Page 68 of Follow Your Instincts

I nodded, not trusting my voice to be steady.

“Would you be okay with walking? We’re not going far.”

I just nodded again.Get it together, woman,I scolded myself internally.You’ve got to actually use words.

Lachlan helped me slide into my coat, and we walked out into the chilly autumn air. He took my arm and I leaned into him, enjoying his warmth and the heady pull of his scent. We walked a full block in silence.

“So where are we going?” I asked, trying to break the silence.

“You’ll see,” Lachlan replied.

So much for talking, I thought.

After walking another couple of blocks, we arrived outside of a tiny Italian restaurant called “La Tavola”. Lachlan held open the door for me. It was very small, only about 10 tables, and completely empty apart from the server that stood smiling at us.

“Welcome, Mr. Murray,” she said. “Right this way.”

She led us to a table near the back with a red-checkered tablecloth and a bottle of red wine already open in the center. String lights were hung from the ceiling, which was painted to look like the night sky, and gentle string music was playing. It was very charming.

“They know who you are?” I asked after she left the table. “Are you secretly famous, or are you just obsessed with Italian food?”

“I actually… rented out the entire restaurant for tonight. I didn’t want you to be worried about anyone bothering you. I hope that’s okay?” He searched my face intently.

“That’s thoughtful, thank you,” I said. It was thoughtful, but it also made the gulf of money and experience between us feel even wider. He nodded and smiled a little, but didn’t reply.

He poured us each a glass of wine, and I took a big sip, grateful for something to do with my hands and mouth since I didn’t seem capable of making normal conversation.

The server returned with a basket of focaccia. “The chef has prepared a tasting menu for you, but if you’d prefer to order a la carte, just let me know,” she said.

Lachlan looked at me and inclined his head. “What do you think?”

“A tasting menu sounds perfect,” I said.

She left again, and I grabbed a piece of bread to fill the silence that stretched between Lachlan and me.The focaccia was warm from the oven and so delicious I forgot to be nervous for a moment.

“Oh my god, this is so good,” I said.

Lachlan smiled. “They bake it fresh. Lucas is a big fan, too.”

“I’m surprised they all weren’t waiting in the living room too before we left,” I said, latching onto the topic of his packmates. At least I knew where I stood with them.

“I asked them to give us some privacy. Lucas and Soren understood, but I had to threaten Ben with disembowelment to get him to cooperate,” Lachlan said.

“Yeah that tracks,” I said, laughing. I grabbed another piece of bread then realized Lachlan wasn’t eating and got self-conscious again.

We lapsed into silence.

By the time the server brought out the first course, a gorgeous caprese salad, I was desperate for anything to talk about. Lachlan seemed perfectly content to sit in silence, staring at me or the table, and taking intermittent sips of wine.

I steeled myself. If this was going to work, and we were going to get to know each other properly, someone had to take the initiative. I took a deep breath, then plunged in.

“I think we have to talk to each other at some point,” I said, and shoved a forkful of mozzarella into my mouth.

Lachlan nodded and gave me a wry smile. “Probably. I’m sorry for being so quiet. I get this way when I’m nervous.”

“You’re nervous? I’m nervous!”

“What do you have to be nervous about?” He looked genuinely confused.

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