Page 96 of Seduced By Moonlight

“Don’t worry,” Ward reassured him between mouthfuls of food. “Word has most likely gotten out about our dinner last night and people are wondering. I don’t date much.”

Kayden smiled despite himself and returned to eating.

“They’ll warm up to you. And if not, I have a few towers we can exile them into,” Ward said with a wink.

Kayden laughed, though being the outsider gnawed at him.

A few minutes later, Lance and Mika joined them. No sooner than they sat down, Tank showed up.

“Oh look, the gang’s all here,” Lance joked.

Tank rolled his eyes. “We’re actually missing a few people.”

“They’ll show up, I’m sure,” Ward said, taking a bite of bacon.

“Sleep well last night?” Lance asked Kayden as he spread his napkin across his lap.

“Great.” Kayden bit into a plump strawberry. Damn, that was good. “What about you?”

“Like a baby. Missed you at dinner,” Lance replied, picking up his fork.

“No, we didn’t,” Mika said as he sipped his coffee.

“Yes, we did,” Lance corrected Mika.

“Might I remind you that cats having nine lives is just a saying?” Mika asked.

Tank snorted.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lance claimed as he refocused on Kayden. “So?”

“You’re not going to stop, are you?”

Lance grinned. “Nope.”

“You know perfectly good and damn well we were not at dinner last night because Ward and I had dinner together. Alone. In the gardens.”

“Ha! Yeah, I knew. I helped carry some stuff out there. And my day isn’t complete if I don’t mess with you.”

“Lucky me.”

“So?” Lance bit into a buttered biscuit, chewed, and swallowed. “How was it?”

Kayden looked dead straight at Ward as he answered. “It was the best date of my life.”

Ward smiled back at him.

Joel walked up holding a tray and sat down as well. “Who had a date?”

“Hey you guys.” Scarlett also sat down with a tray. “Ward did.”

“Oh? Damn, how did I miss that?” Joel asked as he spread jelly on his toast.

“No idea,” Tank said. “It’s all anyone can talk about this morning.”

Kayden blushed.

“Then who was it?” Joel asked, staring at Lance.

---