Page 162 of Defiant Beta

I haven’t stopped watching him since we rode the elevator down.

“This doesn’t feel real,” I quietly admit.

He stops beside his car, looks down at me, and brushes a finger along my jaw. “I know.”

“How did you know I was watching you?”

He bends his head and touches his lips to mine. “BecauseIhaven’t stopped watchingyou.” Tension crackles between us, and he straightens, unlocking the passenger door and holding it open for me. “Come on, or we’ll never make it to dinner.” His voice is husky.

I get in and buckle up as he closes my door and walks around the back of the car to get to his seat. “Where are we going?”

He starts up the car. “I’m going to cook for you. We’re going to talk, and then I’m going to take you home, kiss you goodnight, and hope you want to see me again.”

I blink at him. “Like a proper date?”

“Exactly.”

It isn’t a long drive back to the house I miss. “You’re still all living here?”

I’m not sure why I thought he would have moved now that he’s no longer Dexter Pieter.

He parks up outside. “For now. It’s a rental. We haven’t had a home in a long time.”

He opens my door for me.

“Are you going to keep it?”

He studies me closely. “Do you want us to keep it?”

My eyes widen. “It’s my decision?”

“It has always been your decision.” He walks me into the house, his jacket slung over my shoulders.

It’s almost a repeat of the first time he brought me here, except now I’m not weak and shaky in a hospital gown and bare feet. I’m in an elegant dress, and he’s holding my hand.

I halt in the entryway, eyes wide.

There are candleseverywhere.

On the floors, stairs, in the kitchen, on the kitchen island, and even on a table set for two beside the open double doors that lead to the lush, rainforest-style garden.

“How did I do?” Vincent asks with an uncharacteristic hesitation.

I snap my gaping mouth shut and turn to look at him. “You did this for me?”

“The idea was mine. Levi and Xavier got it done while I went to pick you up.” He takes my hand and presses a kiss on my knuckles. “It’s been a long time since I’ve just been Vincent. I’m out of my element here,” he admits with a wry smile.

Candles flicker, and I absorb the romantic ambiance they create. "I love it," I whisper, my heart filling with love.

“How about a virgin Mojito while I make us dinner?”

“Sounds great. Where are Levi and Xavier?” I ask after I’ve taken a seat, and he’s mixing us a drink.

The house is quiet, and I’d think that if they were home, they would have come and said hello.

“Planning.”

“For?”

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