Todd’s glass but mine. Then he’s gone, leaving us to our own devices—well, to our mounting tension. With how thick it is, you could cut the air with a dull spoon.

Not wanting this date to become a total disaster, I follow Todd’s lead and eat. I pretend my ex and his father aren’t boring holes through the back of my skull, even if I can feel their eyes on me through every bite. It’s unnerving, uncalled for, and downright disrespectful. Then again, that’s their objective, right?

They showed up last night and are now here. They had to have followed us or done something more diabolical, like put a tracker in my purse, but I don't plan to ask anytime soon.

We sip and eat. Eat and sip. Our waiter stops by to refill our glasses again, but he never speaks a word.

It doesn’t take long for the wine to go straight to my head, loosening my limbs and lips as the pleasant, warm and fuzzies finally kick in. I care less and less about the presence of my former husband and the… Sunshine, the man who was supposed to… not be like everyone else.

“I’m sorry, Todd,” I whisper, hoping he forgives me.

Heaving a sigh, the sweet man reaches across the table, takes my hand into his, and gives it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, beautiful. You didn’t know.” He attempts to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Pressing my lips together, I nod once. He’s right. I didn’t know. I’m glad this didn’t ruin our entire date.

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