Page 116 of Beautiful Trauma
He chuckled as he grabbed a napkin. “They have more in common than they think.”
“I guess I can’t blame them. I mean, they’re doing it out of love.”
“That is true. I would probably be doing the same thing if I felt Eamon was involved with someone dangerous.”
My brows popped wide at his summation. “I’m dangerous, huh?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I kinda like the thought of being labeled a dangerous woman.”
“I don’t know about dangerous, but you’re sure as hell devious.” He jerked his chin at the table next to us where several young children giggled as they sucked their noodles into their mouth.
“I’m pretty sure you could’ve kept a napkin over your crotch, and they would’ve never known.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, but if their parents caught sight of it, I would look like a total pedo.”
I snorted. “That would’ve definitely put a damper on our evening if you’d been arrested.”
The waiter appeared then. “Good evening. What can I get you?”
“We’ll start with some red wine.”
“Actually, I’m not a fan.”
At Kellan’s blush, my heart beat accelerated. “How about a glass of white for the lady?” the waiter suggested.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Once we were alone, Kellan gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry for being an alpha asshole and ordering for us.”
“You could never be an asshole.”
“Give me time,” he replied with a grin.
“I seriously doubt that.”
“I’m a man. All men have asshole DNA.” He then winked. “Some just have more than others.”
“I have to agree with your assessment. Apparently my father’s DNA is overrun with asshole cells.”
“Same with mine.”
“I guess I’m lucky that it didn’t overrun my brothers.”
“It’s the same for me.”
A pang reverberated through my chest. “Maybe it’s because our mothers’ love was enough to weaken the asshole DNA.”
Kellan gave me a sad smile. “I know my mother is the only reason why my brothers and I aren’t absolute monsters.”
At the thought of my stepmother, I wrinkled my nose. “Of course, that thought is discredited when it comes to Maksim and Aleksander.”
“Is their mom not maternal?”
“She treated them well, especially Annika. But she wasn’t a mother like my mother was. Mine gave her heart and soul to each of us. She never had a nanny. She did everything herself.”
