Page 49 of My Haven
The bread was exactly as Nigel described. Addicting. But, what really blew her away was the boar. She had never tasted the like. Tender, bursting with flavor and it simply melted in her mouth.
Try as he might, Arlo wasn’t able to identify a single vineyard, but by his third glass he didn’t care. Everything from start to finish was perfect. “I could eat here every day and be happy,” she said, sitting back in her chair. She looked around, they were the last two there.
“Girl, we haven’t even had dessert yet.”
Someone walked up behind her. She thought Nigel had returned but was surprised to see Caiden standing next to their table. He had been absent throughout the meal, so she hadn’t taken Meryn’s words to heart, but seeing him next to her, his hands fidgeting slightly, she felt her heart rate pick up.
“I know this may sound forward, but would you like to join me for dessert and coffee?” Caiden asked.
She simply stared at his full lips, until Arlo kicked her under the table. “Yes!” she blurted out.
The tips of Caiden’s ears turned red. “We’re wrapping up for the night here and heading back to our family home. Would that be, okay? Meryn said if a lot of people were there it wouldn’tquite be like taking you to a secondary location,” he explained, fumbling the words.
So, that’s what Meryn meant when she said creepy.
She looked at Arlo who nodded. “I’m coming too.”
Caiden looked relieved at her acceptance. “You are more than welcome. I was told to tell you that, Meryn, Pip, Nigel and Neil would be there as well. They said, it would seem less scary that way.”
Her heart melted. “Why me?”
He blushed fully. “I saw your videos and felt I had to meet you,” he explained. He pointed to the restaurant. “My sister, did this, so we could meet.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? You created a pop-up event, just to meet me?”
“Marry him,” Arlo said, downing his wine.
“What!”
“Girl, that man is so sweet he’d melt in the rain and has the money to pull this off, marry him or I will,” he ordered.
“Arlo!”
“Don’t ‘Arlo’ me.” He looked up at Caiden. “We’d love to come to your house for dessert.”
She tried to kick him under the table but missed and kicked the table leg. “Sonofabitch,” she complained.
“Serves you right,” Arlo said, smugly.
Caiden offered her his arm. “If you’d feel safer, you can ride with Meryn or the boys.”
She took his arm. “I’ll ride with you. Arlo can catch a ride later.”
His mouth dropped. “Bizatch!”
“I know you are,” she retorted.
Caiden led her toward the door and opened it for her. Once outside, he looked down. “I swear I’m not a stalker killer,” he said, sincerely.
“You better not be, you promised me dessert,” she said, and held up her clutch. “Don’t forget, I have a taser.”
He nodded. “Good. Tase anyone that makes you feel threatened, myself included. Nothing should come before your sense of safety.”
“Lead the way,” she said, before she could lose her nerve.
Chapter Seven
Genevieve watched the dark woods fly by as they drove. Saying yes to dessert seemed like a good idea two glasses of wine ago.
